Sunshine, soundwaves, and good chaos mark ACL’s final act!
Sunday’s closing day of Austin City Limits 2025 felt like one long exhale—bright, restless, and filled with that mix of exhaustion and euphoria that only a festival’s finale can conjure. Zilker Park was alive from the first bass drop to the last shimmer of light. People sprawled across the grass with drinks in hand, sharing laughs, swapping band tees, and catching their final glimpses of a weekend built on rhythm, sweat, and serendipity.
There was an electricity in the air, that bittersweet pulse of wanting more even as the end drew near. From the underground edge of The Dare and Royal & The Serpent, to the cathartic waves of Rainbow Kitten Surprise and the ironic sharpness of Wet Leg, the day felt like a kaleidoscope of moods. As dusk settled, Disco Lines, CA7riel & Paco Amoroso, Gigi Perez, Feid, and Polo & Pan turned the field into a glowing mosaic of movement and sound. The last sunset of ACL 2025 didn’t feel like goodbye—it felt like a promise that Austin’s rhythm never really stops.
THE DARE
The Dare, Harrison Patrick Smith, kicked off our final day with the kind of sweat-soaked chaos that jolts a crowd awake. His mix of punk, dance, and early-2000s indie sleaze turned the afternoon into a glittery, kinetic fever dream. Tracks like “You’re Invited” and “Movement” had fans thrashing and grinning in equal measure, blurring the line between DJ set and raw performance art. By “All Night” and “Girls,” he had the field pulsing to his reckless charm—a sound that felt both nostalgic and nervy, like the after-hours party you never want to leave.
It wasn’t just the music; it was the energy. Shirtless, stomping, and smirking, The Dare made every second feel like a dare to lose your cool and join the beautiful mess. He captured the essence of the new wave of nightlife music—sweaty, stylish, and self-aware—the perfect chaotic prelude to ACL’s grand finale.
ROYAL & THE SERPENT
Royal & The Serpent brought a jolt of unfiltered emotion to the sunny Sunday air. Her set flipped between chaos and clarity, like a diary entry screamed through distortion. Songs like “Young As This” and “Euphoria” carried a raw edge, while “Happier In Hell” and “Wasteland” fused pop melody with punk grit. When she launched into “Overwhelmed,” the crowd erupted, every lyric echoing back like a communal confession.
Draped in a fiery confidence, she owned the stage—stomping, laughing, even pausing to breathe in the crowd’s roar. Her performance wasn’t about polish; it was about presence. The push-and-pull of angst and catharsis felt tailor-made for a festival closing day, where everyone’s a little burnt out but still hungry for connection. Royal & The Serpent turned that vulnerability into power, leaving ACL buzzing with a sense of reckless optimism.
RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE
Rainbow Kitten Surprise transformed Zilker Park into an ocean of feeling. Their set flowed with stunning precision—a mix of tenderness and thunder that hit straight to the heart. Opening with “Hide” and “Dang,” they built a layered soundscape where indie, soul, and southern grit collided. By “Matchbox” and “Cocaine Jesus,” the band had the crowd swaying, singing every word under the changing light.
Frontperson Ela Melo moved with quiet magnetism, guiding each song like a storyteller on the edge of revelation. The final track, “It’s Called: Freefall,” hit with collective catharsis—a thousand voices rising into the chilly air, equal parts joy and ache. There was something transcendent in their balance of melancholy and hope, a reminder that sometimes the softest songs leave the deepest marks. For many, it was the emotional peak of the day.
WET LEG
Wet Leg hit ACL 2025 with a cheeky confidence that instantly lit up the field. Their indie-rock blend is equal parts sly humor and jagged guitar hooks, and from the opening chords of “Catch These Fists” and “Wet Dream,” the crowd was hooked. Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers traded mischievous glances and riffs like private jokes, drawing the audience into their tongue-in-cheek world while the rest of the band laid down jagged, punchy rhythms that kept everyone on their toes.
Tracks like “Oh No” and “Being In Love” revealed the band’s knack for balancing sharp wit with surprisingly emotive layers, building tension before letting it tumble into chaos.
The closer, “CPR,” brought a satisfying burst of controlled frenzy—tight, energetic, and perfectly absurd. Wet Leg’s performance wasn’t just a set; it was a playful experiment in rock attitude and narrative charm. Wet Leg reminded everyone that music can bite, tease, and hug all at once, without ever losing its edge.
DISCO LINES
When Disco Lines took over, Zilker Park turned into an open-air dance floor. His set was pure serotonin—a swirl of house beats, remixes, and cheeky nostalgia. From “Disco Boy” and “I Don’t Trust A Soul” to a feverish spin on Kiss’s “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” every drop hit like a caffeine rush. But the real magic came when he mashed Rudimental’s “Dancing Is Healing” into The Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition,” turning the field into one massive singalong.
It wasn’t just the music—it was the release. With lights flashing and arms in the air, the crowd danced like the weekend might never end. His charm was in the simplicity: no pretense, no posing, just rhythm and joy. Disco Lines delivered the kind of set that wipes away fatigue and leaves you glowing, the perfect mid-evening surge of communal euphoria.
CA7RIEL & PACO AMOROSO
Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso blew the lid off ACL with a performance that felt part rave, part rebellion. Their sound—a fusion of trap, funk, and electro—hit like a lightning bolt. From the swagger of “Dumbai” to the hypnotic pulse of “Baby Gangsta” and “A Mí No,” their energy was volcanic. “#Tetas” sent the crowd into a frenzy, and by the time “El único” dropped, Zilker Park was shaking under their command.
They blurred the boundaries between concert and street party—rapping, jumping, and laughing like they were hosting the wildest house show Austin had ever seen. Their charisma was electric, contagious even, making language irrelevant; the beat said everything. CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso proved that global sounds aren’t just welcome at ACL—they’re vital to its evolution.
GIGI PEREZ
Gigi Perez brought a different kind of energy—moody, magnetic, and beautifully intimate. Her voice carried a quiet power, weaving stories of heartbreak and resilience that felt cinematic against the fading daylight. Songs like “Please Be Rude” and “When She Smiles” shimmered with vulnerability, while “Fable” and “Chemistry” stretched into lush dream-pop territory.
When she closed with “Sailor Song,” time seemed to slow. Her vocals swelled like waves under a dimming sky—a moment of stillness amid a day of spectacle. What made her set special wasn’t volume or flash but sincerity. She stood grounded yet ethereal, channeling the kind of quiet confidence that lingers long after the amps go silent. Gigi Perez reminded everyone that sometimes the softest performances leave the loudest impressions.
FEID
As the night deepened, Feid turned ACL into a reggaetón paradise. Clad in neon and swagger, the Colombian superstar brought his signature blend of rhythm and romance to Zilker Park, and the crowd was ready. “Ferxxo 30” and “Luces De Tecno” hit with pulsating intensity, while “Si Tu Supieras” and “Vacaxiones” glowed with tropical warmth. The field became a dance floor, couples spinning, flags waving, and voices blending into one collective groove.
With “Luna” and “Aguante,” Feid showed why he’s one of Latin music’s most magnetic performers—his flow effortless, his presence pure charisma. He closed with “Te Mata,” a sultry, emotional finale that left the audience breathless. Feid didn’t just headline; he uplifted, uniting cultures, languages, and rhythms under one sky. His set felt like the global heartbeat of ACL 2025.
POLO & PAN
Polo & Pan closed the night for us with an intergalactic disco voyage. The French duo’s kaleidoscopic blend of tropical beats, synth-pop, and lounge psychedelia turned the park into a dreamy, glowing utopia. From “Magic” and “Paréidolies” to “Disco Nap” and “Mexicali,” their set radiated joy, blurring the line between performance and collective trance.
As visuals rippled behind them and the neon lights through the crowd, “Canopée” shimmered like a soundtrack to euphoria. They closed with “Ani Kuni,” sending everyone into a state of glowing unity—a perfect finale under Austin’s moonlit sky. Polo & Pan’s music isn’t about escape; it’s about immersion, pulling you into a world where every sound sparkles. Their closing set wasn’t just the end of ACL—it was the exhale after three days of beautiful noise.
From raw indie edge to global rhythms, ACL 2025 proved again why it remains one of the country’s most beloved festivals—a place where genres blur, cultures blend, and strangers become a temporary family.
And Austin proved, once again, that live music isn’t just entertainment — it’s communion. It’s the shared heartbeat that turns noise into memory. ACL wasn’t about one genre or moment — it was about connection, and the magic that happens when art meets atmosphere.
A massive thank-you to the ACL Festival team, whose flawless organization and dedication made every moment flow effortlessly. From the staff, crew, and security, to the sound and stage teams, your precision and care built the foundation for this incredible weekend. Austin’s heart beats louder because of you.
Until next year!
