Though most ACL-goers likely shelled out the cash for a ticket to the music festival in order to see the likes of Chance The Rapper, Foster the People, Gorillaz, Jay-Z, The Killers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Solange, other, lesser-known musicians should also be added to your personal lineup. With approximately 140 artists in total scheduled to perform, Austin City Limits (ACL) features emerging as well as established talent, and the sprawling park that plays host to Texas’s biggest music festival is perfectly conducive to sampling all that’s on offer.
First Aid Kit, a Swedish folk duo comprised of two sisters, represents one of the hidden gems of this year’s ACL lineup. Reminiscent of “the sounds of 1950s bluegrass and the American folk of the 1960s”, First Aid Kit’s Klara and Johanna Söderberg defy any preconceived notions you might have had about what singers from Sweden should sound like. Though all of their songs are worth a listen, I’d particularly recommend “My Silver Lining”, “The Lion’s Roar”, “Master Pretender” and “It’s a Shame”. Special recognition goes to “You are the Problem Here”, a scathing critique of rape culture released in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2017.
And if you ever need encouragement about your future prospects, remember that prior to achieving fame as one half of First Aid Kit, Johanna Söderberg failed to make it through to even the first round of Sweden’s version of American Idol – truly demonstrating that our value does not reside in how others may appraise us.
First Aid Kit plays Sunday, October 8th and Sunday, October 15th from 5:15-6:15 p.m. on the HomeAway stage.
*is reminded of Jay-Z and Solange & crosses fingers for a Beyoncé ACL cameo*