ACL Festival Welcome Sign

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Welcome To Austin: Preparing For 2017 ACL Music Festival

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The Recording Academy is on-site at Austin City Limits 2017, prepping for a weekend of exclusive coverage of the festival's hippest happenings and some of its most interesting artists
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Oct 6, 2017 - 11:48 am

Looking across a skyline of high-rises, it seems strange to say that Austin still feels like a small town.

Even with a metro area of population of more than 2 million, and recent data pointing to it being one of the fastest growing cities in the country, Austin has managed to maintain the vibe of a vibrant close-knit community.

In downtown Austin, 6th Street has a reputation that well precedes it. It's been called "Dirty 6th" and "the Bourbon St. of Texas," but last night was surpassingly tame. Walking down 6th the night before the first day of the 2017 Austin City Limits Music Festival, I was struck by the number of venue names I recognized. There's Stubbs, the Lizard Lounge, Maggie Mae's.

After years of reading coverage from ACL and South by Southwest and booking dinners and after-parties in my previous life working for record labels, I feel like I know these places — even though I am seeing them for the first time.

The streets are closed off, and pedestrians meander from venue to venue, perhaps drawn inside by a jangling guitar and an earnest singer, or maybe ushered inside by one of the energetic doormen who jump in front of you from time to time to make sure you know you that this is where the drinks are cheapest and coldest, and the music will be the loudest. 

Pick a bar or restaurant at random, and you might find a full rock band slinging out jams for a packed floor, or a solitary player with an acoustic guitar who's somehow found a way to work covers of Gnarls Barkley, Bruno Mars, *NSYNC, and Amy Winehouse into a coherent and strangely enjoyable set. Austin is a place where you can walk the streets without a plan, and wind up with a night full of stories.

This morning, the city seems oddly calm for a large metropolitan area that’s about to host a major three-day, two-weekend music festival. But then again, this is old hat for Austin. This is the live music capital of the world. Stopping in a coffee shop, I overhear a trio of police officers calmly swapping crowd control stories from after last call the night before — nothing crazy, just another night in the city.

Our team arrives at ACL early, excited to walk the grounds and set up our press tent for a day full of interviews with the amazing artists booked to rock the festival stages over the course of the weekend.

At the Miller stage near the media center where we’ve camped out, the first band tunes up and starts playing, The Wild Now. It's not even noon yet, but there’s already a packed crowd gathered and ready to rock. I find myself as excited as the crowd of early-risers to see what ACL has in store for us this year.

We've got a full weekend of coverage — and maybe a surprise or two — all planned, so make sure to check back on Saturday and Sunday and get your fill of the Recording Academy's unique take on this year's ACL Music Festival.

More Music Festivals: Go Inside Lollapalooza 2017

A collage of can't-miss artists for summer 2017

The summer 2017 music festival circuit promises a host of amazing headliners

Photos: Getty Images/WireImage.com

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17 Must-Attend Music Festivals In 2017

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Our favorite festivals for this summer season, and what to expect from each
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
May 16, 2017 - 5:25 pm

(Looking for 2018 festivals? View our list of must-attend 2018 festivals.)

What music festivals are you planning a road trip for?

 

The 2017 editions of Coachella, Stagecoach, Ultra, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival are all officially in the rearview. We've got so many amazing memories from each festival (and we're sure you do too!), but the fact is that the summer festival season has just begun.

With so many opportunities to follow your favorite artists as they play unforgettable sets in iconic venues, urban city centers and beautiful outdoor locations, it can be tough to plan out where and when it's all happening. Allow us to lend a helping hand, and take a look at our 17 best-bet festivals for making all of your "I was there" memories this summer.

Sasquatch!
Date: May 26 – May 28
Location: George, Wash.
Lineup Includes: LCD Soundsystem, Bonobo, Sleigh Bells, Foxygen, Twenty One Pilots, Bleachers, Chance The Rapper, the Shins, Kiiara, and Mount Kimbie
The Scene: The spectacular views offered by the Gorge Amphitheater alone is well worth the price of admission, and the diverse multigenre lineup is sure to catch the vibe of even the most discerning music fan.
Connect: @Sasquatch

BottleRock Napa Valley
Date: May 26 – May 28
Location: Napa Valley, Calif.
Lineup Includes: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Foo Fighters, Maroon 5, Modest Mouse, the Naked & Famous, Andra Day, the Strumbellas, AlunaGeorge, Warren G, and Bob Moses
The Scene: With a combination of top-tier legacy acts and tour-proven indie rock scenester sounds, BottleRock Napa Valley always delivers a thrilling experience. Expect good music, great food and a massive selection of offerings from local wineries.
Connect: @BottleRockNapa

Movement
Date: May 27 – May 29
Location:  Detroit
Lineup Includes: Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Barclay Crenshaw, Ben Klock, Danny Brown, DJ Harvey, the Gaslamp Killer, Kerri Chandler, Juicy J, Larry Heard, and Seth Troxler
The Scene: This massive multistage techno festival nestled in the birthplace of the genre makes for a yearly pilgrimage for house heads and techno purists from around the world, but the increasing popularity and awareness of the festival has attracted a wider and more diverse audience in recent years. The festival is family friendly, and even includes free yoga classes on two days of the festival.
Connect: @MovementDetroit

Governor's Ball
Date: June 2 – June 4
Location: New York City
Lineup Includes: Lorde, Flume, Beach House, Danny Brown, Phoenix, Kehlani, Cage The Elephant, Air, Wu-Tang Clan, the Avalanches, and Rae Sremmurd
The Scene: Launched in 2011 as a stopgap for a city without a modern major music festival to call its own, Governor's Ball has grown into its own and earned the title of "a festival with a New York heart" from the New York Times. And in case the music isn't enough, this festival also features "mini golf, silent discos, interactive photo booths, life-size board games, and unique outdoor activations."
Connect: @GovBallNYC

The Roots Picnic
Date: June 3
Location: Philadelphia
Lineup Includes: Pharrell X The Roots, Lil Wayne, Solange, Jeezy, 21 Savage, Kimbra, Thundercat, and James Vincent McMorrow
The Scene: As this single-day festival with its annual lineup curated entirely by the Roots celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, it continues to offer an amazing mix of great music, philanthropic events and panel discussions featuring fashion, lifestyle and cultural influencers down by the water at Penn's Landing.
Connect: @RootsPicnic

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Date: June 8 – June 11
Location: Manchester, Tenn.
Lineup Includes: U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd, Chance The Rapper, Major Lazer, Lorde, The XX, Travis Scott, Future Islands, and Royal Blood
The Scene: This long-standing multigenre festival has a reputation for fostering a dedicated fan base who return year-in, year-out. The positively massive lineup for 2017 makes it easy to predict there will be many new faces joining the festival's cult of devotees. Bonus points: the festival is adding an all-night stage specializing in hip hop and electronic tunes this year.
Connect: @Bonnaroo

Firefly Music Festival
Date: June 15 – June 18
Location: Dover, Del.
Lineup Includes: Glass Animals, Kaleo, O.A.R., Twenty One Pilots, Flume, The Weeknd, Weezer, Miike Snow, Bob Dylan, Muse, the Shins, Thirty Seconds To Mars, and Phantogram
The Scene: With more than 140 bands to choose from, the four-day campout festival brings a unique vibe, and prides itself on being the birthplace of life-long friendships for its attendees. This festival is family friendly, and takes place at The Woodlands at the Dover International Speedway.
Connect: @LiveAtFirefly

Vans Warped Tour
Date: June 16–Aug. 6
Location: Various
Lineup Includes: CKY, Goldfinger, Plain White T's, GWAR, Anti-Flag, Bowling For Soup, Beartooth, American Authors, the Acacia Strain, and Hawthorne Heights
The Scene: The 23rd edition of this venerable traveling skate punk, hard rock and hardcore festival proves that Warped Tour still brings together one of the best combinations of both on-the-cusp and legacy acts you'll find anywhere in the U.S. Check the festival dates on their official website to see if there's a tour stop near you.
Connect: @VansWarpedTour

Get psyched for Warped Tour with past Recording Academy artist interviews

Monterey International Pop Festival 2017
Date: June 16 – June 18
Location: Monterey, Calif.
Lineup Includes: Eric Burdon And The Animals, Father John Misty, Leon Bridges, Regina Spektor, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Gary Clark Jr., the Head And The Heart, Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band,  and Booker T's Stax Revue
The Scene: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1967 multiday festival that brought together  then-mostly unknown talents like Eric Burdon And The Animals, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead, the 2017 edition of the Monterey International Pop Festival promises to be a celebration of life and a continuation of the music culture that helped spawn the Summer Of Love.
Connect: @MontereyPop50

Don't miss the GRAMMY Museum's Monterey Pop showcase: Music, Love And Flowers, 1967

Electric Daisy Carnival
Date: June 16 – June 18
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Lineup Includes: Afrojack, Audien B2B 3lau, Bro Safari, Desert Hearts, GTA, Hardwell, Alison Wonderland, RL Grime, NGHTMRE, Above & Beyond, Dirtyphonics, Kygo, Oliver Heldens, Adam Beyer, DJ Khaled, and Markus Schulz
The Scene: Insomniac Events' flagship dance festival has grown into one of the largest electronic music events in the world. With three nights of music from sunset to sunrise, EDC is an event that must be experienced to be understood.
Connect: @EDC_LasVegas

Bust a move: Watch our artist interviews from EDC 2016 and relive the experience

Essence Festival
Date: June 29 – July 2
Location: New Orleans
Lineup Includes: Diana Ross, John Legend, India.Arie, Chaka Khan, Jill Scott, Ari Lennox, Chance The Rapper, Master P, Mystikal, Solange, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
The Scene: Now in its 23rd year, New Orleans' 'party with a purpose' continues its mission of showcasing amazing musical talents in an environment of individual empowerment and community activism. Festival visitors can also check out the convention center, which will provide motivational seminars, enriching experiences and more enhancements to your experience.
Connect: @EssenceFest

Common, Andra Day, Cyril Neville, and more: Check out our favorite interviews from Essence 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival
Date: July 14 – July 16
Location: Chicago
Lineup Includes: LCD Soundsystem, Dirty Projectors, Danny Brown, Vince Staples, A Tribe Called Quest, PJ Harvey, Solange, Nicholas Jaar, the Avalanches, and American Football
The Scene: Hosted by Pitchfork Media, home to the famous/infamous music tastemaking blog Pitchfork, the Pitchfork Music Festival consistently brings an eclectically relevant and sonically forward-thinking lineup of can't-miss and must-know acts.
Connect: @Pitchfork

Newport Folk Festival
Date: July 28 – July 30
Location: Newport, R.I.
Lineup Includes: Fleet Foxes, Wilco, John Prine, the Head And The Heart, the Avett Brothers, Jim James, and Ben Gibbard
The Scene: The Newport Folk Festival is a veritable guardian of the flame for the earnest, heartfelt sounds of yesteryear's proto-indie crooners and giants of songwriting alike. Expect wonderful sounds showcased in calm and inviting surroundings, complete with excellent cuisine and local artwork.
Connect: @NewportFolkFest

Lollapalooza
Date: Aug. 3 – Aug. 6
Location: Chicago
Lineup Includes: Chance The Rapper, the Killers, Muse, Arcade Fire, Blink-182, DJ Snake, Justice, Wiz Khalifa, Migos, Glass Animals, Tove Lo, Tegan And Sara, and Little Dragon
The Scene: Nestled in Grant Park in the heart of Chicago, Lollapalooza offers attendees the chance to vibe to their favorite tunes all day, then retreat into the city to discover its eclectic mix of food and countless music venues offering night shows. Lolla has come a long way from its alternative rock touring days in the '90s to taking place in six countries in 2017, and it is still not to be missed.
Connect: @Lollapalooza

Outside Lands
Date: Aug. 11 – Aug. 13
Location: San Francisco
Lineup Includes: Metallica, the Who, Gorillaz, A Tribe Called Quest, Empire Of The Sun, Queens Of The Stone Age, Schoolboy Q, Rebelution, Future Islands, Vance Joy, and Kaytranada
The Scene: Summer dates notwithstanding, it is advised to bring a jacket to this Golden Gate Park-based festival, as San Francisco's trademark cool and foggy weather tends to roll in starting mid-August. The good news is this year's 10th anniversary lineup is full of headliners whose sound will warm you right up.
Connect: @SFOutsideLands 

Kaaboo
Date: Sept. 15 – Sept. 17
Location: Del Mar, Calif.
Lineup Includes: Red Hot Chili Peppers, P!nk, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jane's Addiction, Ice Cube, Alanis Morissette, Logic, X Ambassadors, T-Pain, Machine Gun Kelly, Weezer, and David Guetta
The Scene: Billing itself as "everything a typical music festival is not," Kaaboo promises to be a curated escape from the norm, complete with comfortable surroundings, great food, contemporary artwork, craft cocktails, world-class music, and live comedy.
Connect: @KaabooDelMar

Austin City Limits
Date: Oct. 6 – Oct. 8 & Oct. 13 – Oct. 15
Location: Austin, Tex.
Lineup Includes: Jay-Z, the Killers, Chance The Rapper, The XX, Ryan Adams, Spoon, Solange, the Head And The Heart, Gorillaz, Run The Jewels, Tove Lo, and Foster The People
The Scene: Once primarily an alternative rock, country and indie folk festival, ACL has nearly finished transitioning into a mainstream multigenre festival with aims of competing with the Coachellas, Bonnaroos and Saquatches of the world. Combining two weekend editions of three days each, plus countless evening after-shows and club gigs around the city of Austin, ACL certainly steps up to the plate.
Connect: @ACLFestival

More summer music picks: Must-see summer tours for 2017

Austin City Limits Festival

Austin City Limits Festival

Photo: Gary Miller/Getty Images

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ACL, Ultra Address Music Festival Security In Wake Of Las Vegas Shooting

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ACL's organizers work year-round to ensure safety is always top priority, and Miami Police reassess safety concerns for Ultra 2018
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Oct 4, 2017 - 12:34 pm

Music festivals are the ultimate celebration of both artists and audiences. But for festival organizers, safety is always the number one concern. However, the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Harvest Festival has certainly raised new safety concerns and considerations.

Upcoming festivals, including Austin City Limits Festival and Miami's 2018 Ultra Music Festival, are addressing these concerns to assure festival goers that every necessary safety precaution is being taken.

With ACL slated for to take place at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, over the next two weekends, the festival's producers, C3, have issued a statement to reassure fans and artists alike that safety comes first.

"Safety has always been our top priority," C3 said in a statement. "Over the years, tighter security measures have been implemented at ACL Fest, including a layered security plan that includes elements that are seen and unseen, as well as pat downs, bag searches and size limits, and an enhanced security and law enforcement presence inside and outside the festival."

Miami's Ultra Music Festival is known for being one of North America's biggest and best dance music festivals. Part of the appeal of the festival is the downtown location of Bayfront Park, with its massive stages and impressive light shows set with the backdrop of the Miami skyline.

Ultra's organizers work hand-in-hand with local police to monitor the festival. CBS Miami spoke with acting Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina about the increased safety concerns arising from the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting.

"Like Las Vegas, we have a lot of outside venues with the weather and people want to be outside," Colina said. "We train and go over scenarios, active shooter scenarios where the policemen are reminded to get wherever the shooter is."

And with Ultra returning to Bayfront Park in March 2018, additional conversations and arrangements are still in the works. Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez also urges citizens to report any suspicious activity.

"We live at a time where you have to be on guard at all times," Perez said. "If you see something, say something, and with this slogan we are asking people to come forward and we depend on people to call the cops and Homeland Security."

With music festivals playing such a prominent role in the music industry, future festivals provide an opportunity for artists and fans to come together as a community and stand in support of the victims of the tragedy in Las Vegas.

GoFundMe Campaign Raises $3.8 Million (So Far) For Victims Of Las Vegas Shooting

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Mahalia

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/ The Recording Academy

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Behind The Scenes At Austin City Limits 2019

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Here's who hung out with the Recording Academy during weekend two of the Austin music festival
GRAMMYs
Oct 12, 2019 - 11:39 am

Austin City Limits 2019 weekend two began as one of the coldest in the history of the more than 15-year-old three-day music festival. From iconic rock legends like Guns N' Roses to rising R&B artists like Mahalia, the Austin music event brought locals and fans from all over a plethora of genres to enjoy. See what artists stopped by to hang with the Recording Academy from Oct. 11–13 in Zilker Park.

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Photo: Daniel Mendoza/ The Recording Academy

Soulful pop singer/songwriter and producer King Princess stopped by backstage to say hello before her set on Friday.

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Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Film Magic via Getty Images

Rising Austin R&B talent Alesia Lani hung out for a minute to talk about how much performing at Austin City Limits for the first time means to her. "It's a big dream. It's great that they give local opportunities and chances, and me being an authentic R&B artist that's a really big deal and I'm really very happy to be here," she told the Recording Academy's On The Road host Alina Vission. 

GRAMMYs

Photo: Gary Miller/ Getty Images

Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan and Dizzy Reed (Guns N' Roses) have been on the Not In This Lifetime reunion tour since 2016, and ACL was one festival to join the list of dates. Before 2016, Axl and Slash had not shared the same stage in 23 years. 

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Photo: Daniel Mendoza/ The Recording Academy

U.K. singer/songwriter Mahalia shared some of her thoughts on being an international artist and sat down with us to give us a little more insight on her latest music project, Love And Compromise.

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Photo: Daniel Mendoza/ The Recording Academy

K.Flay swung by to talk the inspiration behind her "Not In California" video and more.

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We could not miss The Raconteurs rocking the ACL stage on Friday.

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Folk/pop singer Savannah Conley came through the Recording Academy tent to share what she likes to do when she comes to Austin and what she loves about ACL.

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The Recording Academy caught Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas cheesing during a backstage moment.

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Judah & The Lion's set was awesome and they were even more awesome to chat with afterwards.

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We had to ask country star Orville Peck about both his musical and fashion style influences when he popped by backstage.

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Pink Sweat$ let us know that he loves the diverse audience that comes out to ACL every year. He also shared the way he keeps in touch with fans on social media: answering DMs. 

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The Cure delivered one of the greatest sets at the festival, hands down. The U.K icons took the stage to play some of their biggest songs, including "Lovesong" and "Just Like Heaven." 

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James Blake also gave an electrifying set which, despite the big crowd, felt intimate because of his soothing vocals. The performance had many wanting more after his closing song. 

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Oregon-trio Joseph were a delight to chat with backstage. 

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Canadian band Metric were one of the awesome international bands to play at the fest. They stopped by to chat about their new collab with GRAMMY-winning Mexican band Zoe and more.

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We loved rapper/singer/songwriter Denzel Curry's energy backstage. 

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Billie Eilish and Finneas had a huge crowd going during their set at ACL.

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Lizzo performed in front of one of the biggest crowds she's ever seen during her Sunday set at weekend two of ACL.

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Mumford & Sons brought out a marching band to close out the last night of ACL 2019 during their epic performance. 

Guns N' Roses Return To ACL With Another Grand Performance Of Their Iconic Rock Classics | Austin City Limits

LiveNation President/CEO Michael Rapino in 2009

Michael Rapino

Photo: Tom Williams/Getty Images

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LiveNation Executive Michael Rapino Renews Contract

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An SEC filing has revealed the complete details of LiveNation president/CEO's new contract renewal
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Dec 18, 2017 - 1:06 pm

Alongside this morning's announcement of a new joint venture with Bowery Ballroom founders to launch the New York-centric promotion and live event booking firm Mercury East Presents, an SEC filing by LiveNation has revealed that President/CEO Michael Rapino has just inked a five-year contract renewal to stay with the company that will see him potentially earning $9 million a year, plus vested stock, through 2022.

Rapino first joined LiveNation in 2005, and around that time the company launched its initial public offering at $10.75, and as of market close last week, LiveNation's stock value sits at $42.63 a share — a four-fold increase under his leadership.

Rapino's renewed contract, which will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2022, promises 289,505 shares of common stock, 700,000 shares of performance equity, and a base salary of $3 million per year with eligibility for a performance-based bonus of $6 million. He will also receive an additional one-time bonus of $1 million for 2017, thanks in part to his securing several high-profile acquisitions including the purchase of the Napa, Calif.-based BottleRock Festival, Israel's Blue Note Entertainment, and today's Mercury East Presents launch.

Should Rapino be terminated by LiveNation "without cause" or if he terminates his own employment "for good reason" at any point during the contract period, he will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of his base salary and his most recent performance bonus, multiplied by two, and the immediate acceleration of all unvested equity.

Music Festivals 2018: Lollapalooza Paris Announces Headliners