More Austin City Limits Music Festival Pics

More posts from the live Music Capital of the World ya'll. The day is not over yet, I just had to cool my core and post pics of friends, family, actors and bands. Yes, that is Austin Nichols who plays/played John in John From Cincinnati. Also The Steps a band to watch kids on the BMI stage and Dr. Dog on the ATT stage. And of course, Fester the pole armadillo, Tom, Jessalyn, Andy, Sister Soul Jah and the brah.

And in the end....hey its not over yet! Ciao for now, Maggie

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2007, So Hot Its On Fire!

Day one of the ACL Festival

Not only were there hot tunes and warm fans, but the festival had its first ever big fire. Four workers were critically injured in the blaze that sent smoke and ash billowing high into the sky. According to reports, two of the injured were flown to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, while the other two were taken to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin to be treated for their injuries.

I had just motored in from Big D with my young posse and set up camp at the Casa de Park. I am fortunate to have a brother and sister in law who like me and allow me to park at their Villa across the street from Flipnotics on Barton Springs. I shall try to do the good Karma thing and bring baked goods or some type of food goodie with me today. Food at the festival is plentiful, but lines are long...and by golly you forget to eat when the music and the people are so awesome.

It took forever to get in the gates as the fire had broken out and for safety police evacuated certain areas until it could be determined that the fire was under control and it was safe.

Once inside I caught a bit of Amy Levere's set and then headed on over to the Heineken Town Lake Tavern for a cool beverage. Little did I know at the time, but it was just behind the Tavern that the fire had occurred.

I wondered why it was so easy to get that beer.

The Tavern has great shade and I decided to sit for a bit and take in the view. Luckily for me a couple of girls from Boston had room at a picnic table.

Needless to say, many conversations about everything from politics, to the Octogenarian, favorite movies and yes, even the festival took place. My family came and went...the boys and our girl aren't out of money yet so they were scarce until the end of the day when it came time to get directions to our hotel. My brother Tom, and sister soul Jah along with their friends did mosey in. Our Boston buddies have promised to be in the same spot today and we are pumped.

Favorites for me yesterday included Peter, Bjorn and John, Joss Stone, Gotan Project and Bjork. I have some links to updates for ya here. Also if you haven't been inspired to hop in your car or plane and git ur ass down here for one of the best music festivals around, you can watch live at this ATT link. Or get ready in the next month or so to make your plans for next year fool.

And in the End

Today dear travellers, I promise to take more pics and post. I must be on my way to hear some new darlings on the radar....The Steps. Kevin Womack is working with them ( he helped bring you Los Lonely Boys ) Anyhoo, he is a friend of Sister Soul Jah and the Bro, so attendance is mandatory. Also we could not bring the pole in yesterday with our Armadillo Festus atop, so Sister Soul Jah and Cindy are rebelling today and bringing it in as others did yesterday!

Looking forward to Arcade Fire (hope their name includes the only fire today) and Muse tonight...and some new finds for me through out the day. Ciao for now, Maggie

Festival, Fair and Fare Time

Just to be Fare
Throughout the U.S. celebrations abound from music to food and wine to exhibitions that include swine. With cooler temperatures in some areas gatherings in the great outdoors or strolling around big cities cannot be beat. The airlines are doing their part in getting us there with shoulder fares that are lower than they have been in months. Continental for instance has a flight from dfw to New York La Guardia or Kennedy for...drumroll please... $109 round trip if you fly on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. American will take you from DFW to Oakland for $179 round trip or Las Vegas for $149. You can head to New Orleans for $159 round trip in October or Orlando for $185 and in my experience it is only going to get better throughout the Fall.

ACL Festival

If you were smart enough to plan ahead, you would be heading to Austin, Texas this weekend ya'll for the Austin City Limits Music Festival to see some of the most incredible acts in the music industry today. Bjork, Josh Stone, Crowded House, Queens of the Stone Age and Gotan Project are just a few of the acts playing on Friday. Saturday you can see indie wonders Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Blue October, Sarah Hickman, Steve Earle, Muse, Kelly Willis and Damian Rice among others. Sunday Ziggy Marley, Ben Kweller, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, My Morning Jacket round out the day and Bob Dylan is set to close the festival. Tickets for next years festival will go on sale in the not too distant future so snag them as soon as you can as they go very quickly. Many of the same acts can be seen at festivals from Voodoo Fest in New Orleans October 26th, 27th and 28th, and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the end of April /beginning of May 2008 to Coachella in April to Bonaroo in July and Lollapoluza in August in Chicago's Grant Park. Now is the time to begin planning to attend because tickets generally sell out quickly and prime hotel and air packages go quickly as well. To get you in the mood, I will be posting from Austin City Limits this weekend.


Our State Fair is a Great State Fair
While many States have already had their state Fairs, the State Fair of Texas is coming up at the end of September and the Arizona State Fair runs from mid October to November 4, the North Carolina State Fair is October 12th thru the 21st in Raleigh and Florida's State Fair is in Tampa in February.

Food and Wine
Right now through October is an excellent time to visit Napa for Harvest and Crush Festivals and of course fabulous wine. And with great fares you can get there with plenty of money left over for the important things like wine food and more wine. And the street fairs in New York City abound this time of year.
And in the End
I will be road tripping with the teenager, and the college student plus girlfriend this weekend. Just call me the ATM and provider of shelter. This is one of those trips that are rare anymore, that give me a chance to connect with my older children and see my brother and his wife...now devotees of ACL and with a handily located abode I might add. If I had been smart many months ago I would have bought the $50 three day passes...I wasn't smart, but lucked out and got the passes at full price about a month ago. I was lucky to priceline a room about 20 minutes away from the fest, but I have one at a decent rate as opposed to what is left. More in the coming days traveling friends. I am off to figure out just what talisman or charm I can put on our totem pole that denotes just who I am. Ciao for now, Maggie