The Loudest Message At Austin City Limits’ First Weekend Of 2025 Was Joy

Philip Cosores/Derrick Rossignol Historically speaking, musicians use their platforms to make statements about political and social issues, so it stands to reason that a massive music festival could represent the ideal place to do it. This raised the question of whether that might be a theme during the first weekend (October 3 to 5) of the 23rd edition of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which drew 75,000 people per day to the Texas capital’s sprawling Zilker Park. The resounding answer: not really. Save for a comment by Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel (who have opened nearly ever