Posted: Sep. 19, 10:18 AM
Funniest T-shirt, spotted in the multicultural Manu Chao audience: “Keep Austin Brazilian.” Suggestion for next year: Make the right lane of Barton Springs Road a bike lane from South First Street to the park. So many people were on bikes,…
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Posted: Sep. 19, 7:28 AM
A few days ago, Kevin Drew, co-founder of Canadian Rock collective/indie band incubator Broken Social Scene, said in an interview that the band was done for now after the current string of tour dates. While he didn’t quite come out…
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Posted: Sep. 19, 5:44 AM
I imagine that in the years to come, when people talk about Death From Above 1979’s 2011 reunion performances in Austin, they’ll tend to remember either Saturday night’s aftershow at Emo’s or the South by Southwest gig at the Beauty…
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Posted: Sep. 19, 5:43 AM
If you’re a live performer and you’re going to have spectacle - like, lots and lots of spectacle - you’d better have the songs to back it up. This is why no one particularly questioned Kanye West’s personal ballet company…
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Posted: Sep. 19, 1:10 AM
Manu Chao was already making eye contact with fans even before his 6:30 set on the AMD stage Sunday. Standing off to the side with his bandmates, he was easy to spot in his bright orange shirt, bouncing on his…
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Posted: Sep. 19, 12:03 AM
Like Bon Iver, who played the Long Center earlier last week, Fleet Foxes first showed up in Austin during South by Southwest 2007, when they were a young, relatively unknown indie folk group with long beards and a love of…
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Posted: Sep. 18, 11:49 PM
It’s been a simultaneously proud-but-frustrating 12 or so months for Arcade Fire, one where lots of triumphs have come handcuffed with backlash or some sort of drama to steal luster from what should be - to this point at least…
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Posted: Sep. 18, 10:24 PM
The Lee Boys are not yet famous enough for a headlining slot at ACL, but after seeing them on the Vista Equity stage at 3 p.m. Sunday, everything else seemed a little anticlimactic. Like Robert Randolph, the Florida family group…
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Posted: Sep. 18, 9:38 PM
You know what is a terrible way to experience Randy Newman? In a sweltering tent with what had to be a thousand or so of your closest friends, many of whom are in chairs, looking at the people who are…
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Posted: Sep. 18, 6:55 PM
What a difference a couple of years, a few hundred nights in beer joints, a lot of hard work and, oh yeah, an Oscar can make. When Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses first played the ACL Festival (in 2008,…
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2008 ACL LINEUP

• Foo Fighters
• Spiritualized
• Colour Revolt
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
• Drive-By Truckers
• Five Times August
• Beck
• Ingrid Michaelson
• Langhorne Slim
• Manu Chao
• Stars
• Sybris
• John Fogerty
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Eli 'Paper Boy' Reed and the True Loves
• David Byrne
• Jose Gonzales
• Bavu Blakes and the Extra Plairs
• The Raconteurs
• CSS
• AA Bondy
• The Mars Volta
• Del the Funky Homosapien
• Christopher Denny
• Gnarls Barkley
• Man Man
• Mike Farris
• Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
• Jamie Lidell
• The Lee Boys
• N.E.R.D
• MGMT
• South Austin Jug Band
• Erykah Badu
• What Made Milwaukee Famous
• American Bang
• Robert Earl Keen
• Jenny Lewis
• Massacoustics
• Patty Griffin
• M. Ward
• Belleville Outfit
• Tegan and Sara
• Asleep at the Wheel
• We Go to 11
• Iron and Wine
• Mason Jennings
• Band of Heathens
• G. Love and Special Sauce
• Heartless Bastards
• City and Colour
• Neko Case
• Antibalas
• Sunny Sweeney
• Band of Horses
• The Nachito Herrera All Stars
• Elizabeth Wills
• The Swell Season
• Shooter Jennings
• Automata
• Silversun Pickups
• Xavier Rudd
• Bonnie Bishop
• Gogol Bordello
• Yeasayer
• Ben Sollee
• Gillian Welch
• Octopus Project
• Ben Cylus
• Eli Young Band
• Joe Bonamassa
• The Concert Supremes
• The Black Keys
• The Kills
• River City Christionettes
• Against Me!
• White Denim
• Shields of Faith
• Jakob Dylan and the Gold
• Mountain Rebels
• Louis XIV
• The Jones Family Singers
• Okkervil River
• Delta Spirit
• Nakia and His Southern Cousins
• Galactic
• Mates of State
• Brotherly Luv
• Kevin Fowler
• Nicole Atkins and the Sea
• The Hensley Ensemble
• Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
• Electric Touch
• School of Rock
• Hot Chip
• Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears
• Jambo
• Vampire Weekend
• Back Door Slam
• Q Brothers
• Slightly Stoopid
• Tristan Prettyman
• Buck Howdy with BB
• Duffy
• The Strange Boys
• Uncle Rock
• Flyleaf
• Ryan Bingham
• Big Don
• Roky Erickson
• Scott Biram
• Mr. RAY
• Yonder Mountain String Band
• The Freddy Jones Band
• The Jimmies

Transportation | Rules | Allowed/Prohibited items | Staying cool | Food and drink

Getting to the festival

Where do I park?

There's no on-site parking during the festival. In the past, some businesses near Zilker Park have sold parking spaces, but prices have hit as high as $100 for a three-day pass. Don't plan on parking in the neighborhoods near Zilker Park — access is restricted. The Palmer Events Center (900 Barton Springs Road) has offered parking in its garage, but spaces fill up quickly.

Last year, the festival and Cap Metro offered a shuttle service from Republic Square at Fourth and Guadalupe streets in downtown Austin. Shuttle service ran from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Lines to board can be long, so figure them into your schedule.

Also keep in mind that with the shuttles departing from Republic Square, parking downtown is at a premium.

One tip we got from a previous festival-goer is to take a regular Cap Metro bus to the Barton Springs Road-Lamar Boulevard intersection. Worth a try.

Can I ride my bike to the festival?

Yes. In the past, there have been racks at the entrance gates. Bring your own lock.

Can someone drop me off at the festival?

Yes, but only at predetermined spots (otherwise, prepare to be ticketed). According to the ACL Fest Web site: "The passenger drop-off area is at the north end of the MoPac (Loop 1) Pedestrian Bridge on Stephen F. Austin Drive." Cabs will have their own pickup and drop-off area.

Festival facilities and rules

Can I go in and out of the festival?

Three-day ticket holders can enter and leave the festival on the same day. One-day ticket holders cannot. You have to go through security each time you enter the festival.

What accommodations are there for people with disabilities?

Service animals are allowed inside the festival.

In the past, some performances have been interpreted in American Sign Language.

The festival grounds are wheelchair accessible, but can be difficult to maneuver. There are also special sections at each stage for people who use wheelchairs and their companions.

In the past, some disabled designated parking has been available.

Read more on the festival's Web site.

Are there ATMs on festival grounds?

Yes, but you'll avoid the lines (and possibly fees) if you remember to bring cash.

Are kids allowed?

Yes. The festival has allowed baby strollers and offered a "Tag-a-Kid" service to help in case you become separated from your child. There are also programming and activities geared to kids. But as you consider whether to take your kids to the fest, keep in mind that attending ACL involves braving hot weather and a lot of walking.

Are dogs allowed?

Only service animals.

Can I record performances?

No. Video and audio-recording equipment are not allowed.

Can I take pictures?

You can bring a personal camera, but not professional equipment, such as tripods.

Will I have cell phone reception at the festival?

While Zilker Park is in Central Austin, cell reception at the festival can be spotty. Our reports from last year's attendees vary: Some had no problems with cells; others did. One advises relying mainly on texting, but even had some problems with that. Set your phone to vibrate — you probably won't be able to hear it ring.

Overall: Give your phone a try, but have backup plans in case you don't have reception. For example, have an established meet-up spot or use a locator flag to help members of your group find each other.

What can I bring in to the festival?

We've covered some of these do's and don'ts in other questions, but here is the complete list from the festival Web site:

Allowed

• Blankets
• Umbrellas (small hand-held style)
• Soft-sided coolers
• Baby strollers
• Portable/collapsible chair
• Regular-size/unframed backpacks
• Two factory-sealed water bottles, up to 1 liter each
• Empty Camelbak or other empty plastic container (e.g., Nalgene bottle)
• Ice in soft-sided cooler or Camelbak; no large bags allowed
• Binoculars
• Personal camera equipment (i.e. small digital cameras or point-and-click 35 mm cameras). Cameras with any type of detachable lenses are prohibited.

Prohibited

• Weapons of any kind
• Illegal substances (including narcotics) or drug paraphernalia
• Framed or large backpacks
• Alcohol
• Glass containers
• Food or beverages, except for factory-sealed water bottles
• Skateboards, scooters or personal motorized vehicles
• Bicycles inside festival grounds
• Carts
• Large chains or spiked jewelry
• Fireworks
• Explosives
• Large umbrellas
• Non-collapsible chairs
• Hard-sided coolers
• Tents
• Pets (except service dogs)
• Video equipment: No video recording will be allowed.
• Professional still camera equipment (no detachable lenses, tripods, big zooms or commercial-use rigs)
• Any audio recording equipment

• No illegal vending is permitted. No unauthorized/unlicensed vendors allowed.

A warning from a festival vet: "Don't try to carry in contraband — you will get caught and it just slows down the line for everyone else!"

Staying cool and comfortable

What will the weather be like in Austin during the festival?

According to NOAA, Austin's average high temperature in September is about 90 degrees and the average low is 69. The record high for the month is 112 (no, really) and the record low is 41. Average rainfall for the month is about 2.9 inches.

Last year, highs were around 97 on the first two days of the festival. Sunday, the weather was a little cooler because of rain. In fact, showers disrupted some sets. There was also a little rain early Friday.

In 2005, the festival was threatened by Hurricane Rita. Organizers went on with the show, and it turned out that heat and dust, not rain, were the problem. Temperatures hit 108 degrees on the festival's final day.

How do I stay cool when it's so hot?

• Take the heat seriously; festival-goers are treated for heat symptoms every year.
• Make use of misting areas.
• Take your two factory-sealed water bottles (up to 1 liter each). Freezing them will give you cold water throughout the day.
• Wear a hat and sunblock.
• Talcum powder or cornstarch can make you feel cooler.
• Fest vets advise taking along a hand towel to wipe off sweat.
• Another favorite tip: Wrap ice in a bandana, freeze it overnight and then wear around your neck. Or just soak a bandana in ice water from your cooler.
• Mist yourself with water from a spray bottle or take along a misting fan.
• A small umbrella can protect you from the sun.
• If your tickets allows you to leave and re-enter the festival, take a break during the day for a swim in nearby Barton Springs.

What else should I take along?

You won't want to lug much around the park all day, but luckily these little luxuries won't weigh much if you choose single-dose or sample sizes:

• Toilet paper. Fold up a few squares or take a half-roll for portable-toilet trips and other cleanup.
• Wet wipes
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Saline drops
• Hand sanitizer
• Bug spray
• Blister bandages
• Ibuprofen
• Aloe

Many of the tips in the above section are from ACL Fest veteran Jennifer Inman, whom the American-Statesman interviewed in 2006. Read the complete interview here.

What should I wear?

Besides your fashionable frozen bandana? "This is about dressing smart, not cute!" according to one festival vet. Think casual, cool and comfortable. One fest veteran we know likes clothes with a lot of little pockets to stash tiny essentials (see above). Others point out that women will stay coolest in skirts and sundresses and that heels of any kind are out of the question.

My friend went to ACL in 2005 and said the festival grounds were so dusty she'd never go back. Have improvements been made?

Zilker Park's irrigation system was improved last year. Our troops who went to ACL in 2006 report that dust wasn't a problem. But take a bandana to shield your mouth and nose just in case.

Food and drink

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

No. Outside food and beverages have not been not allowed, except for two factory-sealed water bottles up to 1 liter each. You can refill your water bottles at stations inside the festival, and you can also bring an empty Camelbak or other empty plastic container (e.g., Nalgene bottle) to fill up. You can bring ice in soft-sided cooler or Camelbak, but no large bags are allowed.

What kind of food will be available inside the festival?

Many of Austin's favorite dining spots set up booths at the festival. A festival attendee from last year reports that Berryhill Baja Grill, Iron Cactus and Hudson's on the Bend had especially tasty offerings.

The festival has a complete list of last year's vendors on its Web site, and — in a very nice touch that should help your planning and budgeting — also lists food pricing. Sandwiches, wraps, tacos, etc. average $5-$7 each. A fest veteran reports that basic hamburgers and hot dogs are the best food deals.

Lines for food? One of our correspondents says they look long but move quickly. Another estimates a 15-minute wait even when lines look long.

Is alcohol sold inside the festival?

Yes, but the selection is limited.

Where should I eat outside of the festival?

For ideas, visit the XL Dining Guide here. A couple of shortcuts: For Mexican food, click here and scroll down. For barbecue, click here and scroll down.

Where's a good place to grab a drink outside the festival?

Visit the XL Bar Guide here.