ACL 2026: Don West

Saturday at 3:15pm on the Tito's stage. This Australian singer was supposed to play the Tito's stage at 3pm on Sunday last year but he had to cancel.  Preview here. He's honoring his commitment and is back this year.

Here are a few songs he recently released that aren't on last year's preview.

"Julia" is good stuff. For the Black Pumas fans.

"Day to Night" is good, too.  Marvin Gaye sound.  One of the comments under the video: "I’ve been confidently straight my whole life. Then this guy showed up."

This is the most streamed song from his latest album.

ACL 2026: Arcy Drive

Saturday at 3:15pm.  We saw this band play Luck Reunion in 2023.  Preview here.  I don't remember much about them. 

Here are some new songs since that show.

"Louie" is from their last album.  

"Time Shrinks" is a good-old stomp and holler song a la The Lumineers.

This is their lastest single.  Strokes-ish.

ACL 2026: Finn Wolfhard

Saturday at 2:45pm.  ACL likes to book "Stranger Things" actors who are also musicians.  Last year it was Joe Keery (who played Steve) as Djo.  This year it's Finn Wolfhard who played Mike.

Some facts from Wikipedia:

• Finn Michael Wolfhard was born on December 23, 2002, in Vancouver, British Columbia, to a family of French and German descent with Jewish heritage.
• His father, Eric Wolfhard, is a researcher on Indigenous land claims in Canada.
• Wolfhard was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for Vancouver-based rock band Calpurnia, until the band dissolved in November 2019.
• A few weeks later, it was announced that Wolfhard's new band, The Aubreys, with Calpurnia drummer Malcolm Craig, would debut on the soundtrack of his film, The Turning (2020).
• Wolfhard released his debut studio album, Happy Birthday, on June 6, 2025, via AWAL. After Stranger Things concluded later that year, Wolfhard said in an interview with Deadline Hollywood that he would shift his focus to music. His second album, Fire from the Hip, was released on July 10, 2026.

"Follow" is from his latest album.  It sounds like a mix of "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens and "The Cutter" by Echo and the Bunnymen.

"Trailers After Dark" is a good mellow tune.

"Choose the Latter" is also good. Wouldn't mind checking him out.

This is his most streamed song. Nice throwback sound.  A commenter mentioned Cage the Elephant. I hear a Kinks influence, too.

ACL 2026: Balu Brigada

 Saturday at 2:30pm.  From Wikipedia:

Balu Brigada is a New Zealand indie rock band originally from Auckland. The act, formed in 2016 with four members, is led by multi-instrumentalist brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley. They have released two extended plays—I Should Be Home (2022), and Find a Way (2023)—and the compilation Balu (2024). Their debut album, Portal, was released on 29 August 2025.

They sold out Mohawk in November.  They've also played on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and opened for 21 Pilots.

"Sideways"  is more indie pop. 

"Backseat" has a good beat. The extended instrumental ending is pretty cool. Would be good live.

"BedHead" is their latest single. Strokes-ish.

This is their big hit. It went to #1 on the US Alternative charts.  Also Strokes-ish.

ACL 2026: Rochelle Jordan

 Saturday at 2pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Rochelle Jordan is a British-Jamaican singer raised primarily in Toronto, Canada. Her music is known for its blend of alternative R&B, dance-pop, and house.

She's 36 and has had a quite a journey to get to ACL.  Following a bad record deal and complications from sickle cell anemia she took a 7 year hiatus from the industry. After that she released her second album in 2021 and her third in 2025.  That album,  Through the Wall was shortlisted for the 2026 Polaris Music Prize, and the song "The Boy" was longlisted for the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize.

"Doing It Too" is off that new album. 

Here is a live performance on KEXP from 2022 where she plays songs off her 2nd album. Dance oriented tunes.

This is the song that was longlisted for the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize.