ACL Fest 2019 Lineup Predictions

Afterglow investigated some of the most talked about Austin City Limits rumors. Here’s our list of some artists that probably are and probably aren’t going to be there this year.

Written by Kasey Clarke

Photo Courtesy of Community Impact Newspaper

Austin City Limits runs this year from Oct. 4-13. The lineup comes out on Tuesday, but this hasn’t stopped eager festival-goers from speculating on who might make an appearance this year. While some are more likely than others, here is a list of a few acts that it might be fun to see, and a list of some rumors I’ve been able to debunk.

Childish Gambino

Donald Glover was set to headline last year’s festival but had to cancel due to an injury. He has been working the festival circuit this year with a recent performance and reveal of the musical film “Guava Island” at Coachella. Many expect him to headline this year to make up for last year’s cancellation.

The Cure

The Cure haven’t been to ACL since 2013, making them due for a return. So far, their tour dates have only been announced through Aug. 23, giving them plenty of time to make the festival. Frontman Robert Smith tweeted the band would headline around 20 festivals this year, and so far, dates have only been revealed for about 16 of them.

Billie Eilish

Eilish is playing the festival circuit heavily in both Europe and America. Although she will be in Europe for some German and Swedish festivals, she returns to the states in late September to play iHeartRadio fest in Las Vegas, making her a likely candidate for ACL.

Kacey Musgraves

Musgraves has a gap in her tour schedule from Sept. 28 to Nov. 11. She came through Texas in March, but she has been at the center of the music world’s attention all year, so it wouldn’t be outrageous to expect her to perform an ACL set. She has made a big splash at festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza and is slated to play at Sing Out Loud festival and All the Best Fest, so it seems likely she would play the biggest festival in her home state.

Anderson .Paak

The only Texas tour dates on Anderson .Paak’s current tour are for Houston and Irving in June. His tour has a suspicious gap from the end of August until October 12, when he is scheduled to play Afropunk Fest. Maybe we can expect a Weekend 1 appearance from him?

Two Door Cinema Club

Fresh off of the release of two singles and the announcement of their upcoming album False Alarm, there is some speculation that this trio might play ACL. They have no planned tour dates for October yet, but their European tour seems to wrap up by Sept. 1. Nothing is confirmed so far, but the band likes to play Austin, so we’ll see!

Post Malone

Posty ends the long leg of his European tour Aug. 23. He is also headlining Firefly and Bonnaroo festivals in June. He grew up in Grapevine, Texas, and Texas musicians love ACL.

Hot Chip

The UK-based electronic band has a break from their Los Angeles show Sept. 17 until they pop back up in Dublin a month later. They haven’t played the festival since 2008, so it’s a long shot, but it’s still possible.

Death Cab For Cutie

The indie band have a pretty comprehensive upcoming US tour with no dates in Texas. They are also playing Firefly and Lollapalooza, which are known to have similar lineups to ACL.

Rumors Proven Too Good to be True:

John Mayer

John skims by Austin in September with tour dates in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. Sadly, by October, he is on the European leg of his tour.

Maggie Rogers

Maggie is playing two nights at ACL Live in mid-October, so it seems unlikely she would also be on the festival line-up.

The Strokes

The Strokes headlined the festival in 2015. While they have room in their tour schedule to visit, they haven’t released any new music lately, so there would be little reason for them to return. ACL likes to invite back afternoon and evening shows every few years, but typically doesn’t repeat headliners so close.

MARINA

Welsh pop artist Marina is stopping by Austin a week before the festival, but is scheduled to perform in Los Angeles by October 4.

Mitski

Mitski is playing ACL Live June 4 in the middle of other Texas dates and then her tour ends in August, so an ACL appearance seems unlikely. She has the time, but it would be weird to visit again that soon. She has been rumored to go by sites like Austin 360, probably because she would be a good fit for the festival.

Lizzo

She made a memorable performance at Coachella, but is set to play in Kentucky, Minneapolis, and Wisconsin the weekends of ACL.

Kali Uchis

Uchis’s tour ends May 30, and then she is playing one show October 5 in Georgia, the Saturday of weekend one. She probably won’t be playing ACL this year but it could be possible to see her at Weekend Two.

Predictions were based off of new music releases, tour dates, past ACL lineups, lineups of the current festival season, and speculation from Austin360 and Reddit.