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Nov 16, 2018 By Matt the Raven Photography by Katrina Barber Web Exclusive

The 17th Austin City Limits Music Festival has come and gone and, speaking from firsthand experience, it was a great success. With eight stages, 130 bands, and daily capacity crowds of 75,000 music fans, the festival organizers had to overcome lofty logistical goals, last second headliner switches, and super-hot weather to pull this one off. But with headliners such as Paul McCartney, Metallica, and Travis Scott (a last second replacement for Childish Gambino) and a vast array of “secondary” artists such as The National, St. Vincent, Lily Allen, Alvvays, Father John Misty, Natalie Prass, St. Vincent, Blood Orange, CHVRCHES, Phoenix, and Sharon Van Etten, how can you go wrong?

It’s the summation of all the little things that add up and really make this festival work. From the three points of entry to the RFID wristbands that allow fest-goers the freedom to enter and exit the venue smoothly, to the free cooling stations and water handouts, to the angled placement of the stages and the strict schedule adherence, the fans were able to enjoy the weekend virtually worry-free.

But ultimately it’s the music that comes first, and again this is an area where the organizers excel. A diverse selection of artists helped draw the large and diverse crowds. Angled stages, use of Zilker Park’s geography, booming sound systems, and large video screens enhanced the experience and allowed fans to see and hear the artists even from a distance. Staggered schedules allowed for fan movement and dozens of food and drink vendors, bars and beer halls, allowed everyone to keep well-fed, hydrated, and in a good mood.

Yours truly was on hand to witness the following bands:

Magic City Hippies

David Byrne*

Lily Allen*

Paul McCartney*

The Breeders^

Japanese Breakfast

Disturbed+

Lil Wayne+

Metallica

Mt. Joy

Janelle Monae*

(*=Better than expected and thoroughly entertaining)

(+=Bigger crowd than expected)

(^ =A bit disappointing)

Factoring in all expenses (admission/transportation/food/drink/merch, etc.), the festival is not an inexpensive event but it is a vastly expansive and fun experience.

www.aclfestival.com

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