This likely is starting to sound like a theme, but I'm less motivated by the guessing game this year. I think it has just gotten a lot harder for me to seriously expect to win the guessing game when I look at other major Festival posters and see weird stuff at the top of the bill. Like, I was never (literally never) going to guess that something called Fred Again.. (two periods? Why two periods?) could possibly be the headliner for the final night of Bonnaroo. If that is going to be the case, then I might as well just make up band names and be done with it. I predict Tookie Torque will be the headliner! I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!
But then I saw Pearl Jam announce a new tour yesterday, and noticed that it had a deliciously large gap in the middle where a certain music festival occurs. And that got me a little lathered up. The new PJ tour starts in early May, and avoids any stops in Texas as it carries through to September 17. I'm sure part of that break is for Ohana Fest to happen on Sept. 27-29, because either Eddie or PJ are always part of Ohana. But the next published show is November 8, leaving the entirety of October WIIIIIIIIIIDE open for Pearl Jam to headline both weekends of ACL. Which would be pure magic for me, personally. I just got to see them twice in 2023 and I'd go again tomorrow without any qualms. I'm ready to have my heart broken again. Yes.
Let's back up - with this post, I'll look at those major artists who are supposed to have big tours this year, to see what their schedule looks like and if ACL can fit into those spots. I'm using a few lists online of "anticipated" or whatever tours, so if you don't see your favorite in here, blame Google. Or tell me what else is coming, and I'll dig in to that as well.
I also left out the more minor bands/artists - trying to think about headliner, or at least the big type people, so leaving out someone like Alvvays, Bleachers, Mitski, Danny Brown, or Fall Out Boy. I'd also like to note that this Pitchfork list I am reading right now of the major tours has me confused because WTF is Mclusky? Most Anticipated Tour of 2024? Really? Isn't that a steakhouse? Leaving out the residency people too, like Adele, U2, and Billy Joel, as they don't seem to be really touring just hanging out at their one venue. Also, leaving out the Foo Fighters, Alanis, Noah Kahan, or others who just played ACL last year (and other recents like RHCP or Kacey Musgraves).
- Bad Bunny. While I normally am not in to the Spanish language artists for my headliners, I could get behind this just to see the spectacle. BUT, I think that this is a no here because he is already playing two sold out shows at the Moody Center on April 26 and 27. Very rare to have a major artist swing back through so soon. No.
- Drake. Yuck. Personally, would be disappointed to see him back again. He played here somewhat recently, but the current leg of his tour only takes him through San Antonio for two nights in March, as far as Texas dates go. Tour ends in April, and he's not headlining any of the other major fests (or even minor fests) so I'll go with a no.
- Olivia Rodrigo. Her tour swings through Austin for the Moody on February 28 (which I had not heard much about - very annoying - I would have tried for tickets with the girls) and then peters out in mid-August in California after a stint in Europe included. My instinct is that she would not come back so soon after a headlining show in Austin, but honestly February doesn't sound as close as the end of April. Would be really fun, but my instinct is likely not.
- I should probably ask someone who knows things how close a headliner can be with a different show in Austin.
- Blink 182. They already came through Austin last summer, and the current leg of the tour hits San Antonio in June. They end the tour August 30 in the UK. So, they could easily fit us in and be on the bill. My instinct is that if Pearl Jam is on the poster, then Blink shouldn't be because of 90's rock overload, so I'll say no for now.
- Green Day. I would LOVE to see Dookie and American Idiot in their entirety. That would rule. But a buddy is going when GD comes to Austin and I think his tickets cost as much as my first car, so I doubt I'll see it. And that is why they won't be at ACL too, because that Austin show is on September 10. Nope.
- Bob Dylan. Two nights in Austin in April, and they aren't even sold out, so I'm going with a solid no there, Bob.
- Bruce Springsteen. Like Taylor Swift, I just don't think Bruce needs the money or hassle of an ACL headlining slot. But, he's another that I always hope to see on the poster, even if it is not happening. He had to postpone some of his shows last year (after playing Austin in February). Dangit. They're suckering me in though - he has a gap in his touring schedule from September 13 to October 31. Oh crap. He also has a gap in his touring schedule for the dates for Lolla (Aug. 1-4) with nothing in between July 27 and August 15. My God. The possibility of Pearl Jam and Bruce on the same lineup would cause the entire Major League Baseball Sportswriters Association to implode on the spot. Typewriters and Johnny Bench allusions splattered all over the USA Today Sunday Edition. I started this with a no in my heart, but I'm just going to be a dreamer and say yes.
- Madonna. DAMMIT! If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that she has been one of my wish list groups for ACL for a really long time. I love me some classic Madonna. And so, when her big tour was going to include Austin last fall, I was pumped that maybe 2024 was our time. But illness caused her to postpone that, and now her Austin show is rescheduled for April. I have tickets, so I am pumped for the Immaculate Collection classics. But for the ACL crowd, I think that means she won't be back in October. No.
- Ms. Lauryn Hill. Who the hell knows with her, right? Everything you hear about her tour sounds like a mess - late start times, messy sets. And now that I look at her website, it sounds like all of the shows are cancelled anyway.
- Taylor Swift. And yet another annual pick for my wish list for the Fest. Would be amazing. But I just don't see it happening - for one because she can sell out any arena in a millisecond, but for two because she is booked during the Lolla weekend, and I don't see any way we would get her to ourselves here in Austin. Would make much more sense for C3 to tie her up to a megadeal that would have her on both posters. The dreamer inside of me sees that she has a nice, fat gap between August 20 and November 14 on her tour, but I'm guessing that is for pre-season sex with Travis Kelce. I don't buy it. No.
- The Rolling Stones. Haha! Add them to a bill with Springsteen and Pearl Jam? All men over 46 die of immaculate ejaculation and the world heals itself. I mean, the schedule leaves the possibility open. The current tour kicks off in Houston on April 28, and has no more Texas dates before ending July 17. That leaves space for both Lolla and ACL (although the two nights at Soldier Field in June seem to weigh against a Lolla headliner slot). Would be rad, but my heart tells me nope.
- Stevie Nicks. Did my wife see this show in Austin? My brain is telling me that she saw this show when Stevie came through Austin. Tour ends on June 21, so plenty of time to come through. I'm lukewarm on the idea though. She'd probably blow my mind, but I'm going with a no for now.
- Tool. I would have loved to see them for their Moody show, but the tickets were nuts. I like me some classic Tool (that's all they have, right?) but $300 a seat, and not even the best seat in the house, doesn't compute for me, personally. Tour ends in Oslo in late June, so they have the time. Meh. Not feeling it.
- Tyler Childers. Another meh. The last time I saw him was deeply disappointing. He plays the Moody on April 10, so he's off the list. No.
- Zach Bryan. My girls are still obsessed. I still don't understand. Although, I'll say the new video for "Nine Ball" is entertaining. I tried to get tickets for San Antonio - floor spots are still freaking $500+. Idiotic. Those Houston and SA shows are late July, and then, like several people on this list, he has an inexplicable gap between September 21 and November 17. Why do big touring artists put a gap there? Matches up really nicely for him to headline ACL (although he's already been here enough times for my liking). I don't know, is San Antonio in July too close for an ACL headliner? I'm torn here. On the one hand, he doesn't feel big enough to headline ACL, on the other hand that is dumb and he is massive right now. He has the gap to do it, and they've shown a desire to book him like 3 times already. So, leaning to yes.
- AC/DC. So far, the only dates announced for the tour are in Europe. They do happen to have a break at the start of August, which would allow them to show up at Lolla. Why am I only predicting old people, white boy rock and roll? I'm so old. No US dates announced yet but they supposedly will be. Also, while reading the article that just told me that, I noticed that it sounds like half the band will be other random dudes now because these guys are so old. Would be fun anyway! Although, if they are in, no way we can also survive Springsteen and the Stones.
- Luke Combs. Plays Moody on April 25, so definitely off the table.
- Black Crowes. I know I said only headliners, but I freaking love the Crowes. My blog, my rules to be broken. The current tour misses Austin and San Antonio, and ends on July 19. Feeling a strong prediction that they will be at both Lolla and ACL. Yep.
- Rihanna. Welp, apparently the rumors of a big tour for Rihanna are "bogus." Lame. She would have been the big name to counteract all the old dudes on the other end of the park. No.
- Nicki Minaj. Nope. Playing the Moody on May 12. Not sad about that. I really liked a few of her early tracks and guest raps, but overall her schtick has worn thin for me.
- Dave Matthews Band. I got to see them at the Moody a year or two ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. They've still got the juice, even missing a band member or two. The Woodlands and Dallas in late May/early June, a nice gap for early August and Lolla, and the last date of the tour on September 20 in Kentucky. COME ON. I swear I am not trying to make the whitest, oldest perfect lineup for myself here. But again, this feels right? Yikes.
- Morgan Wallen. My gut says no, right away. I just don't see ACL giving a guy with his past a shot to headline - feels too progressive to allow a hard 'R' user to get a headlining slot. He also played Austin just recently, so I'm going to stick with my gut and say no.
- Coldplay. Have they ever not been on tour? Feels like they are just constantly touring Indonesia and Brazil at all times and then tweeting about how much they love those fans. I feel like this is another annual wish list item that just never comes true. Also, I was fascinated to learn that one of my sisters hates this band. Wild. That's like hating pasta or something. Anyway, they are cruising around Europe all spring and summer, and then WTF they have a big gap between September 2 and October 30. WHY?!?! Is everyone going to make out with Travis Kelce during training camp? Is it so Chris Martin can get his oddly named children to school for a few weeks? What is up!?! My instinct here is no though, as none of the shows here are in the States. Lukewarm.
- Chris Stapleton. Playing some other more minor festivals, but is supposed to be in the UK two days after the end of weekend two. They could make that happen, but I don't feel it.
- Creed. I truly can't believe they booked the Moody for Creed. I'm not one of those who is trying to say they suck - they are an absolute guilty pleasure for me and I've enjoyed their recent renaissance. But no way are they selling out the Moody unless the tickets are $25 and they have Hoobastank and Three Doors Down on the bill with them. But yeah, they are in Austin for November 15 show, so this is a no.
- Lynyrd Skynyrd with ZZ Top. Another dope pairing, even if it would probably be sad to see ZZ Top without the full band. Called the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour. Ha! They've already come through Texas on the tour, but none of the remaining dates are here. The shebang ends in mid-September in Michigan, so they have the time and space to come back to Texas and jam at Zilker. No reason to believe it is true though... would be rad!
- Rage Against the Machine. Dammit. I still really just want to speak this into existence. But everything on the Internet is still saying that the tour is cancelled and they are done. So sad.
Hmmmm. I need to go through the Coachella/Bonnaroo/etc. lineups and see if I see any other thoughts.
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