Music Notes

11 must-see artists at ACL Fest 2022 — from Texas and beyond

Austin giants Spoon are a must-see.

Spoon/Facebook

It’s game time for two weekends of good times by way of Austin City Limits Music Festival. Since you certainly already have a must-see list comprised of the bigger artists on the lineup, here’s some choice acts — from Austin and beyond.

Must-see acts from Austin

Spoon
No one really needs to be told to see one of Austin's best bands of all-time. However, just in case you were thinking about skipping them, be sure to note that their 2022 release, Lucifer on the Sofa, plays great in a live setting. You can see them both weekends of the fest on Saturday at 4pm on the Honda stage.

Adrian Quesada’s Boleros Psicodélicos
Adrian Quesada (of Black Pumas) recently put out a solo album, Boleros Psicodélicos, and you’ll be able to check out all of its Latin America-inspired psych ballads during weekend one of ACL. Catch his set on Saturday, October 8, at 2:15 pm on the Honda stage.

Darkbird
Vet rockers Darkbird were supposed to play ACL in 2021, but a weather delay nixed their set. Expect the band, which is fronted by the always-spirted Kelly Barnes, to take full advantage of the do-over. Their only appearance at the fest will be Sunday, October 9 at 1:15 pm on the BMI stage.

Eric Tessmer
After a couple decades of dutiful shredding around Austin, guitar great Eric Tessmer has finally found his way onto an ACL lineup. His sure-to-be explosive turn at the fest is a weekend one only experience – see it on Sunday, October 9, at 5 pm on the BMI stage.

Good Looks
Indie rock act Good Looks are responsible for Bummer Year, one of the better albums to come out of Austin in 2022, so of course you should have them on your ACL radar. Catch this weekend two-only band on Saturday, October 15, at 1pm on the Tito’s stage.

Urban Heat
Get your new wave/post punk fix via Urban Heat during weekend two of ACL. The buzzy act, who recently put out an EP titled Wellness, will perform on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the BMI stage.

Other must-see acts

Muna
LA’s own Muna, who are signed to Phoebe Bridgers' Saddest Factory imprint, head into ACL on a wave of acclaim for their 2022 self-titled album. The pop act has just a weekend one set on Sunday, October 9, at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage.

Dehd
Dehd’s Blue Skies is loaded with some of the catchiest indie rock tracks you’ll find on any album in 2022, and that’s reason enough to catch them at ACL. The Chicagoans play both weekends – look for them each Sunday at 1:15 pm on the T-Mobile stage.

Magdalena Bay
Synthpop act Magdalena Bay recently dropped a deluxe edition of their hit 2021 album, Mercurial World, and now they’ll put it on display at ACL. Catch the LA-based act both weekends of the fest on Sunday at 4 pm on the Tito’s stage.

Wet Leg
Wet Leg had quite a bit of buzz heading into this year’s SXSW and the fervor surrounding the British indie rockers has only increased with the release of their self-titled debut album, which includes the infectious single “Chaise Longue.” The band is a weekend two-only play, and their set is Friday, October 14 at 2:30 pm on the Honda stage.

Faye Webster
The dreamy, gentle sounds of singer/songwriter Faye Webster will be a treat in the middle of the afternoon at Zilker Park. Be sure to catch the Atlanta-based artist during her weekend two-only appearance on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage. By the way, don’t be surprised if Webster and her bandmates engage in some sweet yo-yo action.

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worldwide recognition

Remarkable Texas museum declared most beautiful in the world

National Medal of Honor Museum

It's one of only seven museums in the world to earn the recognition.

A new list of the world's most beautiful museums includes one gleaming North Texas museum on the roster for 2026: The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.

The "World’s Most Beautiful Museums List 2026" is curated by Prix Versailles, a global architecture and design award program, and recognizes only seven institutions worldwide. The National Medal of Honor Museum is the only museum in the Western Hemisphere to win this highly prestigious accolade.

The National Medal of Honor Museum first opened on March 25, 2025, marking the anniversary of the first Medals of Honor awarded in 1863. The museum shares the stories of U.S. military service members who've received a Medal of Honor for their wartime efforts. More than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since its inception, and only 64 recipients are alive today.

In describing the building's appearance, Prix Versailles said the museum's overall design "is inseparable from its mission" to commemorate the courage of past and present servicemen and women.

"The steel-clad Exhibition Hall is a monumental space that reflects the strength of character that is forged in combat. That structure is suspended 12 metres in the air above a landscaped 'Field of Honor,' a central, open-air courtyard that serves as both threshold and gathering space. From there, sculptural spiral staircases and fully glazed lifts take visitors to immersive galleries, creating a powerful narrative journey through the lives and legacies of medal recipients. Supported by five megacolumns, each representing a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the museum is bathed in natural light thanks to an oculus at its centre, symbolising the U.S. Space Force."

The museum was designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, and one of the firm's partners, Bassam Komati, said the recognition was a "tremendous honor."

"We are especially moved by the award’s celebration of architecture’s narrative power and its ability to reveal strength through harmony, sensitivity, and shared purpose — values deeply aligned with this project," Komati said. "Shaped through close collaboration with our client and an exceptional multidisciplinary team, the Museum gives form to a shared vision for a civic place of reflection and inspiration, honoring those who serve the common good while affirming architecture’s capacity to embody our highest ideals."

General admission includes access to the museum grounds, interactive exhibits, and the expansive exhibit deck, and the museum also offers VIP guided tours and virtual reality experiences with upgraded tickets. Tickets range from $30-$65, with discounts for veterans and free admission for active-duty military.

The full list of 2026's most beautiful museums in the world are:

Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Science and Techology Museum, Shenzen, China
Xuelei Fragrance Museum, Guangzhou, China
MoN Takanawak: The Museum of Narratives, Tokyo, Japan
Lost Shtetl Museum, Šeduva, Lithuania
National Medal of Honor Museum, Arlington, United States
Islamic Civilization Center, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

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