{"id":284536,"date":"2025-10-07T18:27:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/284536\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T18:27:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:27:14","slug":"chart-topping-rapper-gunna-brings-2025-world-tour-to-houston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/284536\/","title":{"rendered":"Chart-topping rapper Gunna brings 2025 world tour to Houston"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is that a swoon from heat exhaustion, or are you just happy to see us? Another blazing hot first weekend of Austin City Limits Music Festival<\/a> swept attendees off their feet October 3-5 \u2014 in many cases, literally \u2014 and some acts really stood out.<\/p>\n

Assuming everything about the headliners has already made the rounds on social media and in other news coverage, this list annually focuses on highlights from the festival\u2019s earlier time slots.<\/p>\n

Maybe folks heard that Hozier gave a righteous five-minute speech<\/a> on human rights and solidarity; but presumably fewer know that Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski said in his own talk the next day that the speech brought him from liking the singer to loving him, or that Porowski stated that \u201cdiversity exposure can solve 99.99 percent of the world\u2019s problems.\u201d People may know The Killers played a tribute to Willie Nelson in covering \u201cAlways On My Mind,\u201d but they may have missed a much younger Austin country artist\u2019s ACL Fest debut.<\/p>\n

This list includes both lesser-known acts and very buzzy ones that are nonetheless competing with others in the same time slots for attention.<\/p>\n

Here are our top 10 non-headliner highlights from Weekend One of ACL Fest 2025.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

Dylan Gossett cements his career as a hometown hero
<\/strong>Rising country singer-songwriter Dylan Gossett is increasingly poised to become the next big act out of Austin. He confidently stepped into that vaunted position at 4:30 pm on Friday at the huge American Express stage, an impressive and uncommon debut time slot. Gossett left no doubt as to his place of origin, incorporating the shape of Texas into his logo and donning his Central Machine Works Brewery<\/a> cap, one of his recurring wardrobe staples. Gentle, folksy acts<\/a> can feel punishing at the height of the afternoon, but Gossett\u2019s set was lively and his lyrics were easy to understand \u2014 perfect for turning first-time listeners into fans. \u2014 Brianna Caleri, Austin editor<\/p>\n

Moody Joody\u2019s synchronized and sultry festival debut
<\/strong>According to lead vocalists Kaitie Forbes and Kayla Hall, Moody Joody\u2019s Friday afternoon performance was not only their ACL debut; it was also their first time ever playing at a festival. Yet the duo looked and sounded entirely effortless as they sang and danced across the BMI stage. One of the singers called out her mother and sister sobbing on the side stage \u2014 presumably out of happiness \u2014 and that warmth was infectious. Add in the atmospheric vocals, synchronized choreography, memorable guitar solos, and an overall playful energy\u2026 This group will be headlining their own tour in no time. \u2014 Amber Heckler, network writer<\/p>\n

\"Moody Moody Joody have the “it” factor.Photo by Kenn Box<\/p>\n

Jamming out with Dr. Dog
<\/strong>Seeking refuge from Empire of the Sun\u2019s claustrophobia-inducing crowd led me to indie rock band Dr. Dog, and it didn\u2019t take long for me to become enamored with their fluid guitar riffs and occasionally nonsensical lyrics. Guitarist Frank McElroy and drummer Eric Slick expertly blended each song into another to create a seamless flow across the setlist, additionally aided by three backup singers. Slick also came to the front of the stage to sing \u201cTell Your Friends,\u201d and dedicated it to the widely loved First Avenue stage manager Conrad Sverkerson, who passed away<\/a> earlier in the week. \u2014 AH<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/p>\n

Olivia Dean\u2019s upbeat attitude makes Austin\u2019s heat more bearable
<\/strong>English singer-songwriter Olivia Dean looked chic in a yellow dress and knee-high leather boots as she graced the American Express stage on Saturday afternoon. Dean transported the audience to a Brazilian beach as she sang \u201cSo Easy (To Fall In Love),\u201d a welcome distraction from Austin\u2019s hot weather. My personal favorite was \u201cCarmen,\u201d which was inspired by Dean\u2019s grandmother, who left the Caribbean at 18 to immigrate to the United Kingdom. Dean lovingly dedicated the song to immigrants among the crowd who may have had similar experiences adapting to a new country. \u2014 AH<\/p>\n

Yoke Lore mesmerizes the crowd with his verve
<\/strong>It feels serendipitous to walk up to a stage without having any prior knowledge of an act and instantly connect with a singer, their music, and fellow audience members. Yoke Lore frontman Adrian Galvin brought tons of chaotic energy to the stage on Saturday afternoon, from his erratic dance moves to his unusual method of strumming his open back banjo like an electric guitar. Indie pop is an unexpected genre for a banjo, but Galvin has smartly used the instrument to set himself apart. \u2014 AH <\/p>\n

Marina commands the stage like no one else<\/strong>
The object of 2010 indie girls\u2019 obsession, Marina f.k.a. Marina and the Diamonds, is back with a mononym and sophisticated pop poise. The singer, now 39, looks and moves like a Hollywood star, but preserves the weirdness in her act through an otherworldly sound and spacey stage concept. Pairing dramatic sweeps of the arms, semi-operatic vocals, ABBA-like four-on-the-floor beats, Romantic instrumental flourishes, and cosmic visuals, Marina commanded the stage as only a seasoned performer can. As much as we love a raw stage presence, professionalism is also delicious. \u2014 BC<\/p>\n

Doechii the don, Doechii the dean, Doechii supreme
<\/strong>Rapper and singer Doechii has been going viral in doses since 2021<\/a>, but 2025 is her year<\/a>. Although she\u2019s become known for high-concept performances, her festival show is both simple and deadly effective. Doechii raps fast without backup vocals, is a great dancer \u2014 despite twerking a small hole in her jeans into a gaping tear \u2014 and has phenomenal chemistry with her charismatic stage partner, DJ Miss Milan. With tons of stylistic range from the polished \u201cNissan Altima,\u201d to the villainous \u201cBoiled Peanuts\u201d and the approachable \u201cAnxiety,\u201d the duo took a sea of thrilled fans for a ride across Doechii\u2019s illustrious past five years. \u2014 BC<\/p>\n

Sunday<\/p>\n

Haute & Freddy go out in style
<\/strong>The natural progression for Chappell Roan fans returning to the festival this year was not Sabrina Carpenter, but Haute & Freddy, a heavily 80\u2019s inspired indie pop duo decked out in campy Renaissance jester garb. Singer Michelle Buzz is immediately identifiable as a former theater kid, delivering rich vocals and pointed facial expressions, peppered with silly speaking voices. When playback failed for the final song, Buzz bravely decided to do it a capella; her musical partner Lance Shipp joined in on drums, and their touring bassist finally stepped in. The gradual fleshing out of the finale couldn\u2019t have been planned with more dramatic flair. \u2014 BC<\/p>\n

Rainbow Kitten Surprise is more stable than surprising
<\/strong>If Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) plays to a backing track, it only offers the sparsest alterations. The punchy six-piece band is like one big rhythm section, tied together by ethereal vocal harmonies and captivating singer Ela Melo, who has a strong talent for conveying a story. RKS deals in perfect festival music: it\u2019s uplifting, emotionally raw, high-energy, and most importantly, interesting. Hopefully some audience members listening for the first time connected with the richness of the material, but if they just danced along, they still had a hell of a time. \u2014 BC<\/p>\n

T-Pain\u2019s vast catalogue of earworms
<\/strong>If there\u2019s only one artist that Weekend Two attendees must see, it\u2019s T-Pain. His Sunday evening performance was full of hits spanning the last two decades of his career. From classics like \u201cLow,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m N Luv (Wit a Stripper),\u201d and \u201cCyclone,\u201d to his iconic rendition of \u201cTennessee Whiskey,\u201d there was something for everyone to dance to. Additional hats off to DJ Montay and his skillful mixes, which included combining \u201cUp Down\u201d with Kendrick Lamar\u2019s \u201ctv off,\u201d and \u201cThe Boss\u201d with Lamar\u2019s \u201cNot Like Us.\u201d Just like these aughts classics, next weekend should be memorable. \u2014 AH<\/p>\n

Honorable mentions<\/p>\n

We couldn’t write about everything we found interesting. Here are some good bets for next weekend:<\/p>\n