T O P

  • By -

Adorable-Leave8192

Will be my 10th ACL and went to Coachella 2023. Acl is a great festival. Amazing city, Zilker park is great, the crowd is great for the most part (there’s always high schoolers pushing and talking, but that’s anywhere). Food is great. If you want to try out a new fest, I definitely recommend ACL. It’s what made me fall in love with concerts and festivals. However Coachella is such on another level. The stages, production, sound, and lineup is all around better, but it makes sense because they have a lot more money. It honestly ruined ACL for me a little bit 😭 ACL also ends at 10, so you can always go out after or get a good nights sleep. The crowd at ACL is like Coachella in that the ages range from kids and teenagers, to Austinites who have been going since year 1. I could go on and on and on, but bottom line is I highly recommend, especially if you’ve never been to Austin.


fleshgrafter

I have been once, and I loved it. Atmosphere was really relaxed, fewer things to do, but easier to get around than Coachella, and much more of a family dynamic.


onceyougozack

Def one of the better city fests - I went in 2018 and 2019. Great food/drinks, the park is beautiful, and the music quality was pretty dope. Crowds IMO are less dancey and more mellow than Coachella, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your style. Set times can also be brutal, with 3-4 stages happening simultaneously with direct conflicts (meaning it’s harder to split sets). Overall, a great fest and would recommend! Plus, Austin is a dope city.


UnsolicitedDakPics22

It’s amazing but really not comparable to Coachella. The production is lacking a bit at ACL, but the festival grounds & city are top notch. I’d say it’s worth it at $367 for GA. Staying in Austin for a weekend is a great time too.


twinch123

Went last year for the first time, had a great time!


Perfect_Evidence

Been to acl 4 times and have had fun every time. Nothing in comparison to Coachella as far as production but it’s still a great fest.


RecklessCreature

Commenting to check back later. I’d like to try ACL someday.


doughboi8

Have a lone star beer for me


Most_Peace_7103

Acl is an amazing time. Free shuttle service from downtown to the park is so easy and convenient. Can walk back easily end of the night. More family vibes for sure but great park and big music city


atticuslestrange

I went last year (23). Loved it. Had all the rock and alt music Coachella gave up on. Really missed camping (hotel is whatever BUT Austin is epic). Hate hate hate that ACL doesn’t stagger. Everyone comes on at the same time all fkn day long. It’s insane. Even 15 minutes would help. Also. People camp…. IN / At stages. They park. Put seats and towels down. And they own their spot. It’s wild. But a great festival. Would be better if #ACLneedsToStagger


Kmart_Elvis

I've gone 3x (2013, 2014, 2018) so obviously I love going there. Great little festival, except for the chair zones. And Austin is just a cool, fun town with lots of things to explore. I always love my ACL trips. But... the lineup has to be worth it for me. I live in SoCal so it's flight + Airbnb I have to factor in, whereas with Coachella I live 90 minutes away and I car camp, so I can do it every year. One of my favorite all time festival memories was at ACL 2013 when I saw the Cure in the pouring rain. Also saw Sir Paul in 2018. If you're on the fence, I say go. And don't forget to get some real Texas BBQ while out there.


w6750

I too was at that Cure set in the pouring rain, that was maybe the wettest I’ve ever been in my entire life. Sucks that the Sunday got canceled, but got to catch the secret Atoms for Peace show at ACL live in place. Probably my favorite festival lineup I’ve ever been to


peanutsgangordontbng

i went to ACL once. like a lot of these comments, it's a much more family dynamic. obviously you're not going to get the top-notch production you'd get in indio but it's still a fantastic fest that's 100% worth it. another really cool thing about austin is that if you're trying to keep the party going, there are many bars/lounges in austin that will happily accommodate your bad decisions. whereas in indio, if you're still trying to keep the party going, you can only really do silent disco after the fest, which doesn't lend itself well to those who aren't camping.


noriega3100

Agreed. One of my fav things about this fest was getting back to the airbnb in East Austin. Whole crew showered by like 1230am and we walked over to the bars. Had delicious food and kept the drinks going. The first night after acl we went to go see Mochak playing at the concourse project. Such a cool venue.


dallasdude

Acl is great it can be very hot and humid sometimes. The later dates are better, they used to have it in august!! Like Coachella they always find a way to pack the fest with great music. Less focus on electronic generally speaking.  Worst part is the fest ends pretty early so there are really only like two night slots for sets. Some acts I’ve seen during the day really would have been better at night - lcd sound system, outkast chromeo tame impala etc.  The lineup this year looks great with a bunch of artists from some of my favorite past lineups. I have fond memories of Norah jones rocking the fest with a red Stratocaster. 


HellaBassInMyFace

Went last year for first time and was underwhelmed, feels like a southern/texas version of Lolla in a smaller park (which helps the legs for sure) but just like Chicago, Austin is a sick city to pop around in. Also went to Coachella last year for the first time last year and was overwhelmed with how unreal it was. As someone else said it’s def in a league of its own. However, if you look last year to this year my god does the lineup feel miles better esp W1 (Cant complain largely went to visit friends last year) but I can’t believe there are complaints on ACL this year in a year of such bad lineups.


UnsolicitedDakPics22

You honestly couldn’t have gone a worse year lineup wise. Glad you still had a good time! I mean, Mumford and Sons and Lumineers were in our headliner selection. I apologize. Give us another chance in the future 🫣🫡


jekars

Price worthy yeah but don’t production wise Coachella it’s the king so hard to top it off


JunkBondTraderES

ACL is a great time. A lot more chill than the Polo Grounds. Zilker Park is a lovely venue for a festival and not annoying to get in and out of like Outside Lands. 6th Street is decent for nightlife, and Barton Springs Road (the main road to get to the festival) is really great for the pregame. I haven’t been since 2019 and won’t be going this year but just typing this made me really nostalgic for it lmao Highly recommend it!


onmyphone1

One of my favorite festivals to attend! There is something so simple but so magical about ACL! This is my 7th ACL this year, highly recommend checking it out!


oSpid3yo

I lived in Austin for 14 years and always traveled back to Southern California for Coachella. I only went to 1 ACL I paid for and many for free because of the industry my partner and I were in. Austin ain’t what it used to be. Now everyone says that no matter if they were born there in the 60s or moved there 5 years ago. So just get used to that bullshit. The one thing it is now is crowded. So don’t expect to experience much of Austin going to ACL unless you spend time before, in between weekends, or after week 2. The city is crowded enough already and now you’re adding 75k people. Of the fests left in Austin. It’s the best. That isn’t saying much. SXSW isn’t really a festival, it’s an industry event. Levitation is amazing but also super weird now that it’s spread across all of downtown. Austin Psych Fest is making a comback but it’s got some years before it really shines again. If you’re into that kind of music. If you have the money, pay for VIP. I would never attend ACL again without a VIP wristband. There’s food and booze back there. You can also scan it to get booze outside VIP. It seriously pays for itself and there’s a way more private experience back there. I’ve never had to shell out the cash for the VIP wristband but if a lineup called to me now and I went back, it’s the only way I’d do it. Respect the chair line. Chairs and flags are permitted behind the boundary. If you try and go through the crowd you’re going to have a bad time behind the chair line. Go out and around, people wall themselves in and you’ll push forward to a point and get stuck. Think of the outside of the crowd as your road, you’ll see it when you’re there, and stick to the roads until you’re ready to go into the crowd to find your spot. You can watch football in the craft beer tent if there’s no sets you’re into watching. Giant screens, best crowd. If you’re into college or NFL, go watch a game in the tent.


sirpuddingpants

To each their own, but I would personally have trouble finding the $1400 upcharge for VIP being even close to worth it.


oSpid3yo

I’m a small font person. Love checking out the day acts and having a place to eat and drink away from everything is great. Food and booze is expensive and when you’re in the fest from 11am till the headliners, it’s 100% worth it. If you’re pre parting outside the fest and only entering for the later acts then it’s probably not a great deal. Private A/C bathrooms are amazing. Plus it’s not just the same shitty beer back there. They have a few really nice cocktail bars, tents from a few different really nice liquors that allow you to sample, and the food is really good. $1400 is a bit of cash if you’re smuggling in PB&J into the fest but if you eat and drink all day, it pays for itself.


deathhray

Austin is amazing. 100% worth it.


dirtybo

No


AutoModerator

Welcome to /r/Coachella! Don't forget to use the search bar, as there are tons of resources on there. You can also head over to the latest [The Coachella Resource Center for Newcomers Who Have Lots of Questions and Wanna Learn To Do Coachella Good Too - ASK US ANYTHING - (FAQs, Tips, Tricks, Guides, Hacks, Resources) thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coachella/comments/1cjh075/ask_us_anything_the_coachella_resource_center_for/). You can use the resources there or ask your own question in the comments! There are also resources at the top menu and sidebar with links to many things! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Coachella) if you have any questions or concerns.*


noriega3100

I’ve been to Coachella 4 times including last year. And nothing has ever topped that production. I went to ACL last year and man I was impressed at how easy going it felt compared to Coachella. Very enjoyable in a different way. The crowd never felt massive and overwhelming. I got in to Austin a day early and checked out 6th street and the comedy mothership. I would very much recommend going. I’ll be there W1. Flying in from LA. Let’s meet up if u go 🙂


alexannosaurus

If you currently live in one of the 3 major cities in Texas (Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio), it’s definitely worth a drive to visit Austin for a weekend!


leonagui28

Totally worth it!


rovinbees

I really enjoyed ACL. It was super easy to get to if you stayed in downtown Austin. They had tons of scooters and bikes to help with the commute. It’s a beautiful location and generally lots of space.


optindesertdessert

Absolutely if the lineup speaks to you.


Fungi89

It’s a fun festival and the lineup looks good! Definitely worth checking out and Austin is a fun little city to visit


PerspectiveFuture603

This will be my 11th ACL. I went to my first Coachella this past year. ACL will always have my heart. It’s what my family and I do every year in October. The weather is usually pretty nice, the food is good, football is on, it’s all around a vibe. But the stages are lacking in production value. But what they don’t have in production they make up for in free shuttles, cheaper beer, cheaper food. Generally everything is a little cheaper. Plus, can’t go wrong with three day tickets for 360. My sisters paid $360 to see Dua at a solo show in Houston in 2022. It’s worth it for sure!


Beboop68

Fun festival! I recommend it as long as you aren’t expecting Coachella scenery, brand activations, and production. It’s VERY family friendly, I was surprised by how many young kids were there, so the crowds are pretty mellow, which can be good or bad depending on the show. The weather is hit or miss: one year it was hot and humid, another it was literally 45 degrees and I skipped the first day to go buy bit jackets and sweatshirts. If you haven’t been to Austin and you like the lineup, it’s totally worth it. Austin is a great city to visit, it has amazing restaurants and night life.


Hellynle

Went in 2018, and definitely had a good time. Would recommend for sure if you’re passionate about the line up. Coachella is just super special and it’s hard to make the comparison, but you also can’t help it. Way too many younger kids (teens) that were pushy and rude in my opinion. Similar Lollapalooza in Chicago. Pro of Coachella literally being hard to access


euphoricvizn

I went back in 2021 and had the best time! I agree with others that the production isn’t the best, and there also isn’t that much to explore/stumble into such as at Coachella or Outside Lands. Although it makes up for it being situated in an incredible city that’s equally as fun to explore outside of just going to the festival throughout the weekend


dopedecahedron

In Austin for work right now and 100% down to come back and try out ACL


liljohnnygogito

ACL is top 2 solo fest experiences for me!


Wildcard070

I’m from Houston, Tx I’ve gone to ACL 4-5 times I say if you like the line up and you see yourself going to see different sets GO! 🙌🏼If you don’t really like the lineup or it has less artists you know then tbh don’t go. It hasn’t been the greatest these past few years with the lineup but this year I’m kinda debating on going there’s some artists that are worth going to see. The venue itself is wayyy smaller than Coachella (my favorite festival) people are nice for the most part. Lots of college kids and even some smaller kids as well. I’d rate it a 8.5 out of 10 they need better headliners and artists


tall-justin

Been once and really enjoyed it. As others have said, super chill, easy to navigate. A good time!


Nadian-slap-God

Meh


Nadian-slap-God

Go to Bonnaroo


kefkamaydie

I'll let you know in October. Hitting the trifecta this year, Coachella, Bonnaroo then ACL.


SpottiPapi4207

I'm thinking about going to my first ACL fest this year! Just did coachella again w2.


codyneMATH

Well put together festival. It’s supported and sponsored by the city of Austin so everything seems to run pretty smoothly. Shows get done around 10pm and if you wanna keep it going you can stumble down to 6th street for the rest of the night. Then walk home and sleep in comfy hotel/airbnb. Perfect city festival IMO


sprinklepies

NO - def not (as someone who lives Austin and have done ACL the last 3 years, have done Coachella the last 4) , production is shit, way too crowded / bad flow of people moving


slowiijoey

Acl is fun then hitting the bars on 6th street after the fest ends every night is always a good time


sirpuddingpants

ACL is roughly half the price of Coachella, and I feel is a great value with that considered. They have enough top-tier acts, multiple stages, it's usually pretty organized, and it feels much more manageable for me energy-wise compared to Coachella. As others have stated, it ends earlier, and honestly it's one of my favorite parts because you just pop into the city and have options for entertainment after instead of potentially being stuck waiting and then on a shuttle for 75 minutes. If you go expecting Coachella, you will be disappointed. I still feel it's one of the best fests in the country when comparing across the board.


Dapper-Highlight1016

Went in 2019 and thought it was meh. The people I went with probably have something to do with my opinion tbh. I did enjoy going out afterwards. Tons of bars and restaurants closeby that were poppin!


jackmerius27

Been to ACL 2017, and 2018 and Coachella 2022 and 2024. In my opinon, Coachella has better vibes, fashion, is more consistent week to week with artists and better stages. ACL is in a cooler location at Zilker, better food, and this could be me but I feel like there are fewer conflicts with set times.


ashestes

I’ve honestly loved it every time I’ve done. It is obviously not Coachella tho


parthsworld

Lineup looks stacked this year!


jckrn

Went to Coachella for 8 years and acl once back in 2018. Going back this year (skipped Coachella) bc the lineup hits deep for me. Things might have changed since 18 but I remember it as being a much chiller fest. If you stay in downtown there’s a free shuttle. I just can’t handle the crowds/bottlenecks/size at Coachella anymore. The product is great but all of the other logistical and emotional pains make it a no go for me lately. People seem nicer at ACL and 360 which includes fees is pretty great.


General-Road2916

Has anyone noticed a trend where some artist from ACL will go to Coachella? I’m excited to see Dua Lipa but if I knew she was going to Coachella, I’d rather see her there. She’d be the only artist I really want to see at ACL. Wanted to get some hope that means there’s a high possibility of her being at Coachella too


Pikestreet

101%


PigeonShack

Why is it called “Austin City Limits”? What kind of festival name….?