ACL 2025: EDM Makes Its Stand at the Live Music Capital’s Biggest Festival

Massive performances by John Summit, LP Giobbi and more proved why electronic dance music belongs in a city dominated by rock and indie.

Austin may brand itself as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” but let’s be honest: the city’s reputation was built on guitar slingers and singer-songwriters, not DJs.

This year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival made that contrast abundantly clear. Electronic acts occupied a modest slice of the lineup, squeezed between the indie darlings, contemporary stars and legacy rock acts that typically dominate Zilker Park. But what the genre lacked in quantity, it more than compensated for in sheer force of presence. The handful of dance artists who did make the cut seemed determined to prove that turntables belong under the Texas sun just as much as any Fender.

If ACL proved anything this year, it’s that electronic artists know how to make an entrance when given the chance. Sometimes the best way to conquer new territory is simply to show up and go hard.

Storied electronic duo Empire of the Sun kicked off the electronic takeover on Day 1 with an electric performance on the Miller Lite stage. Luke Steele and company opened with “Changes” and dove into synth-soaked catalog staples like “DNA” and “Walking on a Dream,” before closing with the appropriately titled “Alive” as the crowd swayed.

Day 2 brought UK garage breakout Sammy Virji, who closed out Miller Lite with a set that ping-ponged between gritty breakbeats and sun-dappled house. Meanwhile, over at Tito’s, local favorite LP Giobbi delivered a masterclass in live electronic performance, alternating between tickling the ivories and spinning a blissed-out selection of house cuts that had the crowd locked in.

The festival’s final day was its strongest. Disco Lines warmed things up with a breezy house set before T-Pain commandeered the American Express mainstage with a charismatic performance full of hilarious dance moves and surprising covers. At one point he even performed a live rendition of Journey’s inescapable “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Ahead of a foray into dubstep, the newly 41-year-old hitmaker playfully roasted himself about his age between performances of the anthems that defined a generation, making thousands of Millennials drop it low to ageless bangers like “Buy U a Drank” and “Blame It.” Yes, we blamed that on the alcohol.

While Passion Pit reminded Tito’s stage attendees why their candy-coated electropop still hits a decade later, the weekend’s EDM crescendo belonged to John Summit. Making his ACL debut at the T-Mobile stage, Summit commanded the spotlight during the same timeslot as The Killers’ mainstage set.

His closing performance featured a guest appearance from HAYLA for live renditions of their global dance hits “Where You Are” and “Shiver,” giving us a proper send-off as the festival wound down. Fans watching in the adjacent Club Magenta tent or Backstage area watched Summit’s spectacle unfold from two of the best views at ACL this year, a major perk offered by T-Mobile.

The “Live Music Capital of the World” may never fully embrace its inner raver, but after this weekend’s showing, EDM artists have staked their claim to a permanent spot in the conversation. In a city built on live performance, they proved that electronic music is just as alive as anything with strings attached.

ACL returns for its second weekend October 10-12, with dubstep icons Zed Dead joining the lineup. You can purchase tickets to the festival here.