Our Dream ACL Festival 2020 Lineup

We couldn't have ACL this year, so we're manifesting instead.

Written by Afterglow Editorial Staff

Illustrated by Darrina Green

In an ideal world, we’d be attending the 18th annual Austin City Limits music festival this weekend. Given that C3 Presents never even announced a lineup prior to the festival’s pandemic-led cancellation, we’re only left to dream of what guests could have (and should have) been. Here are just a few acts our Editorial Staff would have liked to see perform at this year’s beloved festival — whether the artist’s appearance lends more to fantasy than reality.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

As one of the most politically outspoken bands in rock, Rage Against the Machine is the obvious headliner for any music festival happening during an election year. During the '90s, the band made a name for itself with their leftist and sometimes radical approaches to American and international politics. After disbanding in 2000 and getting together on-and-off again since 2007, Rage announced their return to the music scene earlier this year with a tour appropriately named Public Service Announcement — coincidence? I think not. Before concerts ceased to exist, Rage was also slated to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival back in April. Rage has never performed at ACL Fest, which makes this year the perfect time for the rap-metal band to make their first appearance at Zilker Park. The band is known for its searing political commentary, distorted guitar riffs, and various contributions to social justice activism. Rage's most popular song, "Killing in the Name," centers on police brutality and the presence of white supremacy in law enforcement — existing issues that have become especially prevalent this year. Besides sixty minutes of pure political enlightenment, festival goers in a pandemic-free alternate reality would also enjoy being crushed against thousands of bodies while they witness Tom Morello attack his signature whammy pedal to create Rage's distinct, out-of-this-world sound. Although everyone feels differently about America's turbulent political climate, Rage Against the Machine would have the ACL crowd off their feet while they mosh, headbang, and scream "F-ck you, I won't do what you tell me" at the top of their lungs. — Kriss Conklin

LORDE

Although there's nothing royal about the sweltering Austin heat and the muddy lawns of Zilker Park, dream pop star Ella Yelich-O'Connor (professionally known as Lorde) deserves a spot at the top of the ACL lineup for her ability to turn the terrifying experience of adolescence into music you can dance or cry to at your next (socially distanced) kickback. Lorde's rise to stardom began with her radio hit single "Royals," a moody daydream about what it would be like to live in opulence. The Kiwi singer-songwriter first played ACL in 2014, one year after releasing her debut album Pure Heroine. Only 18 at the time, Lorde managed to close that festival with a crowd larger than any of the six headliners that played that year. In 2017, she released her sophomore album Melodrama, which details the emotional rollercoaster of heartbreak. Lorde is the perfect artist for ACL 2020 because nobody understands the rush of feeling young and invincible more than the twenty-somethings who attend the festival every year. Lorde's limited but incredible discography offers festival goers everything they could ever want in just sixty minutes. Fans looking to dance their worries away would enjoy "Team" and "Homemade Dynamite," while those looking to get in their feels could shed tears to "Liability" and "Hard Feelings/Loveless." Her third album may be in the works, but headlining a major music festival would be the perfect way for Lorde to make her grand return to the world of sad pop music. — Kriss Conklin

BAD BUNNY

From his participation in Puerto Rican protests to his groundbreaking one-man production of “TOY STORY EN TIEMPOS DEL CORONA VIRUS,” he’s left many to question — who is the skirt-wearing, acrylic nail-flaunting Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio? Breaking into the trapero scene with his drowsy 2018 hit “Amorfoda,” Bad Bunny has been booked and busy carrying the weight of the reggaeton industry on his back the past two years. Whether it’s clapping back at Don Omar’s homophobia or getting reggaetoneros like Anuel AA hot and bothered with his killer drag, el conejo malo is here to break traditional conventions of the typically machista genre alongside pretty boy gang Maluma and J Balvin. From X100PRE to LAS QUE NO IBAN A SALIR, it is not an exaggeration to claim that there is not one flop in the puertorriqueño’s entire discography. (Do you really want to be the one to challenge this simple truth?) With his February release YHLQMDLG still reigning as the most streamed album of 2020, Bad Bunny takes no days off, but if he wasn’t bluffing, fans may only get one more album out of el trapero. Needless to say, boricuas, morenas, dominicanos, and colombianos were robbed of their 512-drenched, sol playa y arena summer. In an ideal world, lovers of the perreo genre would be throwing it back at ACL when “Safaera” comes on, anticipating the greatest transition of reggaeton history as we scream, “Mami, ¿qué tú quiere'? Aquí llegó tu tiburón!” And although our conscience is saying, “yo quiero perrear y fumarme un blunt,” nosotras las toxicas will have to settle for dancing with our broom on Saturday morning cleans for now. —Samantha Paradiso

FATHER JOHN MISTY

Josh Tillman, better known as Father John Misty, is no doubt a polarizing figure. With a savior complex, lumberjack beard, and eccentric personality, he is the embodiment of the much-hated 2010s hipster. Tillman’s sarcastic, holier-than-thou attitude blurs the line between satire and condescension, but one thing about him is certain: his concerts are a blast. From gorgeous orchestral arrangements to his infamous political rant that ended a set 30 minutes early, the singer offers unique live experiences that transcend his setlists. By infusing the over-the-top melodrama of his music and character into his shows, he creates memorable performances that only Father John Misty could deliver. Although he hasn’t played ACL since his 2018 debut at the festival, Tillman’s shrewd social commentary and flamboyant persona would make a perfect combo for a concert in this turbulent year. — C.S. Harper

MITSKI

Although Mitski’s most recent studio album Be the Cowboy was released in 2018, its themes of love, misery, and isolation seem more relevant than ever in our current era of unprecedented chaos. Imagine reveling in your own loneliness to the anthemic disco of “Nobody” or having a cathartic existential crisis to the distorted riffs of “Your Best American Girl” — all alongside the thousands of festival attendees who are completely and utterly sick of this hellscape year. There’s something truly comforting about communal frustration, which Mitski knows far too well how to translate. The acclaimed artist made several appearances on the 2019 festival circuit, hitting the likes of Lollapalooza, Governors Ball, and Osheaga, but she’s never played ACL. What better place is there for the indie rock queen to “be the cowboy” than in the very heart of Austin, Texas itself? — Zoe Judilla

CHARLEY CROCKETT

A direct descendant of the Texas legend Davy Crockett, the up-and-coming country star Charley Crockett hails from the Rio Grande Valley and now resides in Austin, Texas. He’s been a recording artist since 2005, but it wasn't until his two latest releases, The Valley (2019) and Welcome To Hard Times (2020), that this cowboy hit the big time country scene. Revered for his distinct meshing of Louisiana blues and Texas country sounds, he’s busked in cities all over the world and serenaded audiences all across the country with his southern drawl and charming on-stage dance moves. Crockett spent last October in Nashville gracing the Grand Ole Opry stage, but this year, there would be no better place to vibe and jive to his fresh take on country music than the ACL Festival grounds. — Micaela Garza

HAYLEY WILLIAMS

Known as the punky frontwoman of Paramore and for her chart-topping features with Zedd and B.o.B, this year Hayley Williams embarked on a long-awaited solo venture that experiments with pop stylings. With the critical success of Petals for Armor, released on May 8, Williams captures the raw emotion of anger and depression while creating a sonically enticing atmosphere. After announcing a tour throughout America and the U.K, an idea she said seemed terrifying yet satisfying, the singer lost her chances at performing solo due to the cancellation of concerts and festivals. In past years, Williams has performed at multiple festivals with Paramore, such as Reading+Leeds and Bonnaroo, but ACL could have been her first festival as a solo act. With dance bops like “Over Yet” and “Sugar on the Rim," her enthusiastic stage presence and the beautiful stage production based on her album’s floral aesthetic would have fit right in with Austin’s artistic scene. — Keylee Paz

RESIDENTE

Puerto Rican native and former half of legendary duo Calle 13, René Pérez Joglar is not only a resident of the 'Isla del Encanto,' but the owner of América Latina’s heart. When stepbrothers Joglar and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez banded together as Calle 13’s Residente and Visitante, the pair hit the Puerto Rico music scene hard and fast. With controversial and political hits like “Tango del Pecado,” “Querido FBI,” and “La Perla,” Calle 13 produced music that makes your wela clutch her baby blue plastic rosario. Though the two disbanded in 2015, René went on to release his debut self-titled album, “Residente,” in 2017, alongside several popular singles like “Bellacoso,” “Pecador,” and “Hoy.” A conceptual album, Residente traveled to his descendants’ countries and collaborated with local artists for his solo LP. Each track representative of a different country, the project’s 13 songs reflect Residente’s lineage as reported from a genealogical DNA test. And although a date is yet to be confirmed, René has been experimenting with professors at Yale to produce music from mice brain waves on his sophomore album. Whether old or new, Residente’s cross-cultural and genre-bending music has touched Latinxs all across the region, garnering the Boricua 24 Latin Grammys, the most any artist has won to date. From his catchy chorus accompanied by involuntary girations in “Atrévete-Te-Te” to the tear-inducing “Latinoamérica,” any setlist from Residente at Austin City Limits would be the hottest thing since Selena at the Astrodome. —Samantha Paradiso

DON TOLIVER

Best known for his feature on “Can’t Say” off Travis Scott’s 2018 release Astroworld, Don Toliver has been steadily rising as a key player in the Houston rap revival since he was first signed to the Cactus Jack imprint. His distinct voice, blended 'trap-n-B' sound, and the success of Tik-Tok dance soundtracks “No Idea” and “After Party” have boosted the Texas native to the same rank as a rap veteran. He’s been featured on numerous bangers since 2018 and released his debut album Heaven or Hell earlier this year, adding up to a beefy musical repertoire that fans are eager to hear live. Besides an impressive track record, ACL Fest goers can look forward to the possibility of another Cactus Jack artist like Scott or Sheck Wes joining Toliver on stage to get the crowd hyped up. — Micaela Garza

MEGAN THEE STALLION

The H-Town Hottie was slated to perform at ACL in 2019, but the rapper did not make it to Zilker Park in time for her set. This year’s festival would have been the perfect opportunity for a re-do, but alas, we’ll have to wait another year to see the world’s strongest knees in person. Meg’s star has grown even brighter since just a year ago: she’s collaborated with both Beyoncé and Cardi B, won two MTV Video Music Awards, and snatched two number ones on the Billboard Hot 200 — a huge feat for a female emcee. It’s hard not to imagine what a Megan Thee Stallion set would have been like. Inhaling the sweat and body odor of complete strangers would be beyond worth it just to witness the braggadocious bass of “Cocky AF” or the sweltering swagger of “Captain Hook” live. Hopefully we’ll be able to welcome Meg back home to Texas in 2021. — Delaney Davis

FRANK OCEAN

In the beginning, Frank Ocean created Channel ORANGE and he saw that it was good … Annnnd then he dipped for four years. Stepping out from rap collective Odd Future, Frank staked his claim as one of R&B’s greatest up-and-coming artists with his 2012 release. From the nostalgic teen angst of “Forrest Gump” to the upbeat funky feel of “Lost” and the epic “Pyramids” that gives Homer a run for his money, Frank Ocean has a knack for storytelling through his music. After years of radio silence, he dropped his second full-length project, Blonde (a release that, as the cover alludes, had us crying in the shower), granting mercy on fans who had previously listened to the artist’s debut LP ‘til the record scratched. Less focused on cartoonish narratives and more so tuned into his personal intimations of love and heartbreak, Blonde’s timeline defies chronology and instead beats to the metronome of Ocean’s heart. Much like his 2019 Met Gala ensemble (which felt more customs agent at Austin Bergstrom than camp), Frank’s concerts are simple and understated. No smoking mirrors, no choreo or ensemble, and a production quality reminiscent of your high school’s tech theatre skills. But Frank Ocean doesn’t need that — the New Orleans native performs with such an earnest, melancholic simplicity that strikes fans in the most profound way. Though it may seem like the semi-reclusive artist would rather hunt for pennies in between couch cushions than perform at a major music festival, prior to this whole COVID fiasco, Ocean was set to headline Coachella alongside Rage Against the Machine and Mickey D’s enthusiast Travis Scott. Why not throw the Miller Lite stage in the mix? In an ideal world, the Blonde singer would be closing ACL on Sunday night granting fans the most transcendental experience of their lives as he ends his set with “Nights” — and that’s not the shrooms talking. — Samantha Paradiso

Afterglow ATXSeptember 29, 2020kriss conklin, samantha paradiso, zoe judilla, micaela garza, keylee paz, delaney davis, C.S. Hayter