The sun has set on the first weekend of Austin City Limits 2025, but fans are taking plenty of unforgettable memories with them.
From Friday, October 3, to Sunday, October 5, mainstream musicians and indie artists alike brought unbeatable energy to Austin’s Zilker Park, braving the sweltering heat for a weekend filled with fun in the sun.
From surprise celebrity appearances to pop-up experiences, Us Weekly had too many favorite performances to count. Scroll below for a look at some of the highlights from Austin City Limits Weekend 1:
Good Neighbours
The UK indie duo celebrated the release of their debut album, Blue Sky Mentality, with one of the first sets of the weekend at the T-Mobile stage, and they set a perfect example for how to stay cool in the heat. “Are we ready to step up the energy?” asked Oli Fox and Scott Verrill as they ran through high-energy hits like “Ripple,” “Suburbs” and “Starry Eyed.”
Moody Joody
When singers Kaitie Forbes and Kayla Hall and producer Andrew Pacheco hit the BMI stage on Friday, they told fans it was their first time ever playing a festival — but there were no jitters detected. “Our festival debut was pure magic!!!! 🪩 Thank you @aclfestival we will love you forever !!!!!!” read a caption shared via the band’s Instagram following their Friday afternoon performance.
Role Model
One of the biggest questions of the weekend was who Role Model would surprise Us with as Sally — and the answer was worth the wait. Hilary Duff danced her heart out on stage during “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out,” but that wasn’t the only highlight. Along with a pitch perfect cover of “Somebody Else” by The 1975, Role Model brought the diva energy and the humor. “Like I said, we are Maroon 5, and we are so happy to be here tonight,” he joked on stage.
Hozier
The Irish singer-songwriter wrapped up Friday night in a dreamy bow, soaring through old favorites including “Jackie and Wilson” and “Like Real People Do” before heading out into the crowd for intimate renditions of “Cherry Wine” and “Unknown/Nth.” Like much of his music, the performance spoke truth to power, as Hozier voiced his support for peace at home and abroad. He closed out the night with “Take Me to Church,” the tune that made him a household name.
Olivia Dean
Riding the high of her viral hit “Man I Need,” Dean gave fans the perfect excuse to dance in the Saturday afternoon sun. In one of the more tender moments of the weekend, the English singer dedicated “Carmen” to her grandmother, sharing the heartfelt inspiration behind the song from her 2023 record, Messy. “You transplanted a family tree / And a part of it grew into me,” she belted from the American Express stage.
King Princess
Along with taking over the T-Mobile stage with her performance on Friday afternoon, a few lucky fans were treated to an electrifying pop-up DJ set from King Princess on Saturday at Hacienda PATRÓN, the two-story oasis set up by PATRÓN Tequila in the heart of Zilker Park. King Princess toasted to a successful first weekend at ACL with a PATRÓN Headliner Margarita in hand, promising for even more fun the following weekend.
Sabrina Carpenter
“Everything’s bigger in Texas … except for me,” Carpenter teased during her jam-packed Saturday night headlining slot. While there was chatter in the weeks leading up to the festival that a Taylor Swift cameo could be on the horizon, Carpenter did one better by bringing out the incomparable Shania Twain for a duet of “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” The pop star’s setlist gave the perfect balance of new and old, from “Because I Liked a Boy” and “Feather” to “Manchild” and “Tears” — complete with that viral dance break.
The Dare
Sunday afternoon started with a bang and transported festivalgoers to the club. Clad in his trademark suit and tie, The Dare drew a crowd of sweaty fans to the Miller Lite stage and made the Austin park feel like a Bushwick warehouse party. The producer — known for his work on “Guess” by Charli XCX and — even joked the 3:15 p.m. set time was probably the earliest he’s ever had. But for Us, it’s never too early for a little indie sleaze energy.
T-Pain
From a Brooklyn rave to a middle school dance, Sunday night brought fans to their feet. T-Pain emerged from saloon doors in a full leather getup — and delivered the best stage presence of the weekend. He took fans on a journey through his decades-long career, taking a moment to recharge with covers of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Tennessee Whiskey” before bringing the energy back up with “Kiss Kiss,” “All I Do Is Win” and more of his biggest hits.
The Killers
While the band was a last-minute addition to the festival’s lineup in place of Doja Cat, fans came ready to rock and end the weekend on a high note. Beginning with a cover of “Whiskey River” in a tribute to “your neck of the woods,” Brandon Flowers and his bandmates took Us back with “Somebody Told Me,” “When You Were Young” and “Smile Like You Mean It.” Like all of the best nights, “Mr. Brightside” was the final song playing as the lights went up on the festival grounds.
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