Words and Photos by: Joshua Guerra
The 2019 ACL Music Festival brought a star studded lineup that fans were excited to see perform at the wonderful Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.
The festival was headlined by rock n roll legends Guns N’ Roses. They took the stage with their original lineup - bringing one of the greatest rock voices, AXL Rose, and one of the legendary guitarists, Slash, back together again for a night of classic rock hits. They performed some of their biggest hits including Welcome To The Jungle, November Rain, Sweet Child O’ Mine, and Chinese Democracy. The band looked great together once again after many years apart, it felt like they were never separated as the on stage chemistry felt like nothing happened between them. Slash went into an amazing solo through the night and the band ultimately ended their set with an encore which included Paradise City with fireworks to conclude the night.
In 2018 Childish Gambino had to drop out from the festival due to an injury. He returned to headline the festival and give the fans a performance like no other and being 100% healthy and give this show his all as this would be his last live show of touring, according to him. He sang and danced the night away giving the fans an amazing live show he is used to doing. A platform stage in between the barricades to separate the crowd rose as he stood in the middle and spotlights on him drew roars from the crowd. A glory moment in all of ACL history was made. He performed songs such as Summertime Magic, Feels Like Summer, Riot, Human Sacrifice, and of course the hit song This Is America. In his encore set he’d perform 3005, Sober, and ended the evening and his last live show with Redbone.
Other star studded performances included the country singer Kacey Musgraves, young upcoming pop artists Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Robyn, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Kali Uchis, Rosalia, Lany, King Princess, Austin’s very own Gary Clark Jr. as well as Lizzo who drew one of the biggest crowds ever seen at ACL at one of the smaller headlining stages. Not knowing how big of a crowd Lizzo was going to bring to her set, she deserved to be at one of the main headlining stages and stole the show that whole weekend.
ACL continues to put together amazing lineups and we are excited to see what artists they bring next and who will be the next big thing and headline ACL in the years to come.