Predicting ACL 2017: Bands Putting out New Music

I've gotten through the majority of my predictions, but there is one more (maybe another after this) that I've had bouncing around in my brain, and that is a look at all of the bands that are putting out new albums in 2017.  The festival doesn't always attract only those folks with brand new music, but I'd say that it is usually not normal for a band to come out on the festival circuit unless they have something new to flog.  For example, Kendrick Lamar was out there after To Pimp a Butterfly, or Radiohead was pimping A Moon Shaped Pool, or Cage the Elephant for Tell Me I'm Pretty.

So, who are the big artists with new albums who I would expect to show up?  Or maybe not even big artists, but at least stuff I've heard of before who make some sense for the ACL crowd.  I'm using this list from Wikipedia.  And because that list is excessively comprehensive, this post got real long.  If you want to tl;dr it, just look for the bolded names, those are the ones I've decided to predict as coming to ACL.

• As I've already mentioned, I think that Lorde will be at ACL, and her new album should be released on June 16.  She apparently killed it at Coachella, so that is cool.
• I still think that Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The XX have a good shot at being there, and all of them put out a new album in late 2016 or early 2017.
• Flaming Lips?  I doubt it, but I guess that one is possible, as their current tour doesn't come through Texas and is over in early September, [edit, they are playing the Moody on 10/1 with Mac Demarco, so I doubt they are coming to ACL a few days later] so they'd have time to make it happen.  But I'm going to say no based on gut feel.
• Cherry Glazzerr.  I have no clue who this is, but my Twitter account mentions them a lot, especially around their SXSW shows, so it seems like they could do it to support Apocalipstick, released 1/20.  They are playing Free Press, Pitchfork, FYF, Panorama, and Osheaga, and are done by early August.  Hmmm, with no Lolla spot and that big of a gap before ACL, I'm going to go with a no here.
• John Mayer - The Search for Everything.  I'd actually like to see him, but I doubt it.  I don't see any reason on the web to think he'd be there.
• Japandroids - Near to the Wild Heart of Life. Feels like Cherry Glazzerr, where they have buzz right now, but their tour of other festivals fizzles out in early September, and no Lolla, so I'm gonna go with no.
• Migos.  Sure, especially since they are on the Lolla bill.  (but screw those homophobic jerks).  I think it is funny that they are playing Corpus Christi on May 29.  Losers.
• Big Sean - I Decided.  Same thing here, with him on the Lolla bill and a new album out, seems like it could happen as one of the rappers to play the fest.
• By the way, RuPaul and Wyclef Jean continue to release albums.  Same with Michael Bolton.  This is still a thing.
• Rag'n'Bone Man.  Mentioned him before, but his album came out in January, he's playing Lolla, and he seems to have buzz.
• Future.  Ugh, I hope not.
• I had this idea the other day that maybe ACL's own twitter account would be leaking things. On 3/2/17, ACL tweeted out a #TBT to when Ryan Adams played the very first fest.  They could have chosen anyone to tweet that about, but chose the guy with a new album out right now and he's on a long ass tour that ends on September 22.  I think this is a lock.
• King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.  They should.  These guys are fun as hell.  But I see no indication that they would as their tour fizzles out in July.
• Thundercat.  I guess this one could happen too, he's playing other fests, but not Lolla and nothing after mid-August, so no reason to predict him.
• Ed Sheeran - I doubt it.  Seems way too huge to be playing a one off festival like ACL.
• Temples.  Yes, I feel this one.  I'm also currently listening to this album right now and loving it.  But they got some SXSW buzz and are doing some other fests, so this one makes sense.  Although they aren't doing Lolla.  Whatever, I'm predicting them anyway.
• The Shins.  I've mentioned this before, I think so.
• Depeche Mode - Spirit.  Doubt it, they play Austin at the 360 on September 20, so no way.
• Milky Chance - Blossom.  They are doing several other festivals and have the new album recently released.  But their touring schedule includes shows in the northeast during second weekend, so maybe not.  If they were on the Lolla lineup, then I'd be more likely to predict them, but I don't think they'll be here.
• Pitbull.  Hahahahahahahaha.  Yeah, they should get Pitbull.  MR WORLDWIDE!!!
• Real Estate - In Mind.  I'd say yes but they just played Austin.  Seems that would preclude them from coming right back, although the show is sold out, which means they could have demand to come back.  But I'll say no.
• Spoon.  YES.  Playing Lolla.  Excellent new album.  From Austin.  Do it.  do it.
• Drake - again, I hope not.
• Passion Pit.  Maybe, but they are playing Float Fest so I kind of doubt it.
• Body Count.  COP KILLA!  BETTA YOU THAN ME!  No, don't think this is happening.
• I dunno, Mastadon?  G-Eazy? Aimee Mann?  Sheryl Crow? (Doubt it since she is on the bill for Willie's picnic in July).  Incubus?  NKoTB?  Goo Goo Dolls?  Warrant?  The Cranberries?  John Mellencamp?  Willie?  Linkin Park? L.A. Gunz? Danzig? NICKELBACK!!!  I'm gonna say no on those.  How are all of these people still making music?  (who am I kidding, I'm going to listen to half of those new albums and like most of them)... but none of those seem likely to me.
• Cold War Kids - L.A. Divine. I doubt it, just because they were just here, although they will be in Texas for a show on 9/30 in Houston, so it sure would be easy for them to just shoot up 290.  But not two years in a row, that would be weird.
• Father John Misty - Pure Comedy. Man, I would LOVE to see him play again at the festival.  When he was here two years ago he was freaking awesome.  So great.  But he's playing in Austin at the Bass Concert Hall on Sept. 29, which really seems like he won't then turn around and do two more shows at ACL, so I'll have to try to just get tickets to see him at Bass.
• Future Islands - The Far Field is their new album, but they were just in Austin the other day.  They were supposed to have a show at Stubb's outdoors, which means they are on the C3 radar, but rain caused the show to go to the Moody.  Just played Coachella, scheduled to play Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, Outside Lands, and a bunch of other festivals.  But not on Lolla's schedule.  They have a huge gap in their busy touring schedule that leaves plenty of room to be here, with no shows from Aug. 21 to October 26.  Sure, I'll say that they are going to be here.
• The New Pornographers - Whiteout Conditions is the new album.  Neko Case is part of this band and therefore I dig them.  But they play Stubb's on May 6 (and it does not appear to be sold out), and then they have shows in Canada during both weekend of the fest.  So a hard no here.
• Gorillaz - Humanz.  Before they were announced to headline Outside Lands, I would have said no way on this one, but my Twitter is going nuts for them releasing new songs and touring and playing big fests.  So now the buzz makes me feel like there could be a good chance.  It still seems weird that a cartoon band would play live shows at all, but I guess Albarn drops the cartoon facade for a bit to do live music. Their tour includes a handful of lower tier festivals, and then they play Inglewood, CA on Oct. 5 (the day before weekend one), and then a date in Georgia on Oct. 11 before playing the III Points Festival during the second weekend of ACL.  So, because this would be a big headliner type of band, I doubt they would do them for only one weekend, so I'll go with a no here.
• Slowdive.   I remember liking these guys back in high school, but I couldn't identify a song for you at all today.  They are playing the Fortress Festival in Fort Worth (which looks boss, by the way, because of Run the Jewels) and then have a handful of other fests and tour dates before ending on 9/17.  Not feeling it, honestly.  Just not that much buzz or any indications I can see on the web that would make me think they'd show up here.
• Coldplay - Kaleidoscope.  New Coldplay album?  I didn't know about a new Coldplay album. Hmmmm...  If you follow Coldplay on Twitter, as I do, then you know they've been playing just about nightly shows in Asia for freaking ever.  And people over there give them the weirdest shit as presents.  So their tour heads to Europe next before coming back to the States at the start of August.  Nope, nevermind, because then they play two shows in CA during first weekend, so they definitely won't be here for first weekend.  Wait, wouldn't that be a cool move, to do Gorillaz for first weekend and then Coldplay for second weekend?  Two big time bands, although it would mean that I would have to buy a one day pass to go to second weekend, because I want to see Coldplay real bad.  Huh, interesting.  I'm going to say no, but this theory is interesting.
• Dan Auerbach - Waiting on a Song.  Nope, doesn't appear to be playing any shows.
• Halsey.  I feel like she was just here, and I didn't like her then either.  She has the time, with a tour that stops on Sept. 23.  Still going to go with no.
• Alt-J - Relaxer.  Playing Lolla, along with this new album, but they last came to ACL in 2015.  Seems too soon to come right back.  They have tour dates during the second weekend in Canada, and will be up there on Monday after the first weekend, so I'll go with no.
• Fleet Foxes - Crack Up (due June 16) - I'm going to say no, as they are already playing Austin in mid-August (and I just scored tickets!!!). Who else is pumped for me?!?
• Arcade Fire.  Release date for this new album is TBD, but I'm feeling it.  The last show on their "tour" of festivals is Lolla on August 6, so they have the time.  With them doing Lolla, this one makes sense.  I'll go with yes.
• Fleetwood Mac.  This would be a big get, but I see nothing that would make this seem like it is happening.  They are playing a show on each coast (Dodger Stadium and Citi Field) in July.  I don't think so.
• The Killers.  I mentioned them before now that they are a Lolla headliner, but their album is TBD for release date, and I still think it would be weird for them to suddenly headline two of the biggest festivals after being non-existent for a decade.  They don't appear to actually be on tour to support that new album to be, and are just playing a few minor festivals and then Lolla.  I'm souring on a prediction of them being here in October.
• Living Colour!  Oh please!  Please let them go on the festival circuit and release a good new album!  I loved Vivid and Time Up! so much.  In one of the weirder touring schedules I've seen, they are going to play three consecutive days in Honolulu in May, with two shows a day (5p and 8:30p).  Pretty weird, but I bet fun for the band to get to chill on the beach for a few days while melting faces.  I don't think we'll see them at ACL though.

I think I've only got another two weeks or so before the lineup is announced (usually around May 5), so I'm going to work up a single post that collects all of my predictions and get that out there sometime soon.  We're getting close!