2025 Austin City Limits Review: Sabrina Carpenter, Hozier, The Killers, Role Model, and more
Unlike Coachella or Lollapalooza, which have evolved into more defined, genre-focused events, the Austin City Limits Music Festival still feels like a true mix of everything. Whether you came for pop, rock, or country, there’s always something at ACL to catch your ear. Weekend One of the festival’s 2025 edition proved that range, with headliners spanning from pop star Sabrina Carpenter to indie-rock band The Strokes, country heavyweight Luke Combs, and EDM powerhouse John Summit. I made sure to check out most of the pop acts — plus a handful of other sets that caught my eye.
Sabrina Carpenter brought out Shania Twain, arrested Djo
Sabrina Carpenter, arguably one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now, headlined ACL for the first time on Saturday night. Fresh off her new album Man’s Best Friend, she stuck to the pretty much the same condensed Short ’N Sweet Tour setlist she’s had for over a year, only adding “Manchild” and “Tears” from the new record — and it worked. The crowd got a full, hit-filled show with “Taste,” “Please Please Please,” and “Espresso.” Rumors of a Taylor Swift cameo had fans on edge after their recent collab “The Life of a Showgirl,” so when Carpenter teased, “I’m in a gift-giving mood,” the screams were deafening - but the surprise turned out to be Shania Twain, joining her for “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” I'm still unsure how well that hit with Sabrina's Gen Z fan base. Later, Djo made a quick cameo as part of a recurring bit from her “Juno” performance in which he got 'arrested', wrapping up a set that was full of personality and pop star power. I'd say I was expecting a bit more from Sabrina's set, but it was still a good pop show. It just didn't hit the way Dua Lipa's show did last year at the fest.
The Killers proved to be a good replacement for Doja Cat
Just a few weeks ago, The Killers were announced as the replacements for Doja Cat, who canceled her Sunday night headlining appearance due to a packed promotional schedule for her new album Vie. The veteran rock band from Las Vegas came in ready to do their thing. After a quick nod to Texas with a cover of Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River,” Brandon Flowers and company wasted no time kicking off a high-energy set with a one-two punch of “Somebody Told Me” and “When You Were Young.” At one point, Flowers likened ACL to The Killers, noting that both started in 2002 and adding, “Everybody knows you need a little bit of time to cook before you reach your full potential.” Their career-spanning set proved that point, featuring hits like “Human,” “Runaways,” and “All These Things That I’ve Done.” They closed with a spectacular two-song encore of “Spaceman” and “Mr. Brightside,” sending festivalgoers home happy.
Hozier mixed his artistry with activism
Hozier returned to ACL after just two years, this time with a well-deserved headlining slot on Friday night. The Irish singer brought his many talents to Zilker Park for a set that not only showcased his remarkable artistry but also raised awareness about the injustices of the world today. Using his music as a backdrop, the visuals on the big screen often took center stage to drive his message home. Whether he was criticizing global military spending during his song "Eat Your Young," delivering a fiery speech condemning human rights abuses and calling for peace in the Middle East, or leading the crowd in a powerful singalong of his LGBTQ+ anthem “Take Me to Church,” Hozier made his worldview clear — and the audience listened.
Marina did not like heat, but ACL loved her
Marina made her ACL debut this year, remaining grateful throughout her set while admitting she wasn’t moving as much as usual because of the heat. “I think this is the hottest show I’ve ever done,” she declared. And while that might be literally true, it also felt figuratively hot too. Despite the sweltering weather, the audience was right there with her every step of the way. New songs like “Cuntissimo” and “Butterfly” sounded great live, but it was even more thrilling to hear favorites from her Electra Heart era, including “Bubblegum Bitch,” “Primadonna,” and “How to Be a Heartbreaker.”
Role Model brought charisma and Hillary Duff to ACL
Role Model is having an insane year. Just this week alone, he performed at ACL Fest — taking home the moment of the fest with surprise guest Hilary Duff as Sally, taped his ACL TV performance, flew all the way to Toronto for All Things Go, will return to ACL for weekend two this Friday, and then head to New York City as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. I’m exhausted just writing this, but thrilled for him at the same time.
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At ACL, he delivered a superb set that mixed his raspy, smooth vocals with plenty of jokes and crowd flirting — after all, he’s oddly attractive. Between songs, he cracked lines like, “My name is Ed Sheeran, thank you very much,” and, “We are Maroon 5, so happy to be back at Austin Butler Limits.” Highlights included “Superglue,” “Old Recliners,” and “Some Protector,” along with a sexy cover of The 1975’s “Somebody Else,” after which he promptly joked, “We are The 1965, thank you.”
Olivia Dean brought all the good vibes to ACL
British singer Olivia Dean, who is slowly exploding on this side of the pond, brought a masterclass in soulful pop to the American Express stage on Saturday afternoon. She didn’t let the heat stop her from delivering smooth vocals — and dance moves. Her charismatic stage presence charmed both fans and casual festivalgoers, and her songs had everyone up in spirits. Highlights included “Carmen,” the song she made about her grandmother with a pro-immigration message, and “Man I Need” from her new album The Art of Loving, which has been gaining a lot of traction since its release just two weeks ago. She closed with “Dive” from her debut album Messy, bowing out as one of the best performances of the weekend without a doubt.
Midnight Generation is here to stay
Mexican band Midnight Generation made their ACL debut on Sunday at the Tito’s Stage, bringing their irresistible blend of electro-pop and disco to life. When they first took the stage, a decent-sized crowd filled the small tent, but by the end of their set, fans had spilled far beyond it — a clear sign of one of the weekend’s standout performances. The energy never let up for a second; it felt impossible to catch your breath, but no one wanted to. The five-piece fused slick synths with live instrumentation for a one-of-a-kind sound that felt like Daft Punk meets Nile Rodgers — and the crowd couldn’t get enough.
The Favors made their festival debut
The Favors, the collaborative project by Finneas and Ashe, made their festival debut at ACL on Friday afternoon. Their debut album The Dream only dropped last month, but it already translates beautifully to a festival setting — so much so that Finneas admitted he imagined playing “Moonshine,” a standout on their set, at a festival while making it. This was not only their first festival appearance but only their third show together, yet their onstage chemistry was flawless, filled with witty banter between songs. “How do you feel, Ashe?” Finneas asked, to which she replied, giggling, “I feel so angry,” before diving into her song “Angry Woman.” Finneas’s “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night” also sounded amazing live, and they closed their set with The Dream’s “Home Sweet Home” before getting a big crowd reaction for Ashe’s “Till Forever Falls Apart.”
Along with Olivia Dean and Midnight Generation, this was one of the standout sets of the weekend for me.