this is life in austin & aspen

You absolutely cannot miss:

Four Seasons Austin ACL Pre-Show

Looking across the river towards the Back Lawn, where you will enjoy fabulous music and delicious tacos…

KUT 90.5 and Four Seasons Hotel Austin invite locals and festival visitors to experience a more intimate side of Austin City Limits with a pre-show broadcast from the hotel’s gorgeous Back Lawn. Check out 30 to 40-minute sets by awesome ACL fest artists:

9am: Sahara Smith
10am: Blind Pilot (coincidentally played Aspen’s Belly Up this past Sunday night)
11am: Spoon
Noon: Robert Randolph and the Family Band

The event is open to the public on a first-come, first served basis. Admission is JUST $5, which includes a breakfast taco! All proceeds benefit the Shivers Cancer Center at Seton Hospital. Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite chair or blanket to relax … Friday, October 8 from 9am-1pm on the Back Lawn of Four Seasons Hotel Austin (98 San Jacinto Blvd.)

RUMOR: Saturday, Oct. 9 – ACL afterparty with The xx @ Malverde (400 W. 2nd St. Austin, TX) – RSVP info TBA.

My ACL survival guide (updated from ’08):

- What to wear to ACL? Light-colored clothing, with a swimsuit. Girls, you’re inevitably taking your shirt off to hide the sweat running down it, guys, you’re inevitably taking your shirt off because it’s hot as hell. Yes, I hear we will have 80-degree temps. Doesn’t matter, the sun will still be blazing and you will still be hot. It’s Texas. Or it might rain (see woodstock ’09 aka last year). You’ll still be glad you’re wearing a swimsuit.

- Drink lots of water. Yeah, the portapotties suck. But being dehydrated sucks more. Drinking booze is tempting, and sneaking it in is easy, but hydrate first. Drink later in the afternoon, you’ll thank yourself for it later. And you’ll remember at least half the bands you saw.

- Sunscreen. Don’t get cancer, and don’t be miserable for the following two days. Don’t get sunburned, it will make you a thousand times hotter, which is not a place you want to be. Wear some freakin’ sunscreen. Even if it’s cold. SPF 30 please.

- Big, floppy hats / umbrellas / sunglasses / chairs with built in umbrellas / your program / whatever, use it to cool it down.

- Take breaks/naps. Barton Springs, restaurants with a/c, under trees, or under someone else’s chair, as long as you take a respite, it doesn’t matter where.

- Don’t try to drive and park. It never works. A bajillion and a half cabbies and pedicabs are circulating, buses and shuttles are all over the place (free from Republic Square!), or have friends/parents/bums drop you off. The other side (west) of the Mopac bridge is a great place to be dropped off and avoid the crazy Barton Springs Road traffic.

From my commentors:

Sarah: Check out the autograph schedule to get up close and personal with your fav artists: http://www.aclfestival.com/experience/activities/autograph-schedule/

Andrew: Make sure to check out the black keys on Friday 4-5, got to see them in 2008 and it was an unbelievable set.

Edward A. Cross III: Ride a bike to avoid horrible traffic for cars and buses!

Amy: Run across the street to Barton Springs Pool in between your favorite acts for a chance to cool off!

Mitch: Be sure to factor in rest time! After 3-4 hours of seeing shows, you’ll need a couple minutes off your feet to catch your breath.

Have fun, see Phish!