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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Austin City Limits Festival announces 2009 lineup

by PegNews wire

While I was a little less than impressed with the 2008 ACL Festival, there are definitely an number of bright spots in this year's lineup.

First of all, Pearl Jam. When was the last time you saw Pearl Jam? The band has some shows scheduled in England and Germany in August, but they've largely been absent from touring, at least locally. In March, Vedder and company released a reissue for their debut album, Ten. Currently, the band is working on its ninth studio album.

Add that to Beastie Boys, DMB, and Sonic Youth, and it's an early- to mid-90s explosion all over Austin. But of bands you might actually want to see. Or perhaps not you. Maybe just me. Just me is also psyched about Kings of Leon, Flogging Molly, Coheed and Cambria, and Arctic Monkeys. Alas.

Included in the lineup are some locals, Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights and Sarah Jaffe.

This year's ACL Festival is October 2-4 (less sweltering heat, kinda) and 3-day passes have jumped up $15 from last year to $185.

Pearl Jam
Dave Matthews Band
Beastie Boys
Kings of Leon
Ben Harper and Relentless7
Thievery Corporation
John Legend
The Dead Weather
The Levon Helm Band
Ghostland Observatory
Sonic Youth
Mos Def
Toadies
Flogging Molly
The B-52s
Lily Allen
Citizen Cope
Arctic Monkeys
The Decemberists
Coheed and Cambria
Andrew Bird
Girl Talk
STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
Phoenix
Bassnectar
Bon Iver
!!!
Avett Brothers
The Airborne Toxic Event
Medeski, Martin & Wood
Clutch
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Grizzly Bear
Heartless Bastards
Passion Pit
White Lies
Dan Auerbach
The Walkmen
The Scabs
Reckless Kelly
DeVotchka
Blitzen Trapper
The Virgins
Here We Go Magic
Eek-A-Mouse
K'Naan
Asleep at the Wheel
Dr. Dog
The Raveonettes
The Knux
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
State Radio
Los Amigos Invisibles
The Felice Brothers
Federico Aubele
Raul Malo
Daniel Johnston
Poi Dog Pondering
Brett Dennen
Rodriguez
Henry Butler
Preservation Hall
Sam Roberts Band
The Greencards
Sara Watkins
Walter "Wolfman" Washington
David Garza
John Vanderslice
Zac Brown Band
Todd Snider
School of Seven Bells
The Dodos
Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3
Alberta Cross
Deer Tick
Bell X1
Alela Diane
The Wood Brothers
The Parlor Mob
Rebirth Brass Band
Marva Wright
Terri Hendrix
L.A.X.
Lisa Hannigan
The Low Anthem
Sons of Bill
Suckers
Sarah Jaffe
Cotton Jones
The Henry Clay People
Papa Mali
Jypsi
Vince Mira
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights
Mimicking Birds
Jeffrey Steele
Jonell Mosser
Leatherbag
Keith Gattis
Damien Horne
Sarah Siskind
The Dexateens
Nelo
Danny Brooks
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
The Soul Stirrers
The Durdens
Palm School Elementary
The Gospel Silvertones
Diaconos
Quinn Sullivan
Ralph's World
Q Brothers
Milkshake
Telephone Company
Loose Cannons
Lunch Money

Posted by Erin

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Id sure love to have a festival of that nature in our backyard. Too bad we dont have anyone who can get it together and plan it..

Chris Kidd Verified

6 months, 4 weeks ago
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Worst lineup ever.

ecg0792 Anonymous

6 months, 4 weeks ago
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At least one of the headliners and 3-5 of the midcard acts will cancel, has been an issue at ACL since the start.

Chris Kidd Verified

6 months, 4 weeks ago
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$185? WTF?

Travis Bush Verified

6 months, 4 weeks ago
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"$185? WTF?"

My thoughts exacty. I love the music scene in Austin... but that's beaucoup bux too much.

rinea Anonymous

6 months, 4 weeks ago
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So you can't even go in for one or two days? Sounds like ripping people off to me.

Travis Bush Verified

6 months, 4 weeks ago
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ACL being expensive is news to you people?

Scott Doyle Verified

6 months, 4 weeks ago
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I went in 2007, skipped last year (got married) and was planning to go back this year. I scoffed at the ticket prices for the simple fact they wont announce the lineup when they put them on sale, not to mention their "pricing" scheme for early birds, which has made quite a few people upset. Instead, im headed to LA for a week to see the sights and ride some coasters.

Chris Kidd Verified

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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I'd consider going if Gogol Bordello came back, but meh. I might just head down there to visit friends and hang out, though. There won't be any lack of music on the street.

Pavel Lishin Verified

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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ACL didn't use to be this expensive. Last time I went I think tix were $95 which was reasonable given the volume of bands. $185 is absurd with that lineup, especially with ACL's penchant for hippie bands.

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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The last time I went, several years ago, the fest was WAY overcrowded. I seem to remember reading that one of the strategies to keep things in check was to hike prices.

Simple supply and demand -- Zilker park only holds so many people. They're gonna charge the maximum price that still nets a sellout.

And chrisdanger, it's always been a dream of mine to put on a fest of this ilk in the DFW. But I imagine that's some ways off in the future. I hope someone beats me to it.

Mike Orren Staff

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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Travis, regarding whether you can buy 1 or 2 day passes, they typically start by selling the 3 day passes, and then release single day passes closer to the event around when they release the actual schedule.

I've only been to ACL two years now, and in 2007 it was awesome, with Bjork, Damien Rice, Muse, etc. Last year was considerably less awesome, with Manu Chao being the only act that just blew me away.

As a mid-to-late-20-something, this lineup does intrigue me. I was a bit too young to see Pearl Jam, Beastie Boys, and Sonic Youth when they were big and touring extensively. I would like to see them now, even if they might not be what they were before. On top of that, I've seen part of a Coheed set, and they're incredible. Flogging Molly back at an old Warped Tour was incredible and is one of those ageless celtic bands that will always be energetic. And Kings of Leon, I can only imagine they are incredible to see live. Or hope.

$185 is steep, but it's highly possible I would pay that sum once again for the experience, which is more than just the bands.

Also, very cool that Jaffe and Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights are playing. Very talented locals getting a big audience. I can only imagine how the crowd will start to walk by Jaffe's stage, not knowing her, and just stop in amazement.

Erin Rice Verified

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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I'm Hoping that some of these bands play somewhere else around the time of festival.

Mike Bullock Staff

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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That's my hope. Pearl Jam usually works in other dates if they are coming to this part of the country so I'm hoping for that.

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hopefully Toadies, Flogging Molly, and Devotchka will make a stop in Dallas.

Pavel Lishin Verified

6 months, 3 weeks ago
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Pavel..the Toadies will be at the Wildflower Festival in Richardson..which happens May 15-17, along w/the Spazmatics, Badfish (Sublime cover band) and a lot more..here is the whole lineup...plus it is only $25 for the whole weekend pass.

http://discovery.cor.gov/Public/Parks...