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.

ACL 2026: Lykke Li

Saturday at 7:30pm. Obviously my first choice.  I only post as I haven't really heard much about her since we saw her so many years ago. She just released her 6th and possibly final album, according to this article.

It says:

Maybe that’s why she speaks so casually about walking away from it all — disappearing to art school, studying theology, moving to a remote island without a phone.

This question sums up her new album:

Q:You were in a different chapter while creating this album than the last, having just had your second child and the world being a different place than 2022. Where did this album come from emotionally?

A: I don’t bring motherhood into my work at all. This album actually goes straight against it.

It’s more like the opposite: a creature of the night, a f*ck boy, heathenous… like I don’t give a sh*t. Art is where you get to do something else. I love being a mother for the record, but art is the release. It keeps me in fighting form.

I think this is my attempt to be a male rock star. While making it, I was listening to The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, The Verve, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, just every great male rock artist that's ever lived, I guess, which is a bit sad because it sounds misogynistic, but the world is.

Her recent setlists cover her career. 

"Happy Now" is on the new album.

This is also on the new album.  

ACL 2026: Fakemink

Saturday at 7:30pm.  Per Wikipedia:

Vincenzo Nischal Camille Bhatia, known professionally as Fakemink (stylised in lowercase) and previously 9090gate, is an English rapper and producer. He has been credited with popularising the UK underground rap scene...He was born on 29 January 2005 in Ilford, East London and was raised there subsequently until the age of 5. After which, his family moved to the town of Basildon in Essex. He is of Indian Punjabi and Algerian descent...Camille is Muslim. He has said he abstains from alcohol both due to religious adherence and because he does not find it enjoyable.

"Fever" isn't bad.

This was the best I heard.

  

ACL 2026: Levity

Saturday at 7:15pm.  More DJs.  According to this bio:

Hailing from Chicago, IL, Levity is an electronic trio at the forefront of a new generation of dubstep – pushing the genre forward while bridging the gap between bass music and broader cultural influences.

Known for their high-impact production, hip-hop-rooted sensibility, and crowd-driven energy, Levity has built a reputation for delivering some of the most dynamic and immersive live performances in electronic music today. 

Unlike most DJs this is 3 people.  

794 Million monthly listeners on Spotify. Wow.

 "Flip It" is one of the most streamed songs.

Another popular song of theirs. Not our thing.

ACL 2026: ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U

Saturday at 6:30pm on the Tito's stage.  Also known as Yousuke Yukimatsu.  You're not going to believe this but ACL booked a DJ to play the festival.  Wild.

According to Wikipedia:

Originally employed in construction, Yukimatsu was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2016, leading him to leave his job. After undergoing treatment and two surgeries, he shifted his focus entirely to DJing, further developing his experimental style.

It also says: 

Yukimatsu is known for performing topless during his sets.

Our other options at this time are ACL veterans Bleachers and Lola Young.  

Apparently his Boiler Room set in Tokyo went viral. This video has 20M views.

Here's a short documentary called "The Insane Rise of Yousuke Yukimatsu".  The first couple minutes are worth watching.  I didn't know there are TWO kinds of DJs.  I do now.

Most everything online is his sets at different festivals.  Here is a short video of him with his shirt off.

ACL 2026: It's Murph

Saturday at 5:30pm. Per this bio:

Hailing from Nashville, it’s murph, alias of producer Garrett Murphy, is making a splash in the dance world with his euphoric melodies, gritty baselines and sonically expansive atmospheres. His production draws in elements of tech, bass, and heavy dance inspired by artists such as Fred Again…, Cloonee, Chris Lake and Flume.

Another DJ. 

"Chemicals" is a newer song.

This is his most streamed song. 

 

ACL 2026: Palace

Saturday at 5:30pm on the Beatbox stage.  Per Wikipedia:

Palace is a British alternative rock band from London. The band has released four full-length studio albums to date...The band have performed several headlining tours worldwide, in addition to playing at major festivals including Glastonbury (2016, 2019) and Coachella (2024).

Four albums and major festivals yet I don't think I've ever heard of them. Do512 describes their sound:

a self-described alternative blues-rock group with a relaxed, atmospheric sound. Their music has an introspective feel. It's melodic and dynamic in its languid movement and the lyrics express personal emotions with a universal emotional spectrum.

They played Stubb's last March.

"Ohio" is their latest single that is going to be on their 5th album.  It's pretty good.

"Bitter" is from their debut album.

"Heaven Up There" is nice. A mix of Elbow and Foals. Should be a chill show.

This is their most streamed song.  I like it.  Has a Real Estate feel.

ACL 2026: Fai Laci

Saturday at 5:15pm on the BMI stage.  According to this bio:

Fai Laci has quickly emerged from the historically rich music scene of Boston, MA, to be one of the most compelling new voices in alternative rock. The band was founded by Luke Faillaci following the 2022 release of the first Fai Laci EP.

After that he formed a band with friends and released a second EP. Then:

Now signed to Easy Eye Sound, Fai Laci is currently hard at work recording their first full-length album in Nashville with Easy Eye Sound founder Dan Auerbach producing.

"Five" is an older song from 2022 and is the most streamed song. 

"Headlights" is one of the better ones I heard from their new album.  Has a Cage the Elephant sound.

This is also from their album.  

ACL 2026: Snow Strippers

Saturday at 5:15pm.  According to Wikipedia it's a duo that met on Tinder while they were in Florida then moved to Detroit before relocating to NYC.

It says:

Snow Strippers' music has primarily been described as electronic music; they have described it as EDM and it has also been described as electropop. It contains elements of new rave, witch house, electroclash, shoegaze, hyperpop, and techno.

Here's their most streamed song. Not really our thing.

 

ACL 2026: Rodrigo Y Gabriela

Saturday at 4:30pm on the Tito's stage.  We saw them do an ACL taping with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.  It was pretty cool.

They have a new album coming out September 18th.  

"Akatsuki (With Hiromi)" is their 2nd release from it.

This is the first release from it.  Cool video.  According to Wikipedia:

the accompanying music video features art by Naoki Urasawa, author and illustrator of the manga series of the same name.

I like the end when color is added.

ACL 2026: Young Miko

Saturday at 4:30pm.  Per Wikipedia:

María Victoria Ramírez de Arellano Cardona (born November 8, 1997), known professionally as Young Miko, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and former footballer.

Her biggest hits are collaborations:

"Classy 101" with Feid.

"FINA" with Bad Bunny.  She was part of the Super Bowl halftime show.

 This is her latest single which is part of a Gap campaign.  According to Wikipedia:

In March 2026, Gap launched a new campaign with Miko as the star. The campaign's name, Sweats Like This, features a slight remix of her hit single "WASSUP". This is the first Spanish language video campaign by Gap and she is the brand's first openly lesbian Latina face.

ACL 2026: Suki Waterhouse

Saturday at 4:15pm. We've seen her before. She also played ACL in 2023.  Preview here. We didn't see her then. Since then she has released a couple albums so I thought I'd listen to what's new.

"Notting Hill" is nice.

This was on rotation on KUTX.  

ACL 2026: Skye Newman

Saturday at 3:30pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Skye Newman (born 9 November 2003) is an English singer-songwriter from South East London...Her debut EP SE9 Part 1 was released in October 2025...She has named Amy Winehouse, Adele, Bob Marley, and Eminem among her musical inspirations.

She has since released SE9 Part 2. 

"Hairdresser" was her debut single. 9 Million views. A good follow-up to Don West.

"FU &UF" is a good warmup for Lola Young.

This is her big hit.  I wonder if the US kids will know the lyrics like they do in England.  Here's the studio version.  Tough lyrics for a singalong.  

 

ACL 2026: Ryan Beatty

Saturday at 3:30pm. Per this bio:

For nearly a decade, GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty has reinvented himself time and time again, traversing the spectrum of the pop world and beyond...First gaining notoriety for delivering hooks for artists like Brockhampton and Tyler, The Creator, Beatty soon garnered acclaim for the confessional indie-tinged pop of his 2018 debut Boy In Jeans. In 2020, a more heartbroken yet adventurous sophomore outing called Dreaming Of David followed...He also earned critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Variety, i-D, Billboard, FLAUNT, and more. Amidst tours with Noah Kahan and Maggie Rogers, Beatty secretly worked on what would become Beyonce’s blockbuster 2024 album Cowboy Carter, later winning an Album Of The Year Grammy for contributing four of its key tracks.

According to Wikipedia  he gained recognition in his teens and was pigeonholed as a teen heartthrob, a designation he didn't want. He fired his management team and took a break to refine his sound.  He's now 30 and released his latest album in June.

"Virtuoso" is a good opener for Nohah Kahan fans.

"White Lightning" is his latest video. Nice mellow tune. I wonder how long they had to wait to get the lightning to cooperate.

"Too Many Ways" reminds me of Harry Nilsson.

This is the title track and his most streamed song. Nice tune.  He has a 70s/80s style. 

ACL 2026: Coleman Jennings

Saturday at 3:30pm on the BMI stage.  We've seen him twice: once opening for Briscoe at Stubb's and once solo at Luck as part of the BMI Songwriter's showcase.  He just released his debut album produced by Dave Cobb. (Producer for Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Colter Wall, Brandi Carlisle, etc.  Huge.)

SavingCountryMusic liked it.

"Ride On" is good. 

So is this.

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.

ACL 2026: DJ Cassandra

Saturday at 2pm on the Tito's stage.  According to this article/interview:

DJ Cassandra’s experience as a musician, composer, speaker, and mentor has reached listeners across the country. Her ambitions are expanding after being the first woman to win Best DJ at the Austin Music Awards this year.

It says she grew up between London and Austin and studied composition at UT and is a classically trained pianist.  

It says she's working on original music.  I think this is one of them.

"Shiki Shock"

This is her most streamed song. Not really our thing.

ACL 2026: Cure for Paranoia

Saturday at 2pm.  According to their website bio:

Cure for Paranoia is the Dallas hip-hop and soul collective founded by Cameron McCloud, who was placed on medication for bipolar depression and paranoid schizophrenia a decade ago — and found the music worked better. A preschool teacher by day, McCloud posted a new verse every day of 2025, and those dailies became “No Brainer,” winner of NPR's 2026 Tiny Desk Contest, followed by the ten-city On The Road tour.

 The Dallas Observer gave their live show this review:

While McCloud naturally commanded attention, it can’t be overstated how crucial the band was to last night’s performance. They brought every track to new heights and included several instrumental breaks to fully emphasize every moment. McCloud was quick to step aside for a trumpet or sax solo and gave each member their own moment to shine...There’s no other way to cut it: If you weren’t at Trees last night, you missed out on a night of Dallas music magic. Between the stacked bill of dynamic openers and the powerhouse performance from Cure for Paranoia, the record release show was one for the books.

"No Brainer" is the song that won them the NPR Tiny Desk Contest. The lyrics are great. Funky song, too.  From NPR:

This year, we received more than 6,000 entries from independent artists across the country, but one act had undeniable star power. Among our judges, the decision to crown Cure For Paranoia was unanimous. 

Here is their NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance.  His speech between the 2nd and 3rd song is touching. It starts here if you want to skip ahead.

"&Pose" is good. The review of their live show says they extended the song to "10 minutes of all-out, pure, in-the-moment grooves. Everyone on stage was winded by the time they finished, and the audience exploded with applause."

This is the first song on the Tiny Desk Concert but I'll post again. More great lyrics. This may be my pick for this timeslot. 

ACL 2026: Emma Ogier

Saturday at 1:45pm on the BMI stage.  She played Luck Reunion this year as part of the BMI Songwriter's showcase.  Preview here.   We missed her.

This article/interview provides an update since Luck.  She's moving from Nashville to Los Angeles and her debut album is supposed to be released in the Fall.  She's currently opening for Whitney on tour.

"Rocksteady/Heavy Metal" is her latest single.  

She's playing opposite Temper City on the Miller Lite stage so noise bleed could be bad.

This was also released recently.  It's her most streamed song.  It's nice.

ACL 2026: Temper City

 Saturday at 1:45pm.  Per Wikipedia:

Temper City is an Israeli-American alternative rock band based in Los Angeles...The musical style of the first single is reminiscent of 2000s indie rock bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, and Foster the People.

It also says:

On February 15, 2026, the band released its debut single, "Self Aware," under the Thirty Knots label. The song became a viral success of unprecedented scale for Israeli artists on the international stage. It climbed to number one on the viral charts of Spotify and TikTok in 42 countries, including the United States, the UK, Israel, and Australia. Additionally, the song entered the US Billboard chart, peaking at number 60 making the band the first Israeli act to appear on that chart.

Posters on Reddit think they are an industry plant.  They've only released 2 songs and no albums yet they were booked for ACL just months after releasing their first song.  Hmm.

"Reverse Psychology" was released on Youtube 3 days ago.

This is their "breakout".  31M views (by real people. certainly not bots) in 6 months.

Kinda generic.

ACL 2026: Annie DiRusso

 Saturday at 1:15pm.  According to NPR:

Annie DiRusso is a Nashville based indie-rock artist born in NYC, who wears the influence of both of these cities on her sleeve. She blends buzzing garage rock guitars and high-energy performances with a pop-infused flair. The magic she creates in her hooks and melodies is apparent in her eight previously released singles, quickly turning casual listeners into hardcore fans.

Here's her NPR Tiny Desk Concert. 

"Don't Swerve" is one of her older songs.

This is her biggest hit.

ACL 2026: Night Tapes

 Saturday at 1pm.  From Wikipedia:

Night Tapes are a British-Estonian dream pop band based in London, formed by Estonian singer Iiris Vesik and English musicians Max Doohan and Sam Richards...Night Tapes' music has been described as dream pop blended with electronic, ambient and trip hop elements, characterised by Vesik's layered vocals over minimalist drum loops and synthesisers. NME characterised their output as hypnagogic pop with shoegaze textures.

"storm" is off their most recent album. Chill ambient tune.  ACL likes to start the day with these bands.

"Helix" is good. I like the drums.

This is their biggest hit to date. I like it. Right up my alley as you'd say.

ACL 2026: Left Lucid

Saturday at 12:45pm.  I can't find much on this performer.   Google AI says: "Left Lucid is the Austin-based DJ and electronic music producer alias of Lucas Ogden."

He's DJing tonight at Eberly and plays September 11th at Brushy Street Commons.

"247" is chill festival kickoff vibes.

"keeping u close" is his most streamed song on Spotify.

This is catchy.

 

ACL 2026: FIGHTMASTER

 Saturday at 12:45pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Emmett Rogers Fightmaster (born 8 June 1992), known professionally as E. R. Fightmaster, is an American actor, producer, and writer. Fightmaster is known for their work on Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Kai Bartley, and through their solo music project Fightmaster (stylized in all caps)...Fightmaster is a former member of The Second City's Chicago and touring companies. Their previous work includes performing with Boom Chicago, an English-language comedy troupe in Amsterdam.

We saw a segment about Boom Chicago on either CBS Sunday Morning or 60 Minutes. 

They are non-binary and play a non-binary doctor on Grey's Anatomy.  They've released 2 EPs and 1 full album in June.  They've opened for Lucy Dacus and Lord Huron.

"Bad Man" is the most streamed song. It's good.

So is "Cowboy Tumbleweed".  For the Lord Huron fans.

"All or Nothing" is the first single off the new album.  

This has a Lucy Dacus feel. One description of their music I saw is "genre-bending". It fits.

I could be up for getting there early to see this.

ACL 2026: Charli xcx

Friday at 8:40pm.  It may be tough to stay late enough to watch this but I'll try to make a case for watching some of it.  First, some facts I didn't know about her. From Wikipedia:

Charlotte Emma Aitchison was born in Cambridge, England, on 2 August 1992, the only child of nurse and flight attendant Shameera and entrepreneur and talent agent Jon Aitchison. Her mother was born into a Muslim family of Gujarati Indian descent in Uganda and moved to England after they were expelled by the Idi Amin regime. Her father is Scottish.

That's the third person I've come across recently that is descended from Indian Muslims expelled from Uganda.  The second was a main suspect in the book I just read "London Falling".  It was the first time I learned about that diaspora.  The third person is NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Her Lollapalooza show has drawn great reviews:

"Charli xcx’s Lollapalooza Set Made Me Think There Might Be a God"

"Charli xcx delivers jaw-dropping drama amid made-for-movies downpour"

I pulled the setlist and created a Spotify playlist for it.  I listened to the whole thing since I don't really know her music.  It was a very eclectic mix.  

Here is her Lollapalooza set.

I really like her new album "Music, Fashion, Film" and she plays a lot from it.  Her previous album "Brat" was a cultural phenomenon.  It's more straight-up dance pop than her new album which incorporates rock and heavy guitar.  The cover is pretty cool, too, with John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese.  Music, Fashion, Film.

If she plays a similar setlist she'll start off with a few songs off her new album.  It could be worth it to stick around for a bit.

"Yeah" is rocking.  Cool video, too. Reminds me of Fischerspooner.

"SS26" is nice.

So is "Wink Wink"

This is the first song in the setlist. Damn good.

ACL 2026: Molly Santana

 Friday at 7:30pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Molly Santana is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for her guest appearance alongside Future on Drake's 2026 song "Ran to Atlanta", which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100...Santana is of Japanese and African American ancestry, and grew up in Fontana, California.

She's only 21 years old.

"Can't Touch This" is one of her newer songs.

This is her most streamed song. I like it.  Probably not our thing, though.

ACL 2026: Leon Thomas

Friday at 7:15pm.  I know he has won Grammys and did an ACL taping. I just don't know much about him. What I didn't know, according to Wikipedia:

• Thomas was born in Brooklyn, New York City
• Thomas made his Broadway debut at the age of 10 in 2003 as Young Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King
• He also was on Broadway in the musicals Caroline, or Change and The Color Purple
• He played a main character on Victorious, portraying Andre Harris, which premiered on Nickelodeon on March 27, 2010. It ran for 57 episodes.
• He co-wrote and co-produced for artists including his Victorious co-star Ariana Grande, Babyface, Drake, Rick Ross, SZA, and Toni Braxton.
• In 2016, he served as a co-producer for Post Malone's album Stoney.

Pretty impressive career.

Here's his NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

This is his big hit. Live from his ACL taping.

ACL 2026: Labrinth

Friday at 6:30pm.  I previewed a hard rock band called Labrinth that I thought played ACL in 2023.  Preview here.  That's not the Labrinth that played.  It was this Labrinth then and now. Oops. I'm out of touch.

This Labrinth, according to Wikipedia:

Timothy Lee McKenzie (born 4 January 1989), better known by his stage name Labrinth, is a British singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer. Labrinth signed as a recording artist with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Music in 2010.

It also says:

He has been referred to as "one of the most important British musicians of his generation". Labrinth has worked with numerous artists as a songwriter and producer including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Kanye West, and the Weeknd.

He scored the soundtrack for the TV show "Euphoria". "Formula" is on it.  It looks like that show was his breakthrough.

So is "Still Don't Know My Name".

Here is "Never Felt So Alone" at Coachella. With somebody named Billie Eilish.

This is his most streamed song. 

ACL 2026: Steve Aoki

 Friday at 6:30pm.  From Google AI:

Steven Hiroyuki Aoki is an American DJ, record producer, and music executive who blends electronic music with pop, hip-hop, and rock. Born in Miami in 1977 and raised in Los Angeles, Aoki started by putting on hardcore shows. He founded the independent label Dim Mak in 1996, which releases music ranging from indie rock to trap. In the late 2000s, Aoki shifted his focus to production, collaborating with EDM artists like Afrojack, Tiësto, and NERVO. 

Here is a live show from Brazil.

This is a newer release. 

ACL 2026: Turnstile

Friday at 6:15pm.  Hard rock from Baltimore. They've been around since 2010.  According to Wikipedia:

Originally a hardcore punk group, Turnstile's breakthrough third album Glow On was released in 2021, earning critical acclaim and three Grammy nominations. Their fourth album Never Enough was released in 2025 and charted in the top 10 of five countries, including the U.S. The album received five Grammy nominations, making Turnstile the first band to be nominated in the rock, alternative, and metal categories in the same year. The band won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for their song "Birds" and Best Rock Album on February 1, 2026.

Not really our thing but here are a few songs.

"Birds" is what won them the Grammy.

"Blackout" is their most streamed song on Spotify. Reminds me of RHCP.

"Look out for Me" is one of their bigger hits.

This is more mellow.  It's the title track of their latest album.

 

ACL 2026: BUNT.

 Friday at 4:30pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Levi Wijk (born January 3, 1996), better known as Bunt (stylized as BUNT.), is a German folk DJ and record producer...BUNT's musical style is described as "electronic folk music" and noted to be heavily influenced by late electronic music pioneer Avicii along with influences from musicians such as Justice, Basement Jaxx, Swedish House Mafia and Calvin Harris with elements of Fred Again..

 10 MILLION monthly listeners on Spotify.

"TRIPPIN" has 8.5M streams on Youtube. I like it.

This is his biggest hit.

ACL 2026: Rusowsky

 Friday at 4:30pm on the Beatbox stage.  According to Wikipedia:

Ruslán Mediavilla (born 1999), known professionally as Rusowsky (stylized in all lowercase), is a Spanish singer, songwriter and record producer. His music explores underground and avant-garde genres such as bedroom pop, R&B, reggaeton, techno, hip hop and even jazz...Rusowsky was born into a Belarusian family; his mother was a member of a Belarusian folk group. He has a classical music background, with knowledge of solfège, and plays instruments such as the guitar and piano.

Here is his NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Nice chill session.

This is his most streamed song. Catchy.

ACL 2026: Grocery Bag

 Friday at 5:15pm on the BMI stage.  Psych-rock from Austin. According to this article it consists of:

Vocalist/guitarist Bella Martinez, guitarist/bassist Dillon Aitala, bassist/guitarist Logan Kerman, and drummer/guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Mercado.

It says Aitala hosts "Just Another Day in Paradise" on KVRX. They got started playing co-ops in West Campus and expanded from there.  

"Last Draw" is live from the Pearl Street Co-op. Cool video.

"Stop Calling Me Out" is good.

This is pretty good, too. Filmed at the skate park at House Park.

ACL 2026: Brandon Flowers

 Friday at 5:15pm.  I'll let SavingCountryMusic comment:

Brandon Flowers is his name, and though the rest of the world knows him as the frontman for the new wave rock and roll band The Killers, he might have just accidentally hauled off and made an Album of the Year contender in country, with perhaps a couple of Song of the Year candidates as well.

High praise. He does a good breakdown of the album and talks about each song.

Margo Price on backing vocals on "Does It Ever Cross Your Mind?"

"Tiger's Blood" has a Bruce Springsteen feel.

"Miss America" has a Ryan Adams feel.

"Angel" is good.

This is a good country song. I haven't listened to the whole album yet but I like what I've heard.

ACL 2026: Amyl and the Sniffers

 Friday at 4:30pm. Rock band out of Melbourne. According to Wikipedia:

The band takes its name from the slang for amyl nitrite, also known as poppers. Taylor compared their music to the drug in an interview with Paul Glynn of the BBC: "In Australia we call poppers Amyl. So you sniff it, it lasts for 30 seconds and then you have a headache – and that's what we're like!" Their sound has been compared to 1970s punk rock groups such as Iggy and the Stooges and the Damned. Taylor has cited a number of varying influences including Minor Threat, Ceremony, AC/DC, Sleaford Mods, Dolly Parton and Cardi B.

They've toured through town quite a few times. They opened for Turnstile at Moody Amphitheater and have also played Stubb's and Empire Garage. They played SJSanJose at SXSW in 2019.  I never previewed them.

Here is a live performance on KEXP with an audience. One of the comments says she's a raging ball of energy. Yes. They could not have scheduled a greater polar opposite stage presence than these guys and Jesse Welles.  

This is their closing song in that set. I would enjoy this but don't think it's up your alley.

ACL 2026: Rebecca Black

Friday at 4:30pm on the Tito's stage.  Jesse Welles is playing at this time so FYI only. This is the Rebecca Black of "Friday" fame.  She recovered from that and has released a couple albums that were generally well received.  She has a new album coming out in September. She has toured with Sabrina Carpenter and Katy Perry.  

"Crumbs" was liked by Brooklyn Vegan.  It's off her debut album.

"Trust" is from her second album.

This is from her upcoming album. About what you'd expect.

ACL 2026: LP

Friday at 3:30pm. From Google AI:

LP, born Laura Pergolizzi, is an American singer-songwriter known for her unique voice and androgynous style. Her heartfelt lyrics explore past, present, and future relationships. LP has released seven albums and three EPs, and her major label debut, Forever for Now, featured the hit “Into the Wild”. Her 2016 album Lost on You included the international hit title track, which achieved Diamond status in France and Mexico. 

Despite being around for years I'm drawing a blank on her. Refresh my memory if I'm forgetting something.  She played ACL in 2012 but I didn't write about her. She has also played Stubb's multiple times. Not my wheelhouse I guess.

Here's "Into the Wild".  

Here's "Lost on You".

This is her latest release. Chill beats.

ACL 2026: Marlon Funaki

Friday at 3:30pm on the Beatbox stage (other side of Barton Springs Rd.).  We saw him at Luck Reunion in 2025.  (See preview here.) I liked him.  Great show. I think his parents were near us.  

Here he is live on Audiotree Live.

This is his latest release.  Nice. Probably my first choice.

ACL 2026: Izzy Escobar

 Friday at 3:30pm on the BMI stage.  Some excerpts from this bio:

Izzy Escobar is a songwriter and artist from Massachusetts...With classical roots in violin and a passion for piano...Influenced by her Cuban and Italian heritage.

According to this interview her father is from Cuba.  She says:

I look back at all my favourite older jazz records, and I love Sarah Vaughan, Carole King, Julie London, Norah Jones. I still really gravitate towards those piano-heavy songs, years later.

She's on Interscope Records.

"Vendetta" has an Amy Winehouse feel. 

So does "Hate to Be the One". It was written by Diane Warren.  That's some serious backing.

This is her latest single. I don't think she'll be playing the BMI stage for long.

ACL 2026: Bo Staloch

 Friday at 3:15pm on the Tito's stage.  According to this bio:

Born and raised in Austin TX, Bo Staloch is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter based in Nashville. Through the release of his debut single ‘Springtime Red Tulips’, he has gained the attention of many, including some of his biggest idols and inspirations. Bo has a very unique sound that blends the worlds of Americana, Country, Folk, and Pop.

According to this interview his EP was "crafted and completed alongside producer Andrew Wells (Ellie Goulding, Halsey) at the legendary Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood Hills of LA."

He's signed to Capitol Records.  He hasn't released a full album yet, just singles after releasing the EP.

He seems to be touring all over the U.S. and Europe and hasn't played many Austin shows.

"Masks" is his latest single. 

"Your Eyes Tell Stories" is a nice mellow tune. 

"Born To" is good. 

"Santa Fe" is a catchy tune. 

Here is a full live performance on Audiotree Live.

This was his debut single.

ACL 2026: Paris Paloma

 Friday at 3:15pm.  From this article:

Sitting in the lineage of the likes of Florence + The Machine and AURORA, the British singer-songwriter is not one to shy away in her music. She rose to prominence in the past few years with her dark-pop-indie-folk musings, all woven with a candor that is both personal and universal.

She has released one album and has another coming out September 4th.  She has opened for Florence + the Machine and Stevie Nicks.  Not bad.

"Steam the Flow" is off her upcoming album.

"Good Boy" has an intro from Emma Thompson.

This is her breakout song live.  They know all the words.  Pretty cool.

ACL 2026: CMAT

 Friday at 2:45pm.  According to Google AI:

CMAT is the stage name of Irish singer-songwriter Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, known for her radio-friendly pop with a country influence. Her music blends alternative, indie, country, and pop to create humorous and honest tunes. Born in North Dublin in 1996, CMAT grew up listening to contemporary pop and classic country, and started making music at age 17. She first gained attention as part of the Manchester-based duo Bad Sea, formed with a bandmate she met on Tinder. 

Wikipedia says:

CMAT has been noted for her large fanbase among Irish LGBTQ+ people. She once said that "I'm making music for the girls and the gays, and that's it."

She has released 3 albums and they all went to #1 in Ireland. 

"When A Good Man Cries" has a country influence.

I like both "Running/Planning" and "Stay for Something".

This is her most streamed song. It's good.

 

ACL 2026: New Constellations

 Friday at 2:30pm.  According to Wikipedia:

New Constellations is an American dream pop and synthwave duo based out of Portland, Oregon...New Constellations was founded by childhood friends Harlee Case and Josh Smith. 

"Hesitate" is a collaboration with Bayonne. Maybe he'll join them on stage.

"Sun Chasing the Rain" is them live.  Chill tunes to begin the festival.

This is their breakout hit. 80s-era Berlin sound.  I like it.

 

ACL 2026: Elijah Delgado

Friday at 2pm. This Austin musician has been playing a lot around town (Blues on the Green, 04 Center, CBoy's, Zilker Botanical Garden, Bullock Museum) but we've yet to see him.  

"You and I" is getting rotation on KUTX.

Most of his songs are pretty mellow. "Read the Room" is a little more uptempo. 

This is good.

ACL 2026: Solomon Hicks

 Friday at 2pm on the Tito's stage.  According to Wikipedia:

"King" Solomon Hicks (born February 8, 1995) is an American guitarist, blues, jazz singer, and composer. His style of music ranges from jazz, blues, classical, gospel, R&B, funk, Afro-Cuban, and classic rock. 

It says he was born in Harlem. He started playing at 13 and performed at the Apollo Theater as a teen.  

"Further On Up the Road" is traditional blues.

This is live. In the intro he says Chris Layton plays drums on his new album. Maybe he'll be playing the show.

Good stuff.

ACL 2026: Night Traveler

 Friday at 2pm.  File this under the "I'm out of touch" category.  According to their website bio:

Adam Fischer and Hunter Glaske launched Night Traveler in 2018 with nothing but a song: no fanbase, no live shows, just their debut single “1984” released into the void. Within a month, it had 100,000 streams.

The music spoke for itself.

Since then, the Austin-based duo has refined a signature sound that draws comparisons to The War on Drugs and The Paper Kites while carving out distinctly their own lane. 

They have 178K monthly listeners on Spotify.  Their songs have over 3M streams.  Strangely, they only have 188 followers on do512 and their last show was in 2024 at Brushy Street Commons. They haven't performed or toured since.

"Missing You" is them live at Parish/Brushy Street.  They're more pop/ballads a la Bryan Adams than rock like War on Drugs.

I guess that's why I don't recognize them.  I can't find what they've been up to in the interim.

"Damage" is pretty good.

"1984" was their first single.

 This was probably my favorite. Good start the festival tunes.

ACL 2026: Elle Coves

 Friday at 1:45 on the BMI stage.  This bio says:

Born in Germany to Spanish parents, twenty-one-year-old Elle Coves moved to Ireland when she was thirteen and started writing songs shortly after. 

Since finishing school in the summer of 2022, Elle is already making a name for herself, having toured with Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, and Del Water Gap, as well as working with some of the biggest writers and producers in the industry and releasing her debut EP ‘Selfishly Inclined’ in March of 2024.

Taking inspiration from Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Maggie Rogers and Haim, Elle effortlessly merges personal, self-reflective storytelling with powerful melodies and stadium choruses.

That's a pretty good summary. It looks like she's signed to Sony Music. 

Let's check out some songs.

"Hit Me Where It Hurts" is a nice mellow tune. A mix of Maggie Rogers and Phoebe Bridgers.

"Peace" is her most streamed song on Spotify. Very Swifty.

This is catchy.  I don't think that's Ireland.

 

ACL 2026: Hunx and His Punx

 Friday at 1:15pm.  This band played SXSW in 2011 (My preview here).  According to Wikipedia:

Hunx, real name Seth Bogart, started the band in 2008 after years of performing in the pop group Gravy Train!!!!. The group's sound has been compared to 1960s girl groups and is a blend of punk and bubblegum music. 

Since that time Bogart disbanded and reformed the band a couple of times with new bandmates, most recently in 2019.  The band now includes Shannon Shaw from Shannon and the Clams (who played SXSW in 2024).  They released a new album in 2025 and have been touring for it.

Here is a recent performance on KEXP.  I bet Rumble Radio plays them.

"Lover's Lane" is one of their older tunes. 

This is the first song they played on KEXP and it's their latest single.

ACL 2026: Faouzia

 Friday at 1:45pm. Per her extremely comprehensive Wikipedia page:

Faouzia Ouihya (Arabic: فوزية أويحيى, romanized: Fawziya Uwīḥiya, pronounced [ˈfawzija ʔuˈwiːħija]; French: [fauzja]; born 5 July 2000), known mononymously as Faouzia, is a Moroccan and Canadian singer, songwriter and musician. Born in Casablanca, Morocco, she moved with her family to Canada at a young age.

It says she grew up listening to pop musicians Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Sia, Adele, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend.

"Tears of Gold" is pretty good. 

"Birthday" is a nice mellow tune.

This is her newest single.

 

ACL 2026: The 4411

Friday at 12:45pm on the Tito's stage. Schedules are out so let the research begin. We're doing weekend one this year so I'll focus on those bands.  First up is a local band.  This article says:

 The 4411 are at their core – a group of best friends from Austin, Texas, making music rooted in shared history and genuine connection. The band’s name itself comes from the street address of their drummer’s parents’ house, where they first rehearsed and wrote together, and that sense of origin still lingers in their sound. Influenced by artists like Hozier, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, and The Backseat Lovers...

Indie folk.

In that article the singer says he was going for a Jeff Buckley sound on "Sweet July".  Nice mellow tune. 

"Her" has 127K streams on youtube after 1 month. Pretty good. Reminds me of Houndmouth.

This is catchy.

 

SXSW 2026: Recap

For searching purposes.

Friday March 13th

@Colton House

Eliza Thorn
Patton Magee
Olivia Ellen Lloyd
SUSTO String Band

@Scoot Inn

Six Foot Blonde
The Nude Party

Saturday March 14th

@ San Jose

The Bures Band
Angela Autumn
Calder Allen

@Magdalena Hotel

Little Mazarn (end)
Boomershack

Monday March 16th

@High Noon (Paste)

TTSSFU
Buddy Red
Swapmeet
Diles Que No Me Maten
Liz Cooper

@GSD&M

Next of Kin
The Droptines
Los Lobos

Tuesday March 17th

@Ray Benson's Birthday

Los Lonely Boys
Asleep at the Wheel

Thursday March 19th

@Luck Reunion

Tom Jenkins
Penelope Road
Frank Mastra
Deloyd Elze
Joshua Ray Walker
Dylan Earl
Fred Eaglesmith
Kaitlin Butts (partial)
Chuck Prophet and his Cumbia Shoes
Luck Family Jam Carrie Rodriguez with:
Kam Franklin, Eva Ybarra, Elizabeth Goodfellow,Tami Neilson , Ellen Angelico, Bonnie Whitmore, Suzanna Choffel, Erika Wennerstrom, Melissa Carper, Lily Meola
Booker T. Jones
Willie Nelson and Family

SXSW 2026: The Bures Band

 This band starts out SXSanJose Saturday.  Their bandcamp says:

The Bures Band is a Folk Rock group from Perth, West Australia. The band formed in October 2022 and is made up of three primary song writers who came together over a shared taste in late 60s/70s music.

"Let In Outside" is good.

This is a throwback to CSNY or The Byrds.

 

SXSW 2026: Blessing Jolie

This is a late addition to Luck Reunion. She's from Houston and is playing the Jack Daniel's Stage That is inside the small Jack Daniel's building. It may be hard to get into it.

"Frown Lines" is a nice song. Her voice reminds me of Traci Chapman.

This is her first music video. Her album is coming out on Thirty Tigers.  Expect big things.

SXSW 2026: Diles Que No Me Maten

This band out of Mexico City is playing Paste on Monday the 16th at 3pm.  They are also playing SXSanjose tomorrow (Thursday the 12th). No time yet.

The SXSW bio just says: "Psychedelic Punk in Spanish. Forced Jazz meditation."

Here they are live on KEXP. They're also playing the Downright on Tuesday the 17th at 2pm as part of KEXP's El Sonido Live! day party.

Nice chill sounds.