By Kalena Reynolds | Editor-in-Chief, Sophia Monson | Opinion Editor, Arden Berry | Arts & Life Editor
The second day of ACL went by in a flash of lights, sounds and tastes. In that rush, here is who we saw.
Lola Young
Lola Young’s vocals soared across the large crowd gathered in front of the American Express Stage. She spent much of the performance standing in front of her microphone stand, vocal chords belting and riffing and hips swaying.
In her more energetic pieces, Young made her way around the stage, space buns perfectly in place and braids flying behind her. Her movements were mesmerizing and were paired with the enchanting vocals.
Young was exactly as we expected – authentic, a little unhinged and vocally glorious. While her soaring belts have crowned her as a rising pop icon, it’s clear that she is only going to grow on the charts the more established she becomes.
While her performance had a slower start, Young’s last song “Messy,” brought the heat, causing people to jog from all sides of the festival to see her sing her Grammy winning hit for Best Pop Solo Performance.
Young recently announced dates for her North American tour, starting April 2027.
Levity
We didn’t intentionally stop at Levity, however we were enthralled as we passed by an iconic dance-heavy Black Eyed Peas remix. The set only became more extravagant as the songs progressed. From extreme pyrotechnics to remixes of 2000s iconic pop songs, Levity was a pleasant surprise for day 2.
Levity took the Miller Lite stage as the melting Texas sun was setting over the park, yet the crowd was filled with energy. Bright, multicolored beacons cut through the dusty sky, allowing us to see just how tightly packed the fans were: left to right, barricade to back.
Near then end of their set came an iconic remix of “Hey Jude,” which once again,was a curveball for our newfound love of the EDM trio. Albeit untraditional, the group managed to seamlessly blend classic rock and techno, making the crowd jump with each beat.
After that, Levity played their remix of “Mad About Me,” the song played in the Mos Eisley Cantina scene in “Star Wars,” alongside flames and multicolored lights.
Levity was more than a pleasant surprise for us, and is certainly a must add to your “must see” list.
Lorde
Long before the show began, fans were lining up and shouting for Lorde to take the stage. Opening with her hit song “Royals,” Lorde captured thousands across the grass lawn through her rollercoaster of a set.
Backup dancers, flashy lighting and pyrotechnics all amplified how Lorde is more than just her voice — she’s an all-encompassing entertainer. Capturing an audience of that size is no small feat, and during the two hour set, she managed to do so effortlessly.
One of the most memorable moments was the raw emotion Lorde showed. Through tears, the singer reflected on her newfound freedom as an independent artist, even needing to take multiple pauses during “Liability” to collect herself while overwhelmed with emotion. The crowd cheered in support, with multiple audience members even shedding their own in solidarity.
The set was undoubtedly Saturday’s highlight. Unique and iconic moments just kept coming: Lorde using her black jacket as a prop, the camera being positioned beneath a glass floor as she laid on her stomach, a small chunk of stage rising up with videos playing on its side and the flashing green lights during “Green Light.”
“Ribs” was the closing song in the euphoric hit-filled setlist. As the iconic melancholy hit rang throughout the festival grounds, fans jumped in unison and a serendipitous yearning engulfed the crowd.
As the rhapsodic setlist came to a close, gold fireworks glimmered through the sky, illuminating the crowd and Lorde as she danced her way off stage and fans reluctantly started their treks home.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom and how those who have it can help those who don’t,” Lorde said.
