ACL 2025: Djo

Saturday at 7:30pm.  This is the musical stage name of actor Joe Keery (Steve from "Stranger Things").   According to Wikipedia:

He created the stage name Djo to separate his music from his acting and avoid being typecast as Harrington... NME called Keery "a musician of very high calibre who... dabbles in the kind of inventive, warped psychedelia that gently twists your melon and constantly shapeshifts around you," and compared his music to that of Tame Impala and Ariel Pink.

He's also in the band Post Animal. 

"Potion" is him performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. It's a nice tune. Reminds me of Bret Egner's music.

"Chateau" is one of his big songs. 

This is his most streamed song. The kids know all the words.

 

ACL 2025: Zeds Dead

 Saturday at 7:15pm.  DJs.  Per Wikipedia:

Zeds Dead is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto consisting of Dylan Mamid, also known as DC, and Zachary Rapp-Rovan, also known as Hooks. The duo rose to prominence releasing original music and remixes from 2009 to 2010 before becoming a staple on the international touring circuit thereafter. They explore a diverse variety of genres that combine aspects of dubstep, UK garage, house, electro house, hip-hop, glitch, drum and bass, and more.

Here's a promo for one of their shows. Kind of what you would expect. 

 

ACL 2025: Pierce the Veil

Saturday at 6:15pm. Japanese Breakfast plays at 7:30 so I guess we'll stick around to see her. That means we'll have to see something in the timeslot before her.  LP Giobbi has played ACL a few times. DJ. Preview here. Not really our thing.  The other option is Doechii.  I guess we'll go see her.

We won't be seeing these guys. Per Wikipedia:

Pierce the Veil is an American rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 2006. It was founded by brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes after the disbanding of Before Today, which formed out of the San Diego punk scene...Pierce the Veil's music style has generally been regarded as a mix of post-hardcore, pop-punk, experimental rock, and emo.

A band that has been around since 2006 and is playing before the Strokes.  I don't recall every hearing any of their music.  

This is not our cup of tea.

 

ACL 2025: Magdalena Bay

Saturday at 5:30pm.  This was the first band signed to gorillavsbear's record label Luminelle Records. As such they got a lot of plays on their blog. It looks like they are now on Mom + Pop Records, though. 

Per Wikipedia:

Magdalena Bay is an American alternative pop duo formed in 2016 from Miami, Florida, and currently based in Los Angeles, California. The duo consists of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, who met in high school.

They opened for Billie Eilish on her current tour. 

Synth pop.

"Killshot" is one of their most streamed songs.

This is one of their newer singles. It has gotten airplay on KUTX.

ACL 2025: Fukii Kaze

Saturday at 5:30 on the Beatbox stage (across Barton Springs Rd.).  This artist plays before Japanese Breakfast.  Per Wikipedia:

 Fujii Kaze (藤井 風; born June 14, 1997) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist. Born and raised in Satoshō, Okayama, he began uploading piano covers of pop songs to YouTube at 12. Signed to Universal Sigma's Hehn Records, Fujii released his debut single, "Nan-Nan", in 2019. His first studio album, Help Ever Hurt Never (2020), reached number one on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart and number two on the Oricon Albums Chart and was certified gold in Japan. The song "Shinunoga E-Wa" became viral on social media and brought Fujii to fame beyond Japan.

It says he's selling out stadiums in Japan and most of his singles have reached Platinum status. He's big in Japan.

Here is his Tiny Desk Concert Japan performance. Their into says:

Popular around the world, the talented Fujii Kaze is a Japanese singer and pianist known for his sultry R&B grooves and catchy songwriting. 

Nice tunes.

"Matsuri" is live from one of his stadium shows. 

"Love Like This" is his latest single. It's in English.

This is his most streamed song.  It gives a warning about the song having themes of self harm and suicide. My video gives the lyrics in English as subtitles.

We may have to see him just to watch the crowd. 

 

ACL 2025: Southall

Saturday at 5:15pm on the BMI stage. Per Wikipedia:

 Read Southall Band, sometimes referred to as just Southall, is an American country rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma, formed by Read Southall, a native of Blair, Oklahoma. The band is associated with the Oklahoma red dirt music scene.

"Scared Money" is one of the few songs with a video. Has a Lynyrd Skynyrd feel.

"Gunshy" is one of their big songs. This is them playing it live. Crowd likes it.  Good country rock.

This is their most popular song but I'll post the acoustic version.  

ACL 2025: Latin Mafia

Saturday at 5:15pm.  Per Wikipedia:

Latin Mafia is a Mexican indie pop band. The group consists of twin brothers Milton and Emilio de la Rosa on vocals, with their older brother Mike de la Rosa as the producer...Latin Mafia's music has been described as a reggaetón, R&B, trap, and house hybrid...In April 2024 Latin Mafia made their American debut performing at Coachella, raising their profile as one of "Mexico's top acts without a label or an album". In addition, they were scheduled to perform at music festivals including Lollapalooza Argentina, Lollapalooza Chile, 

It says they are from Monterrey.

"Julietota" is reggaetón.

"Hecho para ti" features Omar Apollo. It's one of their newer songs. Mellow.

This is their most streamed song. Nice chill tune.

 

ACL 2025: MARINA

Saturday at 4:30pm.  Per Google AI:

Marina and the Diamonds was the stage name of Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Lambrini Diamandis, who has also released music under the name Marina. Known for her British-accented vocals and bubblegum melodies, Diamandis' music is described as ABBA-inspired electro pop. Her work is said to be influenced by chart-topping artists like Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani, as well as New Wave artists. Diamandis first released music on MySpace and signed with Neon Records in 2008. 

She has 10.8 Million monthly listeners on Spotify. Wow.  She's also doing an ACL Nights at Moody Theater. I guess she's big. Since I've never heard of her I guess it's not our type of music. Let's listen...

"Bubblegum Bitch" is her most streamed song as Marina and the Diamonds.  Very Europop.

"Primadonna" is another big hit.  Not my cup of tea.

This is one of her newest songs under the new Marina moniker.

ACL 2025: LA LOM

Saturday at 4:30 on the Tito's stage.  Car Seat Headrest plays at 4:15 so we might want to check them out but I'll look at the other options. First up is a chill instrumental band.  Per Wikipedia:

The Los Angeles League of Musicians, often abbreviated as LA LOM, is an American instrumental band originating from Los Angeles, California. The band consists of guitarist Zac Sokolow, bassist Jake Faulkner, and percussionist Nicholas Baker. The trio began playing together at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where they experimented with a mix of distinct genres, including cumbia and Peruvian chicha. The band has been noted for its fusion of multiple different styles.

In the bio it says The Current's Bill DeVille praised the band's style, which he described as a "blend of surf rock, cumbia sonidera, country twang and Peruvian chicha music.

"Cumbia Arabe" is nice.

This is good.

ACL 2025: Spacey Jane

 Saturday at 3:30pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Spacey Jane are an Australian indie rock band formed in Fremantle, Western Australia in 2016...Spacey Jane's debut studio album, Sunlight, was released in 2020 and peaked at number two on the ARIA Charts. Its 7× platinum single "Booster Seat" won the ARIA Song of the Year and was the runner-up of the 2020 Triple J Hottest 100.

Here is "Booster Seat".  I like it.

"Whateverrr" is their newest single.

This is more upbeat. They could be fun to see.

ACL 2025: Joey Valence & Brae

Saturday at 3:30.  According to Wikipedia:

Joey Valence & Brae are an American hip-hop duo from State College, Pennsylvania, consisting of rappers Joseph Bertolino (Joey Valence) and Braedan Lugue (Brae). Their single "Punk Tactics" went viral in 2022. They have since released three studio albums, Punk Tactics, No Hands, and Hyperyouth in 2023, 2024, and 2025 respectively.

Here is "Punk Tactics".  Straight up Beastie Boys.

This is one of their newer songs. Sounds the same.

ACL 2025: Dizzy Fae

 Saturday at 3:15pm on the BMI stage.  Per Google AI:

Dizzy Fae is a Minneapolis-based, classically trained singer and dancer who blends alternative R&B and indie music. The queer Black artist has performed with artists like Kehlani, The Internet, and Empress Of, and opened for Lizzo in 2016. Fae's music is known for its captivating presence and fearless creativity, and aims to raise the vibration of the spirit and self. 

 "Baby Pillz" has a cool beat. So does "Bend N Snap". Cool video, too.

"Hug My Throat" is her latest single. 

This is another newer song. It's live.

ACL 2025: Ocean Alley

 Saturday at 3:15pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Ocean Alley is an Australian alternative psychedelic rock band from the Northern Beaches. 

They formed in 2011 and have 2 EPs and 4 albums out. Their 5th album is coming out in September. It looks like they've played Emo's, Antone's, Scoot Inn, and Stubbs before. They are also doing an ACL Nights at Empire Control Room. Yet I've never heard of them.

"Tangerine" is on their new album. Not really alternative psychedelic rock. 

"Touch Back Down" is them live. It's pretty good. 

This is their most streamed song.

ACL 2025: Don West

 Saturday at 3pm on the Tito's stage.  From this bio:

If you wanted a unicorn thought experiment, pairing deliriously sultry soul music from the height of Stax and Motown era with au courant heartthrob handsomeness, then Don West has done the hard work for you; he is the answer. This Sydney-based troubadour has taken a cinematic look at our favorite soul sounds and reimagined them with a coolness and candor that feels too vivid, like an ex-lover's scent on your sheets.

This article says:

Drawing inspiration from legends like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, as well as contemporary artists such as Jalen Ngonda and Thee Sacred Souls, DON WEST brings a fresh yet timeless sound to modern soul.

"Friends" is chill. The video has a 70s-era Super8 video quality.

 So does "Rather be Lonely"

This has a good dance beat.

ACL 2025: Olivia Dean

Saturday at 2:30pm. Neo-soul from London.  That's 3 neo-soul bands playing at the same time. Why do they do that?

According to Wikipedia:

Dean was born in the London Borough of Haringey to an English father and a Jamaican-Guyanese mother. Her grandmother immigrated to the UK from Guyana at age 18 as part of the Windrush generation. Her middle name "Lauryn" was inspired by Lauryn Hill, of whom her parents are big fans...in 2023, she was selected as BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year.

Most importantly:

 Dean is a supporter of West Ham United F.C. and attended many games at Upton Park with her father, a season ticket holder, during her childhood.

COYI!

She opened on Sabrina Carpenter's tour.

"Dive" is one of her older songs and is her most streamed. Reminds me of Sir Woman.

"Echo" is good.  One of the comments: "This song would be a great James Bond intro."

"The Hardest Part" features Leon Bridges. It has been played on KUTX.

This is really good. It's on her new album which comes out in September.

 

ACL 2025: Leisure

Saturday at 2:15pm.  Alternative R&B from New Zealand.  Wikipedia also calls it nu-jazz, blue-eyed soul, and funk. They formed in 2015 and have released 4 albums with a 5th scheduled for release on September 12th.  It's called "Welcome to the Mood."

"Got it Bad" was the first song they released in 2015.

"Sundown" is a nice soulful tune. It's one of the songs on their new album. It sets a mood.

Here they are performing live. A good chill tune. I like it.

ACL 2025: Odeal

 Saturday at 2pm on the Tito's stage.  Google AI came back with this:

Odeal is a London-based singer, songwriter, and producer who blends Afrobeats and R&B into a soulful fusion. Born in Germany and raised in Nigeria, Spain, and the UK, Odeal's music is known for pushing boundaries and defying genre expectations. He started making music in 2014, sharing covers on YouTube and performing at talent shows. 

He has 4.3 million followers on Spotify. Not bad for someone playing an afternoon set in the tent.

"London Summers" has a Sade feel.  Smooth R&B.

"My Heart" is a good summer song.

This is one of his most streamed songs. It has a nice beat.  May be worth checking out.

ACL 2025: Alemeda

 Saturday at 1:45pm.  Per Wikipedia:

Rahema Shifa Alameda, known mononymously as Alemeda, is a Sudanese-Ethiopian singer-songwriter. She is signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and Warner Records...Alameda was born in Ethiopia and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Her stage name stems from her last name, Alameda, which she elaborated is a "common name in the Gurage tribe in Ethiopia," of which her grandfather was a part. She changed the spelling to "Alemeda" to be more easily found online...Her music blends "hyper-contemporary aesthetics with nostalgic R&B vibes"...

"Gonna Bleach My Eyebrows" was her breakout viral hit. 

 "Don't Call Me" is more of a traditional rock song.

This is her latest single.

ACL 2025: TOPS

 Saturday at 1:45pm.  Per Wikipedia:

Tops (stylized in all capital letters as TOPS) is a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec...TOPS was founded in 2011 by childhood friends Jane Penny and David Carriere from Edmonton, Alberta. 

I don't know if indie rock is an appropriate description. "Petals" is a nice chill song.  

"Way to Be Loved" is good. 

I'd say they're more jazzy soft rock. Modern yacht rock.

This is their latest single. I like it. Reminds me a little of Blonde Redhead.

ACL 2025: South Arcade

 Saturday at 1:30pm.  From Wikipedia:

South Arcade are an English band from Oxford. Formed in 2021, the band went viral for videos of their band practices and performed at BBC Radio 1's New Music Live in Halifax, West Yorkshire, in November 2024... Their works are usually described as pop punk or alternative rock and have been likened to those by Pale Waves, Avril Lavigne, and Bring Me the Horizon.

"Danger" has an Avril Lavigne sound. Not my cup of tea. 

The other songs I heard followed a similar theme.

This is them live. They seem to have a very energetic following.

ACL 2025: Yoke Lore

Saturday at 1:30pm. This act played SXSW in 2017. Preview here.  The comparison then was of Animal Collective and The Shins.  

"Beige" is his most streamed song. I hear some Shins in it.

"Chin Up" reminds me of Fleet Foxes.

This is more uptempo. Nice.

ACL 2025: Ted Hammig & the Campaign

 Saturday at 1pm on the Tito's stage.  According to their Youtube bio:

Ted Hammig & the Campaign are a band currently based in Fayetteville, AR. ...deliver a fresh sound with roots in blues, folk, and of course, Rock & Roll. 

 This concert review says they are former University of Arkansas students. It says:

The band is led by frontman singer and guitarist Ted Hammig, and features keyboardist Freeman Boatright, bassist David Moneymaker, drummer Andrew Ruegsegger and guitarist Ben Hobbs. The group was originally made up only of Hammig and Moneymaker in early 2020, but by late 2021, all current members had joined. 

"Rhonda" is a throwback 60s-70s tune. Reminds me of The Heavy Heavy.

This is good. They also remind me of The Nude Party. They could be fun to see. 

ACL 2025: Sydney Rose

 Saturday at 1pm.  Mellow singer-songwriter.  According to this bio:

Georgia-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sydney Rose writes songs for those moments. As she sings, it almost sounds like she’s whispering in your ear, giving you a boost of confidence, offering a little clarity, or just reminding you everything will be okay. Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, she picked up ukulele, piano, and guitar. Building an audience organically on social media.

 She has a big following on TikTok.

According to this interview she's a huge Phoebe Bridgers fan. She even has a song called "Phoebe Told Me".

Below is her breakthrough song. From the bio:

While sitting at the piano one day, she crafted “We Hug Now.” It exploded on TikTok and inspired over 400K “creates,” yielding 1.3 billion total views and reaching the Top 15 of the TikTok Top Songs Chart. “We Hug Now” catapulted to the Top 3 of the Spotify US and Global Viral 50 Charts. Amassing 40 million streams and counting, it cracked the Top 10 of the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart as she vaulted to #22 on the Emerging Artists Chart. 

She's now on Mercury Records. 

ACL 2025: Shallowater

 Saturday at 12:45pm.  This band was at SXSW.  Preview here.  I posted a Brooklyn Vegan summary:

 It’s sublime mix of slowcore, post-rock, alt-country, ’90s alt-rock and emo that deftly pivots styles, often within one song, making it all seem natural and clearly coming from one creative point of view. We hear Neil Young, Sunny Day Real Estate, Acetone, Hum, Red House Painters & more. They call it “West Texas dirtgaze.” 

They still don't have any videos online other than "Laredo."  They have quite a few live shows online which I guess showcases their slowcore style.

Here's one of their most streamed songs. Probably better at 2am but they may be a good way to start the festival day.

ACL 2025: Eric Slick

Saturday at 12:15pm on the BMI stage. He's the drummer for Dr. Dog so he'll be busy.  According to Wikipedia, outside of Dr. Dog he's released 6 solo records and has also played with Nels Cline, Ruston Kelly and even Taylor Swift. 

He's married to Natalie Prass (we saw her open for Ryan Adams at Gruene Hall in 2015). "Closer to Heaven" features her.

"Lose our Minds" has a Thompson Twins feel.

This is different. I like it. It's live. 

ACL 2025: Confidence Man

Friday at 6:30pm on the Tito's stage. Dance music from Brisbane, Australia. 

"I Can't Lose You" is Euro pop.

This is their most streamed song.  Silent Disco is after their set. A good warmup.

ACL 2025: Role Model

Friday at 6pm.  This artist played ACL in 2022.  Here's my preview. Indie/dream pop.  I compared him to Dayglow. 

He released this song since the last ACL and it's now his biggest hit. It's a nice afternoon festival dance-along song.

ACL 2025: Sam Barber

Friday at 5:30pm. He's opposite MJ Lenderman so for informational purposes only.  Savingcountrymusic compares him to Zach Bryan, saying:

...performers clearly inspired or outright copycatting the Oklahoma songwriter in style and approach cropping up all over the place, while also forging incredible success all on their own. Chief among them and leading the pack is the wiry, sullen-faced songwriter from eastern Missouri named Sam Barber...Similar to Zach Bryan, it’s hard to understate just how massive the appeal for Sam Barber has become. Similar to Zach Bryan, experiencing Barber live is to witness many younger fans singing all the words back at the stage. 

"Indigo" is one of his big hits.

This is most streamed song.

 

ACL 2025: The Favors

Friday at 5pm. The schedule says "FINNEAS and Ashe present The Favors".  That's FINNEAS and singer Ashe. They announced that they formed a band and are now touring.  

According to Rolling Stone their debut album "The Dream" is out September 19th.

They've released two singles so far.  

"The Hudson" is a mellow tune. Nice harmonies.

This is the other single.  It's live from Lollapalooza.

ACL 2025: Skrilla

 Friday at 5pm on the BMI stage. Per Wikipedia:

Jemille Edwards (born June 3, 1999), known professionally as Skrilla, is an American rapper from the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...His single "Doot Doot" became popular on TikTok in 2025 due to the “6-7” trend.

In case you want to know what the "6-7" trend is. From Yahoo:

TikTok and Instagram Reels quickly popularized the track, driven by its recurring lyric, “6-7.” Many believe the phrase references 67th Street in Chicago, potentially linking it to Skrilla’s background or affiliations. The song’s lyrics emphasize street life and conflicts, repeatedly mentioning “6-7” throughout the track.

The trend became widely associated with basketball player LaMelo Ball. One of the earliest known viral edits reportedly featured a sports commentator stating that Ball plays like a 6’1″ player despite being 6’7″. The term “6’7″” aligns with the song’s beat drop, making it a key moment in the meme format. This sparked a wave of videos where TikTokers edited footage of Ball, with the song playing in the background.

Beyond basketball, TikTok users applied the “6-7” trend to various scenarios, often using the song’s lyrics humorously. Some videos feature users referencing their 67% test scores, followed by the song playing in their heads. The meme format expanded into lip dubs, NBA-related edits, and other comedic content.

Now you're hip. Here is his viral song. 8.8M views in 5 months. 

 

ACL 2025: Vincent Lima

 Friday at 4:30 on the Tito's stage.  According to this article:

Vincent Lima crafts songs at the intersection between universal human stories and the vulnerable corners of his own experiences. Born in Chicago and raised in New Jersey, Lima began writing original songs around age five – continuing into high school when he became infatuated with folk music and taught himself how to play the piano.

It also says:

 His EP “Versions of Uncertainty” came out July 19th, and features the single “Orpheus” and five other songs that take inspiration from the tales of Orpheus and Eurydice to speak to timeless experiences of love, loss and hope in a world in which things fade.

I wonder if he saw "Hadestown".

He now lives in L.A.

"The Fire" is good. A good warmup for Hozier.

Here is "Orpheus"

 

ACL 2025: Dylan Gossett

Friday at 4:30pm.  Country from Austin. We saw him open for Wyatt Flores at Antone's in 2023.  I remember he had a big local following. Back then he had a full-time job with Circuit of the Americas and was trying to make it in the music business. Now he is signed with Big Loud Texas (Miranda Lambert's new label) and has a publishing deal with Universal Music Group Nashville. And he's playing the American Express stage at ACL.

"Like I Do" is nice live.

"Beneath Oak Trees" has 3M views.  It has a Zach Bryan feel.

This is his breakthrough song. Nice songwriting.

ACL 2025: Bilmuri

Friday at 3:30pm. Panda Bear is also playing at this time. ("Defense" with Cindy Lee has been getting rotation on KUTX. I like it.)

This is the moniker of Ohio based Johnny Franck.  According to Wikipedia:

Bilmuri has been described as post-hardcore and neon pop-punk, with hardcore and emo music influences.  Bilmuri also incorporates lo-fi and indie-pop music.

That covers a lot of ground.  

"ABSOLUTELYCRANKINMYMF'INHOG" is one of his most streamed songs. He likes all-caps. 

I think Panda Bear is the choice.

This is his latest.  One of the comments calls it "Midwest Plumber Core".  

ACL 2025: King Princess

Friday at 4pm.  This artist played ACL in 2019 but we didn't go see her. Preview here.  She's about to release her 3rd album and got the New Yorker treatment but I can't read it as they want me to subscribe. Maybe you can see it.

This is off her new album.  She played it on Colbert recently.

ACL 2025: Maggie Antone

 Friday at 3pm on the BMI stage.  According to this article:

Richmond, VA native Maggie Antone has been carefully establishing herself as a powerful new voice in music since a cover of Tyler Childers' Lady May she posted to TikTok garnered widespread praise, changing her life overnight. That success led to Interpretations, a 7-track covers album released in 2022 on her own label Love Big, the same label that will now house her debut album of original material, Rhinestoned.

Here's her cover of "Lady May". Nice voice. 

"Suburban Outlaw" is good. 

As ACL always does there are 4 acts with a similar style competing against each other. We have to pick between 4 acts right in our wheelhouse yet another time slot will have bands that don't appeal to us at all.

This is her most streamed song.  

ACL 2025: Jensen McRae

Friday at 3pm.  She's a singer-songwriter out of Los Angeles.  She has been compared to Tracy Chapman as well as Phoebe Bridgers.  

"White Boy" was one of her first popular songs. 

"Wolves" was another early song.

Her sophomore album was produced by Brad Cook (who also produced Waxahatchee and Hurray for the Riff Raff).  

Here is her performing live for KCRW. It's all songs from her latest album.

"Savannah" has a very Phoebe Bridgers feel.

This is her most streamed song from the new album. She performed it on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

ACL 2025: Amble

Friday at 2:45pm on the Tito's stage.  It's an Irish folk trio out of Dublin.  According to Wikipedia, their main goal was to play cover songs at pubs in order to obtain free pints. They've since signed to Warner Brothers Records and have opened for Hozier. I think they can afford their own pints now.

"Schoolyard Days" is a nice mellow tune.

"Mary's Pub" is nice, too. It shows scenes from around Grafton St. in Dublin including the Phil Lynott statue. Mary's Pub is on Wicklow right down the street from Cornucopia Restaurant so we walked right by it. 

This is their most streamed song. The intro says: "'Lonely Island' tells the story of a man who remorsefully returns to the Island of his birth, only to find his people, his home and the way of life have all changed or are long forgotten."

Really good. I like these guys.

ACL 2025: Tanner Usrey

 Friday at 2:45pm on the big American Express stage.  This article says he grew up in Prosper, TX. Savingcountrymusic says:

Tanner Usrey is already a rising power in roots music with a killer live show bolstered by classic rock power and a kick ass band. Few if any have as much soul and power behind their voice, and if anyone’s poised for a big breakout moment, it’s Usrey. What better moment for that to happen than the release of a Dave Cobb-produced album recorded at Historic Studio A, as well as Cobb’s place in Savannah, GA.

His album came out June 11th. He has had songs in Yellowstone and Landman.

"Take Me Home" was on Landman. He used Zach Bryan's concept of using fan videos to make the music video.

"The Light" was on Yellowstone.

"These Days" is on his new album. Good song.

This is him live with one of his most streamed songs.

ACL 2025: Good Neighbors

Friday at 2:15pm.  Indie rock/pop. This is a duo out of London that exploded with one song.  It's a pretty cool story.  According to their interview with The Current, they were musicians in East London working on other projects and decided to try writing together. They posted a clip of a chorus online that had people asking for the whole song.  As they say:

 We were writing in the countryside, and the clip sort of went viral as we were deciding to come back to London. So now we're locked in the confines of a car that's stuck in traffic, and people were just like, “When is it out on Spotify?” “When's it going to be released?” And to two boys that weren't going to do a project, this was like a gold-dust reaction. Then we called our manager and it was like, "Is there any chance we can put a song out in three days?" And he was like, "Have I heard it?" We were like, "You haven't heard it." So within the car, we finished the verses, just off the top of our heads, and then we were pulling up in gas stations recording guitars, and then by the time we got to London, we had a rough demo that we then mixed that night and we put it out three days later.

When you start typing Good Nei.. in google the auto-complete says "Good Neighbors Home lyrics". 

"Ripple" is one of their newer songs. They've been opening for Foster The People."

"Suburbs" sounds very familiar. Passion Pit? I can't place it. 

Here is their viral song. They got to play it on Jimmy Kimmel Live.  Catchy.

ACL 2025: Crowe Boys

Friday at 2pm on the Beatbox stage. This time slot must be for the siblings. Girl Tones is two sisters and this band is two brothers. According to this interview:

Brothers Ocie and Wes Crowe grew up in rural bayou country, traveling through small Southern towns with their family's gospel band. Today, based out of New Orleans, the duo have been marked as rising stars in the alternative/folk circuits.

They both cite Gregory Alan Isakov as one of their influences. He happens to be playing the same stage on Sunday.  

They went viral with the song "Where Did I Go Wrong". It's a good song.

Poppy harmonizing folk like Lumineers or Mumford and Sons.  

This is them playing acoustic at the Ryman. 

ACL 2025: Girl Tones

 Friday at 2pm.  From BMI's website:

Girl Tones are a high-energy rock duo brought to life by sisters Kenzie and Laila. With Kenzie on guitar and Laila on drums, the sisters ditched their classical training to captivate audiences with electrifying rock. Their debut single, “Fade Away,” produced by Cage The Elephant’s Brad Shultz, is an unpolished, distorted blast of fury. In their short but mighty existence, the duo released their sophomore single, “Again,” toured with Cage The Elephant, and played Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a bucket list venue for the sisters. With a sound likened to The White Stripes, Girl Tones are quickly becoming a national force, and they’re just getting started.

This article says they live in Nashville.  I also saw that apparently Kenzie is married to Brad Shulz' brother, hence the Cage the Elephant connection. 

"Again" is very much like the White Stripes.

This is catchy.  It was filmed at the Dive Motel in Nashville. That's the place Cathy recommended. 

 

ACL 2025: Fancy Hagood

 Friday at 1:30pm on the BMI stage.  According to this Variety article:

Hagood grew up in small-town Arkansas, and left for Nashville in the late 2000s to launch himself into stardom. Soon after, he came out as gay, which proved a barrier to his ambitions, in spite of how he showcased his rippling tenor voice and gift for crafting stirring, ardent melodies on stages and in songwriting sessions alike. He’s spent almost half of his 33 years confronting the narrow imagination of the music industry, not only in the country realm, but the pop mainstream too.  

It also says:

Hagood drifted toward pop, touring with artists like Ariana Grande, because he "got sidetracked by people not being able to see someone like me, a queer, flamboyant dude, being successful in country music." Now he's bravely and unabashedly back on the Nashville track.

"Forest" is a nice acoustic love song. 

This is good. Chill sound. Sweet video, too.

ACL 2025: spill tab

Friday at 1:30pm.  This band played ACL in 2022 but we didn't see them.  Preview here.  If you're too lazy to click that link here's what I posted:

As ethereal as it is gritty, and as lighthearted as it is deep to the core, spill tab has landed, serving up multi-genre bedroom beats. The moniker of Claire Chicha, spill tab is a French Korean American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, now pouring distinctive, duality-drenched tracks with producer David Marinelli straight out of LA. 

Indie rock.  

This is her latest song. It has gotten airplay on KUTX.

ACL 2025: Farmer's Wife

 Friday at 1:15pm on the Tito's stage.  This site says:

As the renaissance of 90s shoegaze continues, Austin’s Farmer’s Wife tread moodily around its boundaries. Combining elements of dirge, psych, scatterings of 80’s pop and heavy doses of grunge, their music recalls the best of that era – the early records from Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Jane’s Addiction, and Slowdive.

They were formerly know as Sludge.  Under that name they made a song called "Greg Abbott's Maxi Pad".  Sweet.

"Shoo Goo" is a newer song. The video is them live. Shoegaze.

This was my favorite.  

ACL 2025: Johnny Stimson

Friday at 1:15pm. Here's another AI generated bio:

Johnny Stimson is a Dallas-born singer-songwriter who blends soulful rasp with modern pop to create music that's both romantic and vulnerable. His songs mix R&B, funk, and soul, and are known for their catchy hooks and lively beats. Stimson's music has been featured in TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and The Flash, and he's toured with Tori Kelly and SoMo. He's received praise from MTV Buzzworthy, Refinery29, and GRAMMY.com. 

I listened to a few songs. This is representative of his sound. Mellow early afternoon swaying tunes.

 

ACL 2025: Aidan Bissett

Friday at 12:45pm. Schedules are out so time to start the research. These are for weekend 2.  First up is indie pop.  A Google search pulls up an AI-generated bio that says:

Aidan Bissett is a Florida-born singer-songwriter and actor who blends dreamy pop vocals with alternative backtracks. His music is described as youthful, guitar-based indie pop with a laid-back vibe and catchy hooks. Bissett's sound is influenced by classic rock groups like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC, as well as indie-pop and alternative sounds from his youth in Oregon. He cites Wallows as a major influence. 

Dreamy pop for the kids.  He's 23.  He now lives in L.A. and is signed to Capitol Records. 

"Out of my League" is ok.

This is one of his most streamed songs.