The Austin City Limits Music Festival has had the following lineups.
2002 2002 was the inaugural year of the festival. Unlike subsequent years, it was a 2-day event only. The festival, arranged by Charlie Jones and Charles Attal founders of C3 Presents, was thrown together in a matter of three or four months. The 2-day festival hosted 5 stages and 67 bands. One-day passes were $25. 42,000 people attended the event when only 25,000 were expected. The festival has grown every year since.
Ryan Adams Arc Angels Asleep at the Wheel Joe Bonamassa Jane Bond Blind Boys of Alabama Caitlin Cary Gary Clark, Jr., W. C. Clark Shawn Colvin Cross Canadian Ragweed Karl Denson The Derailers Durden Family Singers Eyes Adrift Eric Johnson/Alien Love Child Faithful Gospel Stars Ruthie Foster David Garza G. Love & Special Sauce Gospel Stars The Gourds Jon Dee Graham Pat Green Patty Griffin Grupo Fantasma Emmylou Harris Caroline Herring The Jayhawks Karl Denson's Tiny Universe Kevin McKinney Li'l Cap'n Travis Los Lobos Luna James McMurtry Mighty Sincere Voices of Navasota Ramsay Midwood Monte Montgomery Abra Moore Allison Moorer The New Deal Nickel Creek Olospo Original Bells of Joy Particle, Patrice Pike & The Black Box Pauline Reese Robert Randolph Rebellion Rebirth Brass Band Reckless Kelly Rana Bob Schneider Soulive Sound Tribe Sector 9 South Austin Jug Band Spacetruck The String Cheese Incident Topaz Weary Boys Gillian Welch Kelly Willis Wilco
2003 The 2003 ACL Music festival took place September 19–21. With 100 bands performing, tickets increased to $65 for a three-day admission pass. Children under 10 were admitted for free when accompanied by an adult with a ticket.
Asleep at the Wheel The Bells of Joy Jane Bond Ellida Bonet Doyle Bramhall Bright Eyes Richard Buckner Burke Sisters Café Tacvba Shawn Camp Caitlin Cary Rosanne Cash The Charlie Hunter Trio Cody ChesnuTT W. C. Clark Gary Clark, Jr. Shawn Colvin Corn Mo Cowgirl Sue Cross Canadian Ragweed The Damnations The Dandy Warhols Del Castillo Karl Denson's Tiny Universe The Derailers The Donavon Frankenreiter Band Drive-By Truckers The Durdens Steve Earle & the Dukes Tim Easton John Eddie Marcus Eddie Electric Church Endochine The Faithful Gospel Singers Jay Farrar Joe Firstman Ruthie Foster Michael Franti & Spearhead G. Love & Special Sauce Galactic Davíd Garza The Gospel Stars The Gospelaires The Gourds Al Green Pat Green Patty Griffin Wayne Hancock Ed Harcourt Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Terri Hendrix Sara Hickman Jack Ingram The Jellydots Mason Jennings Jack Johnson Robert Earl Keen Justin King Kaki King* Kings of Leon Jeff Klein Ben Kweller Jimmy Lafave Miranda Lambert Leftover Salmon Los Lobos Los Lonely Boys The Mavericks Joe McDermott Kevin McKinney Tift Merritt Midlake The Mighty Sincere Voices of Navasota Abra Moore Ian Moore Alexi Murdoch Beaver Nelson Nickel Creek North Mississippi Allstars O.A.R. Old 97's Beth Orton Particle Liz Phair The Pierces Patrice Pike The Polyphonic Spree Robert Randolph & the Family Band Rebirth Brass Band Reckless Kelly Pauline Reese R.E.M. Josh Ritter Bruce Robison Craig Ross Kermit Ruffins Bob Schneider Martin Sexton Billy Joe Shaver The Shields of Faith The Shins Small Wonders Puppet Theatre Mindy Smith South Austin Jug Band Soulive Spacetruck Spoon Mavis Staples The String Cheese Incident Paul Thorn Topaz J.T. Van Zandt Julieta Venegas Monte Warden Warrior Ween Keller Williams Lucinda Williams Steve Winwood Yo La Tengo Dwight Yoakam Sue Young Yonder Mountain String Band Natalie Zoe
2004
The 2004 festival took place on September 17, 18 and 19. It had eight stages and, on the second day, a top attendance of 75,000 people. This spike in attendance forced the festival promoters to lower capacity per the request of surrounding neighborhood associations.
Ryan Adams American Analog Set Terry Allen Trey Anastasio Anthropos Arts Student Band Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra Asleep at the Wheel Marcia Ball Bobby Bare, Jr. The Bells of Joy Ben Harper Big Head Todd and the Monsters The Biscuit Brothers The Blind Boys of Alabama Broken Social Scene Doyle Bramhall Marc Broussard Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Solomon Burke Henry Butler John Butler Trio Cake Calexico Rosanne Cash Cat Power Troy Campbell Neko Case Centro-matic Cooper's Uncle Elvis Costello and the Imposters Sheryl Crow Kacy Crowley Dashboard Confessional Howie Day Deadman The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Drive-By Truckers The Durdens Electric Church Joe Ely Endochine Franz Ferdinand Guy Forsyth Donavon Frankenreiter David Garza The Gospelaires The Gourds The Greencards G. Love & Special Sauce Gomez Pat Green Patty Griffin Butch Hancock Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Earl Harvin Trio Terri Hendrix The Holmes Brothers The Honorary Title Jack Ingram Mason Jennings Jack Johnson The Killers Dayna Kurtz Ben Kweller Los Lonely Boys Ray Lamontagne Tucker Livingston Louque Shelby Lynne Joe McDermott Medeski Martin & Wood Lucas Miller The Mighty Sincere Voices of Navasota Modest Mouse Monte Montgomery Abra Moore MOFRO Trish Murphy My Morning Jacket The Neville Brothers New Monsoon North Mississippi Allstars Old 97's Ollabelle Palm Elementary Choir Papa Mali Particle Patrice Pike The Pierces Pixies Davis Raines Rebirth Brass Band Reckless Kelly Bruce Robison The Roots Rose Hill Drive Josh Rouse Bob Schneider The Shields of Faith The Slip The Soundtrack of Our Lives Slightly Stoopid Sloan Mindy Smith Spoon Samantha Stollenwerck Star Kid's Yoga The Legendary Soul Stirrers Tea Leaf Green Toots & The Maytals Trout Fishing in America J.T. Van Zandt Rachael Yamagata Warrior The Wailers Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters Dale Watson Jason White Holly Williams Kelly Willis Wilco Willy Mason
2005 The 2005 festival took place on September 23–25. The event coincided with a heat wave driven by Hurricane Rita, with temperatures reaching a record 108°F (42°C) on the festival's final day. Dust raised by the crowd under these dry conditions led the event to become known afterward as the "Dust Bowl" year. Festival organizers subsequently paid for part of the cost of a sprinkler system, which was installed in Zilker Park over the following three years. Three-day passes were sold for $105. The festival received Pollstar's Music Festival of the Year award for 2005.
The Black Crowes Oasis Coldplay Lyle Lovett & His Large Band Roky Erickson and The Explosives The Allman Brothers Band Widespread Panic Wilco Robert Randolph & the Family Band John Prine Lucinda Williams Franz Ferdinand Buddy Guy Jet Dierks Bentley Thievery Corporation Arcade Fire Death Cab for Cutie Bob Mould Band Built to Spill Bloc Party Steve Earle & The Dukes with guest Allison Moorer Blues Traveler Gov't Mule Drive-By Truckers Kasabian Zap Mama Robert Earl Keen Keane Tortoise Doves The Black Keys Kaiser Chiefs Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon The Walkmen Jason Mraz Rilo Kiley Spoon The Decemberists The Bravery Eisley Blue October Grupo Fantasma Kermit Ruffins, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Rev. Dan Willis & The All Nations Choir Morgan Heritage Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca Ruthie Foster deSol The Frames Mates of State Martin Sexton The Fiery Furnaces Aterciopelados (later canceled) Asleep at the Wheel M83 Tegan and Sara Mike Doughty's Band Split Lip Rayfield Rachael Yamagata Bobby Bare, Jr. MOFRO The New Amsterdams Ambulance LTD Slightly Stoopid dios Malos Brave Combo Aqualung Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men John Butler Trio Bruce Robison What Made Milwaukee Famous Kevin Fowler Jack Ingram Cory Morrow Grady The Weary Boys Wayne "The Train" Hancock Monte Warden Zykos Sound Team Asylum Street Spankers Pong Oliver Future The Real Heroes Bukka Allen Hairy Apes BMX Nic Armstrong & The Thieves The Gospel Stars Donna the Buffalo The Shields of Faith Star Kids Yoga The Jones Family Singers St. James Inc. South Austin Jug Band The Lighthouse Singers Kacy Crowley Casey McPherson Tristan Prettyman The Massacoustics Joe McDermott Sara Hickman Anthropos The Palm Elementary School Choir Lucas Miller Imagination Movers Free Sõl Jeff Black Kate Earl KJAE Austin Hartley-Leonard Maneja Beto Austin Collins Band The Biscuit Brothers Patrick Davis Kelley Hunt The Experiment Experience The Blue Van
Last minute replacement acts
Deadboy and the Elephantmen The Texiles featuring members of The Iguanas The Double Tracy Bonham and more
Cancellations Several acts were scheduled to appear, but cancelled due to transportation issues arising from Hurricane Rita. They included:
Bettye LaVette The Lost Trailers Nine Black Alps Kathleen Edwards Mindy Smith Ditty Bops Tegan and Sara (also listed in main lineup; clarification may be needed if they played or were fully cancelled) Missy Higgins Kate York Los Aterciopelados (also listed as "later canceled" in main lineup) Naturally 7 and numerous others.
2006 The 2006 festival took place on September 15-17. In efforts to relieve festivalgoers, festival organizers added more misting and water stations and shade tents after what CultureMap Austin described as "the unbearable heat of ." AT&T's Blue Room, a brand sponsored stage and interactive content hub, streamed live music sets from the festival online as part of its 2006 webcast lineup.
During his set, music artist Ben Kweller suffered a severe nosebleed and attempted to stop the bleeding with a tampon thrown to him by an audience member. “They like to keep these tour buses really dry and really fucking cold, ” Kweller said, trying to explain the nosebleed. “A hot bus is a sick bus, so it’s dry as hell on there." He continued playing "This Is War" and three more songs before festival paramedics and management staff ended his set and took him to a hospital.
The following day, The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, referencing Kweller's injury, asked the audience to throw tampons onstage to help absorb the usual fake blood used in the band's performance.
Van Morrison Tom Petty Willie Nelson Ben Harper Massive Attack John Mayer The String Cheese Incident The Flaming Lips The Raconteurs Ghostland Observatory Los Lonely Boys The Shins Ween Thievery Corporation Los Lobos Ben Kweller G. Love & Special Sauce Matisyahu Gnarls Barkley Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band Ray Lamontagne Nickel Creek Damian "Jr Gong" Marley The Tragically Hip Kings of Leon Iron & Wine Kasey Chambers Aimee Mann Galactic The New Orleans Social Club Calexico The New Pornographers Son Volt Guster Explosions in the Sky Deadboy and the Elephantmen Secret Machines Jack Ingram Brazilian Girls Gomez Stars Wolf Parade Sparklehorse Paolo Nutini Nada Surf The Blue Van Los Amigos Invisibles Feist Phoenix KT Tunstall Donavon Frankenreiter Oliver Mtukudzi & Black Spirits Asleep at the Wheel Buckwheat Zydeco Husky Rescue Jimmie Dale Gilmore The Subdudes BoDeans The Greencards Guy Clark Kathleen Edwards The Long Winters The Stills Charlie Sexton Alexi Murdoch Pierre Guimard Matt Costa Matt Nathanson Okkervil River Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Sparta (later canceled) Benevento-Russo Duo Randy Rogers Band Federico Aubele What Made Milwaukee Famous Jose Gonzalez Ian McLagan and The Bump Band New Monsoon Del Castillo Fields Lou Ann Barton Beto and the Fairlanes I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness Brett Dennen TV on the Radio Centro-matic Marah Sam Roberts Rocky Votolato Murder by Death The Black Angels Anathallo The Rocket Summer Sara Hickman Sylvia St. James and The Gospel Stars Terri Hendrix Trish Murphy Patrice Pike