Apparently a web tech was trying something on the ACL Fest web site for a minute and somebody got a screen grab and now everyone knows who’s playing both weekends of the festival in October. The official announcement was set for Tuesday at 6 a.m.
That first tier of headliners- Foo Fighters, Drake, Strokes and Weeknd– seems pretty weak. (Florence and the Machine replaces Strokes on second weekend, which also adds Modest Mouse in place of Alabama Shakes.) But, then, so does the second line with all that EDM and Hozier. That’s right, Barton Hillbillies. Might as well rent out your houses because you’re not going to be able to watch TV.
As always, the best acts are somewhere in the middle and the names I’m happiest to see are country throwbacks Sturgill Simpson and Dwight Yoakam, British blooze duo Royal Blood, rocker Kurt Vile and the Violators, and my twin Billy Idol (also born 11/30/55).