Article Contributed by Nick Gumas
Published on November 9, 2025
Just shy of a quarter century old, and a grand staple of the American music scene, Austin City Limits, once again came to Texas’ capital city. With decades of memories to live up to, the pressure was felt to live up to the standard of excellence built up in the minds and hearts of fans worldwide who annually flock to Zilker Park to participate in the experience. The final weekend of the latest iteration of the festival not only exceeded any hopes, but further cemented the institution’s legacy, as it featured artists from all imaginable genres, and fortified the experience with a southern sensibility not felt anywhere else.
Bilmuri | Austin City Limits
Starting the day off on the Lady Bird stage, Columbus, Ohio-born solo artist Bilmuri woke the crowd up early with a set that felt reminiscent of the pop punk renaissance of the early 2000s. Combining elements of rock, metal, and hardcore in his performance, the “Attack Attack!” alumnus showcased his decades of experience within the musical community, never slowing the tempo down for a moment to catch his breath. While primarily a heavier set that would have felt right at home at Warped Tour a few years ago, he showed spectacular awareness of his setting in Texas, showcasing more of a Country twang in his rendition of “BETTER HELL,” in its instrumental delivery.
The Favors | Austin City Limits
Showing that even after reaching the height of fame and accolades, artists can still find fulfillment in their work, alternative supergroup The Favors brought a sentimental energy to their mid-day set on the Miller Light stage. The newest collaborative project of alt pop singer Ashe, and famed producer-performer and older brother to Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, the performance featured an hour of thoughtful lyrics and instrumentality that proved to be one of the most emotionally evocative of the weekend. Beginning their act with “Restless Little Heart” and “The Little Mess You Made,” they made sure to frontload their setlist with some of the most commercially successful hits off their collaborative album. Taking time to play some of the artists’ more recognizable individual work, the set featured performances of Ashe’s “Till Forever Falls Apart” and “Moral of the Story,” as well as Finneas’ “For Cryin’ Out Loud!” and “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night.”
Cage The Elephant | Austin City Limits
In what was arguably the most energetic and high octane performance of the weekend, veteran rock outfit Cage the Elephant put on an immersive set on the American Express mainstage as the sun set over the Austin horizon. Starting the show with their 2019 single “Broken Boy,” the band immediately started with high enthusiasm and their signature over the top style as the Schultz brothers and company quickly earned the crowd’s emotional investment, utilizing every inch of the large stage as they restlessly moved around. Evoking all senses with their aesthetic ambiance, their stimulative accouterments extended far beyond the musicians’ presence, featuring pyrotechnic and laser shows bright enough to be seen vividly in the broad daylight. Giving fans a taste of their full breadth of hits over the years, the band packed their set with countless hits from their decades playing together, including “Too Late to Say Goodbye,” “Cigarette Daydreams,” and “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.”
Closing out the night on the mainstage, North Carolina-born country royalty, Luke Combs, took the stage to send the Austin crowd home with a set befitting the Texas crowd. Opening with his narratively motivated 2017 single “When It Rains It Pours,” the artist immediately made a declaration about the anecdotal stimulation that defines their work. Showcasing his image as a man of the people in new and exciting ways, the artist took a moment early on in between songs to shotgun a beer in front of the crowd, drawing cheers and encouragement from the audience. Highlighting the most sentimental side of their creative process, the artist played his 2021 EP “The Trilogy” in its entirety, including “Beautiful Crazy,” “Better Together,” and “Forever After All,” after speaking to the creation of the collection and the music’s inspiration having come from the artist’s relationship with his wife. His vulnerable demeanor extended beyond his matrimonial affirmations, as Combs would later say during his set that whenever asked what they would have done with their life if a career in music had not materialized, he would still be playing music to anyone who would listen, as he picked up an acoustic guitar and played a portion of his set alone without an accompanying band. Bringing the energy back up to close out the night, his energy was reflected in the remainder of his rousing set, which included “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “The Kind of Love We Make,” and “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma.”
Empire of the Sun | Austin City Limits
Check out more photos from Austin City Limits Day One.
