ACL 2026: Britton

Sunday at 2pm on the Beatbox stage.  There are 3 acts that go by the name Britton. I started looking at this article about an alt-pop artist from Los Angeles. But there's also a Britton from San Antonio that was on The Voice. According to bandsintown this is who is playing ACL.

DJ, producer, and audio engineer Britton is a West Coast tour de force known for his dark minimal driving style of techno. Inspired by SoCal’s underground collectives and full moon gatherings, Britton has developed his own ominous and sinister sound that compliments warehouse and outdoor environments alike.

But then I looked on Instagram and found a fan page saying the actual Britton playing ACL is the alt-pop artist from Los Angeles.  I had to download the bloated Festiverse app to see what band ACL is actually playing and yes, it's the alt-pop artist. So bandsintown is wrong.

Her full name is Ashlee Britton Robinson and it appears she's originally from Toledo, Ohio.  There aren't many articles about her and a Wikipedia page didn't come up, either.  She has 700 thousand monthly users on Spotify, though.

"To My Younger Self" is one of her original singles.

"Who Am I?" has some bleak lyrics. One comment: "I've never heard someone express depression as well as Britton".  Another: "First artist to hit me and read my mind like lana del rey does."

This is one of her newer songs.  She wears a huge cross necklace just like Solya.  Is that a new fashion thing?

ACL 2026: Aaron Rowe

Sunday at 2pm on the BMI stage. Jess Williamson plays at this time but we'll see her at Continental Club so let's see if there's something we may want to check out. There are 4 other bands playing at the same time. Crazy.

This singer/songwriter from Ireland was performing in pubs until a big break. From Rolling Stone:

Aaron Rowe‘s origin story feels like the kind of tale that any discernible screenwriter would dismiss as unbelievable, and yet it’s entirely true. He was playing a regular gig at a Dublin pub last year when Lewis Capaldi walked in while on a stag do and saw him performing. 

I had to look it up: a stag do is a bachelor party. 

It says:

Rowe’s sound may be rooted in Irish trad (see the subtle fiddle on ‘Hey Ma’) but the stories he tells and his own distinctive vocals are truly universal. With friends like Capaldi, Ed Sheeran and Fontaines D.C. firmly in his corner, it’s only a matter of time before they reach the audience they truly deserve.

"John's Song" is a good trad song.

"Talking With You" is a heartfelt ballad. 

This was his first big song.

  

ACL 2026: Villanelle

Sunday at 1:15pm.  Per Rolling Stone:

They have yet to drop their debut EP, but the trio led by Gene Gallagher — son of Liam — are already generating big buzz all across the U.K.

The rest is behind a paywall.  This article says:

Villanelle were given a proper baptism of fire when Liam Gallagher invited them to be the opener on his 2024 anniversary tour of Oasis’ ‘Definitely Maybe’.

That's nice. It also says:

The AFL team will have been eagerly awaiting the release of the band’s debut EP ‘Measly Means’: a gnarly dose of Smashing Pumpkins and Black Sabbath with a truck full of ‘90s colour and swagger.

The EP has now been released.   5 songs.  Grunge sound.

"Placebo" is the last song on the EP but it's their most streamed song on Spotify. The ending is good. Would be a good way to end the show.

"Measly Means" is the opener.  Very Nirvana-ish.

This was probably my favorite.  Also Nirvana.

ACL 2026: Solya

Sunday at 1:15pm.  Per Wikipedia:

Solya Ava Lowe (born April 6, 2006), known professionally as Solya, is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer from Abilene, Texas...She began playing the piano at the age of six and later learned guitar and synthesizer as a teenager...Solya has cited Cocteau Twins, Patsy Cline, the Flaming Lips and David Bowie as influences on her music...The Dallas Morning News described her sound as "surreal, retro-leaning ballads at the intersection of Lana Del Rey and Julee Cruise"

It's a pretty comprehensive Wikipedia page for a 20-year old with one album out. 

"Tell Me It's Over" was recorded live at 29th St. Ballroom.

"We Say Goodbye" is chill.

This is representative of her sound. 

ACL 2026: Rubio

Sunday at 12:45pm on the BMI stage.  According to this bio:

Lauded by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and Billboard for her alchemic blend of dark avant-pop, Rubio is the award-winning brainchild of Chilean artist, songwriter and producer Fran Straube, also nominated to a Latin Grammy for her music video “Nacimos Llorando” and with her most recent debut on Tiny Desk Concert.

Per Rolling Stone:  “Nacimos Llorando,” is a short film directed by Fernando Cattori, that tells a shattering story of LGBTQ love and heartbreak. It came out in October (2023), and it’s partially set to “Kitsungi” and “Llorar.”

It's 21 minutes long. I'll skip ahead to play "Kitsungi".

Here's the Tiny Desk Concert. 

She also performed on KEXP. I like this better than the Tiny Desk. Synths help.

"Nuestra Canción" is a nice tune.

Good start to the day.  

This is from her latest album and is the last song played on the Tiny Desk Concert. I like it.