Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/367813
photography by Cambria harkey (queens of the stone age); JaCk edinger (the Joy formidable, spoon). opposite page: photography by dave mead (haim); ashley garmon (2013 fest); tim mosenfelder/getty images (benson) Austin City Limits, the PBS series marking its 40th anniversary, sent out the beacon to millions of fans. The ACL Festival now dances in its light. Austin-based C3 Presents, which organizes the festival, licensed the ACL brand in 2002 and operates the event separately from the TV show, although a few select performers are typically tapped to tape an episode while they're here for the Fest. "When you're on that stage," explains Quesada, who has played the ACL Fest with his previous band, the much-loved Grupo Fantasma, "you can't always tell how special it is. But when you see that iconic city backdrop, it's a pretty amazing feeling." The festival crowd will be a large one for Spanish Gold, a supergroup of sorts, with Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket and Dante Schwebel of Hacienda. Spanish Gold released its debut record this summer to critical acclaim. The ACL Fest expanded to two weekends for the first time last year, and the upcoming lineup is arguably its most glittery yet. Muscular homegrown acts like Spoon and Spanish Gold will share billing with international-class headliners such as Pearl Jam (a repeat from 2009), Eminem, and Outkast. Regular three-day passes for both weekends are sold out, although VIP and Platinum badges and packages were still available at press time. Longtime Austin resident Jim Eno, a drummer for critical favorites and ACL Fest veterans Spoon, is also a producer with his own in-home studio. Because he greets so many bands both at home and when he's touring, he serves in a casual capacity as an unofficial ambassador. Eno just produced the Australian band The Preatures, who will make its ACL Fest debut this year. "They were here for a month recording," Eno says. "They loved the fact that they were in a little house about a mile away from the studio, and they were really able to soak up all the culture. They loved it and had a great time. They're excited to return to ACL. I hear that from a lot of people I run into on tour." Although Austin's reputation in the music world has remained sterling, change is natural. "When I first got here, rent was cheap; pot was cheap," observes Ray Benson, who arrived in town with his fellow Asleep at the Wheel members in 1973. "Now rent ain't cheap; pot ain't cheap," he jokes. One thing that hasn't changed: Asleep at the Wheel will once again welcome opening-day crowds with its distinc- tive brand of Western swing and country music as they have for every ACL Fest since the beginning. Benson, who will also appear with Milkdrive on Weekend Two, has witnessed the event's transforma- tion from cozy to sprawling: Daily attendance is about 75,000. "The ACL Festival is one of the things "The ACL FesTivAL is one oF The Things ThAT reALLy puT AusTin on The mAp As A desTinATion For young peopLe over The LAsT 12 yeArs." —ray benson The Joy Formidable were a breakout act at last year's festival. Spoon comes home to play ACL this year. Queens of the Stone Age performed at last year's ACL Fest. ConTinued From pAge 57 58 AUSTINWAY.com CULTURE Hottest Ticket