In just a few days time, the grassy knoll of Zilker Park will be transformed into Austin’s annual music grounds, Austin City Limits Music Festival.

By Savannah Olson

That means gathering a group of friends, mastering the perfect functional festival outfits and seeing your favorite artists perform live. The lineup can feel overwhelming to say the least. You’ll inevitably have to pick who to see and who to skip. Thought it may seem stressful, the ORANGE Music staff is here to give you sage advice on who’s worth seeing based on your festival mood.

1. BROCKHAMPTON

For when you’re wanting to mosh…

Choosing a group that has roots in Central Texas may seem guided by nepotism, but this boy band is one of the most electric acts in the world. Gaining mainstream recognition from their Saturation album saga, Brockhampton has honed in on their talents of versatility. . Their ability to show off each individual member’s skills flourishes with the maniac energy they bring to the live stage. Crowd-heavy mosh pits and never-ending bop after bop makes this boyband a must see.

Photo courtesy of The Fader

2. Jackie Venson

For when you crave some local flair…

As ACL grows in size every year, the amount of local artists playing the festival decreases in favor for more well-known acts that attract larger crowds. Even so, out of the few playing the festival in 2018, Jackie Venson shines as a beacon of the modern Austin music scene. Drifting with ease between soul, indie-rock and the infectious beats reminiscent of 80s new wave, Venson shreds on her guitar through each tune.

Photo courtesy of ATX Woman

3. Blood Orange

For when you need to chill out…

Being at a music festival for three days can make you an emotional wreck. Your body hurts from standing through hours of concerts, you’ve maybe only eaten a banana or a greasy P-Terry’s burger in the last 24 hours and your dry-shampoo is trying it’s hardest to work. Sometimes skipping a high-energy performance for one that is more introspective is key. Enter Blood Orange, the moniker of British artist Dev Hynes. Infused with 80s synths and lyrical stories of Hynes’ life as a black man, his music is soul-baring yet full of hope. When discussing his 2018 album Negro Swan to Pitchfork, Hynes said, “the underlying thread through each piece on the album is the idea of HOPE, and the lights we can try to turn on within ourselves with a hopefully positive outcome of helping others out of their darkness.”

Photo courtesy of Pitchfork

4. Ravyn Lenae

For when you feel like groovin’…

70s inspired R&B has made a comeback in the last few years. From Childish Gambino’s throaty crooning on “Redbone,” to the heavy bass played by Steve Lacy on The Internet’s latest album, “Hive Mind,” it feels like we are in a Groove Renaissance. An artist that is the next puzzle piece of this new revival of 70s flair is Chicago singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae and her 2017 EP titled “Crush.” In collaboration with the previously mentioned Steve Lacy, Lenae’s voice drips throughout each dreamy track on “Crush,” creating an atmosphere of lush sound and luxuriant production.

Photo courtesy of The Fader

5. Cuco

For when you want a crowd-wide sing-along…

Since the release of “Wannabewithu” in 2016, 19-year-old Omar Bonos or Cuco has been spectacular at making sappy songs about teen romance into crowd-singing favorites. Raised in California, Cuco’s mix of lo-fi synths and ambient guitars layered behind his tales of teenage heartbreak form a warm hug for the listener’s ear. There’s the sense that you’re supposed to feel sad, but the cloak of soothing instrumental breakthrough like a shot of serotonin. Although there will be plenty of couples acting overly cute at the concert, you won’t be able to stop yourself from feeling a little romantic, too.

Photo courtesy of Lollapalooza

Listen to ORANGE’s official Austin City Limits playlist here: