Surviving the test of time.
-Kelsey Payne
The constants of the Austin City Limits Music Festival can be summed up in a few choice words: sweat, grass, heat, great bands, and an even better atmosphere. These factors may add up to sickness, but more importantly, they add up to fun, relaxation and a chance to “keep Austin weird.” It has become clear over the past six years that nothing can stop ACL, not even 108 degree temperatures, fires or dust you can barely see through. ACL is now even mentioned alongside such famous festivals as Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. As tribute to this Austin staple, we take a look back at ACL through the years; how it’s changed and how it’s stayed the same.
2002
Days: Sept. 28 - 29
Attendance: 40,000, 35,000
Temperature: 92 degrees, 93 degrees
Big names: Los Lobos, Wilco, Gillian Welch and Nickel Creek
What it’s remembered for: Festival organizers were so overwhelmed by the masses of unexpected crowds for ACL’s opening year that entering the festival meant an hour wait in a snaking line.
2003
Days: Sept. 19 - 21
Attendance: 45,000, 50,000, 60,000
Temperature: Low 90s
Big Names: REM, Asleep at the Wheel, Jack Johnson, Liz Phair and Ben Harper
What it’s remembered for: With the initial kinks worked out, primarily by increasing all festival supplies, from buses to porta-potties to volunteers, the festival had a stirring sophomore edition.
2004
Days: Sept. 17 - 19
Attendance: 70,000, 75,000, 70,000
Temperature: 96 degrees, 96 degrees, 93 degrees
Big Names: The Pixies, Sheryl Crow and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
What it’s remembered for: On Saturday, the festival started turning people away because of the huge numbers, a record 75,000.
2005
Days: Sept. 23 - 25
Attendance: capped at 65,000 per day
Temperature: 98 degrees, 99 degrees, 108 degrees
Big Names: Coldplay, Widespread Panic, Oasis, The Black Crowes, The Allman Brothers Band, Wilco and Franz Ferdinand
What it’s remembered for: Even with capped attendance, a severe dust problem and extreme heat led to more hospital visits for festival goers than any other year.
2006
Days: Sept. 15 - 17
Attendance: capped at 65,000 per day
Temperature: 98 degrees, 99 degrees, 90 degrees
Big Names: Tom Petty, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Massive Attack, String Cheese Incident, Ben Harper, The Flaming Lips, John Mayer, The Raconteurs, Los Lonely Boys and The Shins
What it’s remembered for: With no negative organization or weather problems to focus on, this festival is oddly most remembered for the infamous Ben Kweller nosebleed, which he ebbed with a tampon from an audience member, and an extravagant Flaming Lips performance.
2007
Attendance: capped at 65,000 per day
Temperature: low-to-mid 90s
Big Names: Bob Dylan, Björk, The Killers, Wilco, Arcade Fire, Muse, My Morning Jacket, Queens of the Stone Age, Bloc Party and Arctic Monkeys
What it’s remembered for: Even before the festival began, the buzz started circling when Amy Winehouse, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and The White Stripes all cancelled for various reasons. Then, as the festival opened, Friday began with a bang, quite literally, when a propane tank ignited and injured four festival workers. This was no deterrent for festival goers though, who lined up outside the park regardless of the plume of smoke near the AT&T stage. A second fire ignited one of Björk’s speakers during her Friday night set, but she quickly returned to the stage to finish her show. Saturday and Sunday proved far less eventful, but still spectacular, with stand-out performances on every stage.