With more than 130 artists performing at ACL 2017, you may be tempted to stick to the tiny-font acts and spare yourself the body- (and soul-)crushing crowds that come with big-name artists. But listen: there's a sense of accomplishment that comes with fighting for that up-close-and-personal moment with a superstar. We've chosen five acts worth elbowing your way to the front for:
1. JAY-Z: Kendrick Lamar may be king, but JAY-Z has reminded us why he’s the emperor with the recent release of fourteenth studio album 4:44. With sister-in-law Solange also on the fest’s bill and wife Beyoncé no longer pregnant with twins (congrats Jay and Bey!), who knows what special guest possibilities there might be—getting as close as possible is a safer bet you won’t miss out.
2. Gorillaz: Whether through accompanying animated storylines or an all-star band, Gorillaz—brainchild of Blur’s Damon Albarn and visual artist Jamie Hewlett—always supply a spectacle worth witnessing up close. New album Humanz is loaded with special guests who’ve already appeared at many shows this year, so two weekends worth of this virtual-turned-physical act might indeed yield some special surprises.
3. The Lemon Twigs: Perhaps the hardest working young band of SXSW 2017, New York’s the Lemon Twigs—led by brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario—are also some of the most talented showmen rocking stages at other fests across the world this year. Trust us, you’ll want a front-row spot when, halfway through the show, they swap roles as frontman and drummer, at which point some of the craziest high- and split-kicks you’ve ever seen ensue.
4. Royal Blood: Close proximity is required to feel the full force of British rock duo Royal Blood; witnessing Mike Kerr shred the bass as if it’s a guitar with the naked eye is worth the fight alone. Come for the riffs, stay for the moshing: they evoke an irresistible ’90s heaviness that almost spawns an authentic circle pit—and usually an exhilarating crowd-surf or two from drummer Ben Thatcher.
5. Solange: Sure, she’s Beyoncé’s sibling, but that shouldn’t be your chief reason for getting a good spot to see the younger Knowles sibling. She effortlessly radiates her own brands of moving soul, R&B and indie-pop, and fuses those styles with an almost artsy aesthetic replete with an incredible backing band and dancers nailing avant-garde choreography.
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