REVIEW: Austin ‘Muddy’ Limits had A Messy, Well-Curated and Big-Hearted Weekend One
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY ISABELLA APPELL ☆
RAIN OR SHINE, NOTHING WAS STOPPING ATX FROM SHOWING OUT FOR AUSTIN CITY LIMITS THIS YEAR— From headliners Charli XCX and Skrillex to up-and-comers Fai Laci and Flight By Nothing, ACL offered a little bit of everything this past weekend.
Although rain took over much of Zilker Park, measures were put in place to keep sets on track. Unfortunately, Left Lucid and Fightmaster had their sets canceled after Saturday's start times were pushed back in anticipation of heavy rain. By Saturday afternoon, plastic mesh walkways and artificial turf had been laid down, along with Mobi-mats to help attendees using wheelchairs and strollers navigate the slippery terrain. The mud—which reached up to three inches deep—meant people had to adapt on the fly, since warnings weren't announced until the festival began.
I was impressed, however, by how thoughtful the accessibility efforts were, from ASL interpreters at Suki Waterhouse and Lola Young's sets to special front-row sections for deaf and hard of hearing attendees and their plus-ones (though spots were limited).
Despite the conditions, it was clear people came to Austin just to have a good time. Every outfit was covered by a rain poncho, and chunky boots were swapped for rain boots (stores across Austin had sold out by Saturday morning), but everyone was there for the music. That says a lot about the artists performing and the atmosphere the festival grounds created.
I've attended more festivals than I can count (most of them in California), but dare I say this may be my favorite one yet. Every activation was well spaced out, with one paired almost perfectly next to each stage. Highlights included a much-needed silent disco, the Recess Unwind Club, the two-story Patrón DJ oasis, and, of course, Austin Kiddie Limits.
Let's take a deep dive into The Luna Collective's favorite sets from the weekend, why I'll definitely be returning next year and how Texas really does southern hospitality best.
Friday
Paris Paloma
With my first day taken up by artist interviews, I kept my schedule open to wander the grounds and discover new artists.
Paris Paloma
My first stop was Paris Paloma at the Miller Lite Stage—she'd been on my radar long before the festival. Channeling her dark femininity, the singer wore a free-flowing silk dress, black combat boots, crimson eye accents and a bold red lip, with a matching streak painted down her chest like the Rothko described in her song. Since going viral with "Labour," Paloma has become a symbol of female strength, using her music to push back against misogyny and the unequal labor women are expected to carry. Her set was inseparable from that message: she called out men who stand by while other men do harm, including Austin-based billionaire Elon Musk. The slot was early and the rain was just starting, but there was no question that Paloma's voice is powerful, and the way her femininity runs through both her look and her music only makes her stronger.
Izzy Escobar
It wouldn't be ACL Fest without a little soul. Classically trained in violin and shaped by both her Cuban and Italian heritage, Izzy Escobar took the BMI Stage shortly after in a gold ruffled minidress and tall black boots, accented with chunky black and gold pieces. Her voluminous brown curls and big stage presence made her a perfect fit for the festival's early slots.
Romy
Romy Madley Croft, known simply as Romy and a founding member of The xx, played a surprise solo DJ set at the Hacienda Patrón activation at 5 p.m. She performed for 30 minutes from the center stage on the first floor of the two-story lounge, alongside a custom "Romy" Patrón tequila bottle, to a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd that had been waiting eagerly to see her.
Brandon Flowers
I've long admired Brandon Flowers as the frontman of The Killers, one of my favorite bands. His solo music leans a little too Americana for my taste, but the man was born to command a stage. Flowers played the 5:15 p.m. slot on the Miller Lite Stage after Paloma, running through his solo hits alongside Killers classics like "When You Were Young" and "All These Things That I've Done." Honestly, this transitional slot felt like the right place for him. I don't think he has quite enough steam to carry a later slot next to headliners like Charli xcx and Lorde, but he clearly has a solid solo fanbase in Austin and sure as hell has the talent for a stage this big.
Honorable Mentions
Rebecca Black: Her crowd was so big I genuinely could not squeeze into the Tito's Tent to watch.
Turnstile: I'm sure everyone's heard about the great ACL mud mosh pit of 2026 by now, and as much as I would've loved to dance in the sludge, I was busy with interviews.
Labrinth: I'm absolutely obsessed with Labrinth as an artist, and he's definitely one to check out during weekend two.
Marlon Funaki: I had the chance to meet him in the press lounge, and he was an absolute delight. He won't be returning for weekend two, but I'd highly recommend listening to his music.
Saturday
My favorite day of the festival started with a BBQ at Big Loud Texas, featuring special performances from Waylon Payne and Dexter and the Moonrocks. Having just woken up themselves, the country-rock band captured exactly what I and everyone else was feeling. That exhaustion quickly turned to excitement, though, as I was welcomed with a classic Texas meal of brisket, mac and cheese and beer, and spent my morning enjoying a 30-minute private set. The band's candor, even if it sometimes tries a little too hard to be punk, is what will take them far. Lead singer James Tuffs kept coughing into the microphone and asking audience members for weed (which is extremely illegal in Texas). But hey, Texas could use a new rebellious folk-rock band, so I'm not complaining.
Finn Wolfhard
Man, I don't know where the time has gone, but I feel like I blinked and Finn Wolfhard grew up. And let me tell you, he looked good on stage. His style is usually pretty basic, but he showed up in a white-and-forest-green Kermit the Frog shirt and a blue hat with a red Canadian flag. It wasn't exactly typical ACL style, but it worked for him. I've seen some criticism that his set didn't add much to the festival, but I think that misses the point of those mid-afternoon slots (his was 2:45 p.m. on the American Express Stage). They're meant for artists with strong fan bases and low-key stage presences who make for an easy transition into the day. Was his set spectacular? No. But his voice is unique, and it stuck with me enough afterward that I wanted to write about it, which is really all you can ask for.
Suki Waterhouse
If you had told me two years ago, when I saw Suki Waterhouse in Los Angeles, that she would blow up this big, I honestly wouldn't have been surprised. Not only is she beautiful yet approachable, her stage presence has grown noticeably over the last few years. Her style is entirely her own (a little quirky, but it works for her), and of course, she has an incredible voice. Wearing an orange zebra-print bodysuit, a structured white top with plaid sleeves and pink bows, she performed in front of a giant disco ball while holding an oversized sword. The look was definitely out there, yet somehow it still read as clean and polished. She was also one of the only artists that came to the edge of the barricade, took photos with fans and pointed the mic at them to sing along. I used to think of her as an indie artist, known for songs like "Good Looking" and "Moves," but her ACL set proved she's a soon to be rock star.
Fai Laci
One of my favorite discoveries of the weekend was the indie rock band Fai Laci. I stumbled upon their set on my way to see Palace, and then ran into lead singer Luke Faillaci twice more: once in the press lounge and once in the crowd at Twenty One Pilots. He's a genuine, happy guy with a vibrant energy and the band's fan base seems to match it. The crowd was small but mixed in age, respectful of one another and clearly having a good time. In one corner, a couple my parents' age danced along; in the center, a guy smoked a joint; and in the very back, where the under-18 crowd was taking photos of their outfits, a few lingered, seemingly intrigued by what they heard.
Lola Young
Seeing Lola Young perform after a yearlong break from live shows will forever be a highlight for me. Not only is she one of the most talented voices of our generation, but she's also upfront about her boundaries, yet still respectful in how she sets them, and transparent with fans about what she needs from them. As one of the only artists to offer an ASL interpreter, Lola is clearly attuned to what her audience needs, and she expects the same candor in return. Her ACL set didn't stray much from her past shows, but I'm extremely grateful she chose it as her return to the stage, and I hope she keeps performing. Despite a group of boys dressed as bananas trying to cut to the front (don't worry, the girlies prevailed), the crowd seemed to share that gratitude. When she paused mid-set to take everything in, everyone began chanting, "Lola, Lola, Lola!"
Honorable Mentions
Palace: Although I love their music, I wasn’t entirely impressed by their set compared to other artists’ stage presence. Artists performing during that time slot next weekend to check out are Ryan Beatty and Young Miko.
Bleachers: I caught their performance the night before for ACL Live at Moody Theater and was blown away by their set design and how great they sound live. I would 100 percent recommend seeing them during weekend two.
Sunday
Nothing like a little Sunday afternoon football to wait out the rain! As the first two hours of the festival disappeared under a rain cloud, hundreds of festivalgoers took cover in The Big Tent next to the Miller Lite stage. Sinking into inflatable chairs, everyone gathered around to watch the Texas vs Texas showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans on the big screen. The game usually lands on ACL weekend, and in recent years it's become a go-to break from the heat, a hallmark experience for returning attendees and a true testament to Texas pride.
Stella Lefty
As the rain began to let up, Stella Lefty took the stage. With all the controversy surrounding her music lately, I've strayed from listening to her. Despite the backlash, though, her crowd made it clear that the fan base she's built will keep her on top. While I do believe she's used AI on one or two of her tracks, there's no denying the vocal talent is there. Before she came out, two boys in the front row started a "When I say Stella, you say Lefty! When I say train to, you say Boston!" chant, while a group of little girls nearby giggled with excitement. I couldn't stay for her full set because I had another interview to get to, but the whole time I was there, she was extremely engaged with her fans, even stepping out into the rain to greet them, and I actually preferred her live voice to the recordings. Was it incredible? No. But honestly, she was better than I expected.
Audrey Hobert
Audrey Hobert at the T-Mobile stage was my next must-see of the day. Known for her theatrics, she's somehow predictable in what she'll do during a set yet completely unpredictable in how she'll pull it off. The usual dramatics delivered: she opened with "I Like to Touch People" in a seven-foot-tall tan trench coat, Groucho glasses and a banjo, then revealed a second navy trench coat underneath, slowly peeling off layers and tossing her props to her cousin Savannah Kirk (I slowly became obsessed with their dynamic as well as the guitarist on her right’s energy as they danced together onstage). Hobert’s ad-libs about how incredible she is and how she was "born for this sh*t," paired with her still-awkward movements, are exactly why her audience loves her. She's a perfect example, for every age group, of believing in yourself, especially when you hit your stride later in life. Audrey continued with her signature mini-trampoline routine during "Sue Me," playing it twice and asking fans the second time to put their phones down if they really wanted to have a good time. Solid performance as to be expected.
Geese
Fresh off their much talked about Forest Hills Stadium show in New York the night before, Geese took to the T-Mobile Stage around 6:30 p.m. The start of their set fell a little flat for me. I was hoping for something more intense as an opener, but they went with "Husbands" instead. They quickly moved into "Getting Killed" however and slid into what always seems to be a chaotic set for them... and yet, it works. What fascinates me most about Geese is how unpredictable their music is; people tend to either love it or not get it at all. Full of dread and misdirection, their sets thrive on a kind of pandemonium that I think is exactly what their fans love most. If you wanted turmoil of the purely fun variety, though, Turnstile's set was probably the one to catch.
Twenty One Pilots
I almost skipped Twenty One Pilots' set because I had a flight to catch a few hours later, but the chance to hear "Heathens" live kept me waiting in the crowd for an hour to get a good spot, and I'm so glad I did. Ski mask reveals, crowd surfing, fan favorites: this headlining set had it all. I never would have expected the band to close out weekend one of ACL, but clearly someone knew something I didn't. From lead singer Tyler Joseph swinging the microphone over the pit to telling the crowd to expect to get even dirtier before throwing mud on himself, it was the perfect end to an incredible weekend.
Honorable Mentions
Jess Williamson: She drew a smaller crowd, but if you like classic Americana with a little edge, you'll love her.
Parcels: Their music is incredible live, and I loved the orange and yellow tones of their stage design. Still, if you don't already know their music, I'd recommend splitting that time slot between other artists, like Blood Orange and The War on Drugs.
All in all, my first-ever Austin City Limits was a success! The lineup, the activations, yes, even the weather all came together to make this a weekend I'll always remember. From the security guard at the press lounge to my Uber driver on the way home, Texas really does Southern hospitality well, even at a festival. The second someone spit on my shoes, though, I knew it was time to head back to New York. Still, ACL, I will never forget you (or the smell of manure on my shoes).
