The beautiful weather held for day two of Austin City Limits Festival as even more fans flooded into Zilker Park on Saturday. The lineup had heavyweights like Lorde and Rufus du Sol in the headlining slots but the earlier acts drew just as many fervent fans to step out in the heat for another day in the field. Atlas once again jumped in for all the action- check out some of the best moments from day two!
Multi-talented Ladies Steal the Spotlight on Saturday
Much like Friday’s kickoff, Saturday boasted an impressive array of female artists from every genre and fanbase. Young Miko and Lola Young performed back to back on the American Express Stage, drawing huge crowds armed with handwritten signs and an outpouring of devotion for their favorites.
Young Miko’s arrival was palpably one of the most anticipated of the day and fans on the barricade had been planted there since the gates opened with their flags and notes. The camera followed her from backstage to the first notes of “En el Ritz” and “WASSUP” as her backup dancers injected an even sexier vibe into the performance. Undressing from her red vest down to just a cropped shirt and leather pants, the audience went wild for every smile that Young Miko threw in their direction. The energy was exuberant and really hyped up the main stage for the next set.
Lola Young is back and better than ever, strutting onstage to “Wish You Were Dead” to start a sassy set. The British vocalist whipped her braids back and forth, exuding pure, unfiltered attitude as she chased the cameraperson around the stage to the delight of the waiting crowd. Her larger than life personality bled through every song, charming the already devoted fans and drawing in new ones meandering past the main stage at golden hour- a stunning warmup for the rest of the night’s performances.
Those waiting for the headliners took a detour to the Snapchat Stage to catch one of Lykke Li’s final performances of 2026- and it was worth the trek. Li’s blend of electronica and pop made for a mesmerizing performance, with vocals that entranced the masses watching her contort through various dances, all while not missing a single note. For many, this was their final artist of the day and Li made the most of every moment.
Taking the Sadness Out of Saturday Night
Those looking for a bit more soul and rock ‘n’ roll made sure to arrive early for Balu Brigada. The New Zealand brothers- Henry and Pierre Beasley- looked stunned at the size of their audience and immediately delivered one of the most memorable performances of the entire day. The duo had the field dancing with abandon to the viral “Golden Gate Girl” and irresistibly catchy “Backseat” while both brothers turned the T-Mobile Stage into their playground. There was tangible joy being brought to life in the Texas heat to really start the weekend off right by the end of their set.
Finn Wolfhard’s indie rock solo project took center stage across the field and Stranger Things fans of all ages turned up en masse for the set. Wolfhard’s influences are prominent in his own music but he brought his own take on the genre and his own youthful energy to the performance, delighting those watching. “I’ll Let You Finish” and “Nice to Meet You Again” were among the fan favorites and Wolfhard gave it his all despite the sun beaming right into his face for the duration of the set.
Another worthy sidequest found a sizeable audience trekking to the Beatbox Stage for Ryan Beatty’s early evening cooldown. From his dazzling vocals to his vulnerable, relatable lyrics, the fans on the front lines could be seen falling in love in real time as the set went on. Beatty was unassuming in his demeanor, letting his velvet voice do all the heavy lifting on songs like “Cinnamon Bread” and “Andromeda”- every moment was sweeter than the next at this stop on his continuing cross-country tour.
Finally it came time for a sunset dance party with Bleachers, with the band emerging to huge cheers from the front barricade to the casual observers at the back of the field. Frontman Jack Antonoff took the lead right into “Sideways” and “Modern Girl” while the saxophones lifted the energy of the band and the mood of the crowd. The band pulled from every era of the discography, even the not-so-holiday song “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call”. Catharsis was then found in the final moments of the set- from the euphoric chorus of “Don’t Take the Money” to the vibrant “Rollercoaster”, there was room for everyone to shout along. As thousands screamed to “I Wanna Get Better” and “Stop Making This Hurt”, Bleachers absolutely took any sadness right out of their Saturday night at ACL.
Fans braved and survived the intense heat, making the most of every moment with their favorite bands and there was still more to come- stick around for more fun from day three!
