From indie grit to country swagger — what a way to open ACL 2025!
Friday at ACL Fest 2025 felt like the first inhale of something big — the kind of day that hums in your bones before the headliners even step on stage. The weather played along: a mix of sunshine and shifting clouds, with a brisk gust now and then reminding you you were outdoors, breathing festival air. The crowd poured in early, chasing shade spots or a good spot near the stage of the band they wanted to see; the field was awash with patterned shirts, sunscreen, laughter, and that low hum of expectancy.
From King Princess’s sassy and catchy songs to Luke Combs’ booming orchestration, Day One was a study in contrasts — from intimate songwriting to stadium-size spectacle. King Princess turned the energy flirtatious and edgy, while The Favors offered a haunting indie counterpoint. Role Model reasserted his startling live presence, and Cage The Elephant roared like a thunderclap in the middle of the day. By the time Empire of the Sun folded the set toward dream-pop ecstasy, and Luke Combs closed it out with gravitas and heart, Zilker Park felt like a living organism — breathing in each moment, exhaling through song. It was a first day that didn’t just tease greatness — it delivered it.
KING PRINCESS
By mid-afternoon, King Princess electrified Zilker with a performance that felt both confessional and cinematic. From the first notes of “Origin,” the crowd’s mood shifted — suddenly it was a movie scene, golden-hour light bouncing off sunglasses and faces swaying to heartbreak pop. “Cry Cry Cry” hit with sharp emotion, and “PAIN” turned the field into a pulsing dance floor of shared release.
There’s something magnetic about Mikaela Straus — she commands space not through volume but presence, with a mischievous smile that says, “You’re safe here to feel it all.” When “Fantastic” echoed across the lawn, fans shouted every word, arms lifted like an indie church. She closed with “Talia,” the heartbreak anthem that still feels as gut-wrenching as the first time. Her sound — slick yet raw — captures the messy romance of youth, love, and all the noise in between.
By the end, it wasn’t just a set. It was a confession turned communal catharsis.
THE FAVORS
The Favors, with Finneas and Ashe, brought a cinematic blend of melancholy and movement that washed over the festival like a wave. From the gentle opening of “The Little Mess You Made” to the soaring “David’s Brother,” their harmonies painted the afternoon in shades of nostalgia. There’s a quiet confidence in their live sound — not loud or showy, but rich, like light through stained glass.
“Home Sweet Home” became a highlight, its bittersweet lyrics hitting deep for anyone missing someone somewhere. But it was “Till Forever Falls Apart” that brought the field together, voices intertwining with the band’s harmonies — a sunset moment in the middle of the day. The band’s chemistry felt effortless, with each look and note reflecting a shared pulse.
In a day filled with sound and spectacle, The Favors offered something grounding — proof that simplicity, when paired with sincerity, can still hush a crowd.
ROLE MODEL
Role Model took the stage like a romantic cowboy legend — confident, cheeky, and heartbreak-slick. Opening with “Writing’s On The Wall,” the crowd screamed every lyric before he even started. His stage presence is a blend of pop star swagger and diary-level vulnerability, moving between charm and chaos with ease. “Look At That Woman” and “Blind”showcased his ability to turn confession into choreography, each lyric carrying a punch.
But the highlight was undeniably “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out.” Normally a duet with celebrity guests like Olivia Rodrigo or Kate Hudson, this time he was joined by singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine to be his “Sally.” The chemistry was spontaneous and electric — part humor, part genuine tenderness — and the crowd went wild. Closing with “Deeply Still In Love,” he left fans swaying under the pastel sky.
Role Model proved once again that pop doesn’t have to be plastic; it can bleed, breathe, and burn.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
When Cage The Elephant hit the stage, the air changed — wild, electric, untamed. They opened with “Broken Boy”surrounded by bursts of fire, instantly setting the crowd ablaze. Frontman Matt Shultz moved like a man possessed — part punk preacher, part fever dream — spinning and screaming through “Cry Baby” and “Spiderhead.”
Mid-set, “Trouble” turned the energy inward, voices blending in a collective release before erupting again with “Shake Me Down.” When “Cigarette Daydreams” drifted across Zilker, strangers wrapped arms around each other — that rare ACL magic moment. The band closed with “Come A Little Closer,” a thunderous finale that felt like an exhale after a beautiful storm.
No one does chaos like Cage — but it’s controlled chaos, bursting with color and catharsis. Eleven years in, they remain a reminder that rock is alive, unhinged, and still beautifully loud.
EMPIRE OF THE SUN
By twilight, Empire of the Sun turned Zilker into a shimmering dreamscape. With dazzling visuals, neon costumes, and surreal choreography, their performance was part concert, part sci-fi fantasy. Opening with “Changes” and “The Feeling You Get,” the duo instantly transported the crowd into another world — a euphoric blur of light and sound.
Luke Steele commanded the stage like a cosmic ringmaster, floating through “Half Mast” before the inevitable crowd explosion during “Walking On A Dream.” Fans lifted their phones, faces glowing in blue light as everyone danced under the Texas sky. They closed with “Alive,” and for a moment, Zilker felt like the center of the universe.
Their set wasn’t just visual spectacle — it was emotional escapism, reminding everyone why live music still feels like magic.
LUKE COMBS
Closing out Day One, Luke Combs brought country’s beating heart straight to Austin. From the moment he launched into “Back In The Saddle,” the crowd was his — boots, beers, and big grins everywhere. His voice, gritty yet tender, carried across the park like a familiar friend. “When It Rains It Pours,” “Cold As You,” and “Better Never Broke My Heart” kept energy sky-high, with every chorus echoing from the hills.
Right before the end of his set, his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” hit like a collective exhale — soft, sincere, and soul-deep. He finished his set with “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma,” proving that modern country can still punch you in the chest.
Luke doesn’t need fireworks or lasers — his authenticity is the show. By the end, Zilker was one big singalong under the night sky, wrapped in the warmth of real stories and Texas air.
By night’s end, Zilker Park felt transformed — not just a venue, but a crucible of sound and spirit. Day One of ACL Fest 2025 delivered not just a lineup, but a lifeline: the power to witness difference, to rattle your heart, to sing aloud with people you didn’t know minutes earlier. The sun’s warmth, the cold breeze, the shifting clouds — they all played their parts in tempering the energy, making every moment feel earned.
From King Princess’s grit to Luke Combs’ commanding finale, each artist told a chapter in the story of this night. Role Model’s surprise moment, Cage The Elephant’s explosive charge, Empire of the Sun’s visionary glow — these were moments you’ll retell. But it wasn’t just about who closed or who stole a song — it was about how each act wove into the collective warmth of the field. At midnight, when the lights dimmed and voices cracked, we left changed — reminded that music under open skies is still among the richest, most human things we do.
