With only two days until the fun starts, crews are hard at work setting everything up (and treading lightly on Zilker’s lush new grass). From the LiveStrong Stage to Austin Eats Food Court to The Barton Springs Beer Garden, the eighth edition of ACL Festival is starting to take shape. Here’s a sneak peek behind the scenes…

The solar powered Grackle Tower going up! Head there for daily schedules & a cool mist.

Barton Springs Road will become one big sidewalk on Friday, leading up to the main entrance of the Festival.

The LIVESTRONG Stage is going up. It will play host to headliners Kings of Leon, The Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam and 12 other artists this weekend.

Photos courtesy of Patrick Dentler

Friday, October 2 (10/2) is LIVESTRONG Day, a global day of action and awareness for the fight against cancer. It also marks the 13th anniversary of Lance Armstrong’s cancer diagnosis.  Wear yellow on Friday to show your support for the fight against cancer! Festival goers will also have the opportunity to register for the international bone marrow database with a single cheek swab completed in minutes. Registration at ACL is free (normally $65/person) thanks to the support from generous sponsors who cover testing expenses. Did you know that registering in this database has an immediate, direct effect on cancer survivorship? And with 65,000 people rocking Zilker each day of the Festival, our impact could be off the charts. To register, head over to the LIVESTRONG booth in the Good for Austin area located at the east end of Rock Island.

The unofficial mayor of Fort Worth, TX, Tim Love has become a nationally recognized culinary personality, known as much for his freewheeling personality as his signature urban western cuisine. As chef and owner of The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro and The Love Shack in Fort Worth, he’s as comfortable cooking for the Dallas Cowboys as he is for his own kids, and his inspired and innovative dishes have earned critical and popular acclaim.

In 2000, Love opened The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, which features a locally sourced selection of steaks, game, seafood, and fine wines. It’s Zagat rating is consistently the highest of any restaurant in the Dallas/Fort Worth region. Seven years later, Love opened a classic burger joint called The Love Shack in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards district. Another instant hit, it was singled out as having the “most perfect burger on the planet” by The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and was named by Condé Nast Traveler as a 2008 Hot List restaurant. Love’s second Love Shack opened in July 2009.

Through his restaurants and his work in the community for such causes as the March of Dimes and Spoons Across America, Love has become the de facto culinary ambassador for the state of Texas, always doing his fans proud. Wherever he goes, his charm and genuine southern hospitality are always on display, and guests love watching Love cook whether it’s in The Lonesome Dove’s open kitchen, or with Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, on Top Chef Masters, and on Iron Chef America. He’s sure to be an ACL Festival crowd pleaser (and palette pleaser) for years to come too.

After several weeks of intense competition, five talented artists will make the trip to Austin’s legendary Antone’s Nightclub for The Sound & The Jury final showdown. The big prize? A chance to perform on the Dell stage at ACL Festival. Fan votes and the judges will determine which act has the right stuff to put their name on this year’s Festival lineup. You can’t vote if you don’t show up for this free show.

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 30. Doors at 7pm.

WHERE:
Antone’s Nightclub

WHO:
Check out the acts that made the final cut: Andrew Tinker, The Bright Light Social Hour, Erin Austin, Mobley, and The Bubbles

1. PREP FOR FALL WEATHER IN TEXAS

   Drink water like it’s August. Look for free water fountains throughout Zilker Park. Slather on sunscreen early and re-apply often. Cool off in front of the cooling fans at Mr. Mister, Sister Mister, and Zilker Beach. And in case Mother Nature adds some showers to the weekend, consider schlepping your rain gear along. Find out where you can hydrate, cool off, and freshen up on the 2009 Festival map.

2. 3 TIMES THE BOX OFFICE FUN!

   1. The Zilker box office is open. Beat the rush and redeem your 3-day pass for a wristband early at the ACL Festival Box Office at Zilker Park (located on Barton Springs Road across from the main Festival entrance). The Box Office is open Monday – Thursday from 3pm – 8pm. On show days, go straight to either Festival entrance to redeem your 3-day pass for a wristband.
   2. Flying into Austin? Pick-up your luggage and redeem your 3-day pass for a wristband at Baggage Claim at ABIA. Stop by the ACL Airport Box Office at the west end of baggage claim (near Carousel 1) on Thursday 10/1, noon – 8pm, or Friday 10/2, 10am – 4pm.
   3. Riding the free shuttle to the festival? On Friday 10/2 between 10am – 8pm, you can redeem your 3-day pass for a wristband at our Republic Square Box Office.

3. DO THIS. DON’T DO THAT.

   Don’t show up at Zilker Park with metal aerosol sunscreen bottles or your two-foot, 800mm camera lens and find out you can’t bring them into the show. Get prepared in advance! Peruse the ACL Festival FAQs for allowed and prohibited items, re-entry/ins & outs details, and other need to knows.

4. GETTING TO AND FROM ZILKER PARK

   There is no car parking around the Festival grounds, so try one of the below options. And remember, don’t park in nearby neighborhoods.

   • Free Shuttles run non-stop from 10am to 11pm for all three days of the Festival. Board at Republic Square (4th and Guadalupe) and get dropped off at the Barton Springs entrance. When you’re finished rocking, take a return trip.
   • Bike down to the Festival and lock up your wheels on the free racks near either entrance (please bring your own lock). If you need parts or repair, stop by the Mellow Johnny’s Bike Station at both entrances for fix-ups, locks, lights, tubes, or any other last minute advice or gear.
   • Scooter parking is available off Robert E. Lee in the Barton Springs Pool parking lot. That’s right…it pays to be hip. Maybe next year we’ll make spots for fixies.
   • Pedestrian pick-up/drop-off is located on Stephen F. Austin Drive at the north end of the Mopac footbridge. From there it’s a short walk across the MoPac footbridge to the Lady Bird Lake Festival entrance.
   • Taxis pick-up/drop-off on William Barton, just south of Barton Springs. Share a lift with friends or strangers!

5. PITCH IN, ROCK & RECYCLE, AND WIN

   Take part in designated eco-mindful activities before and during the Festival. Not only does it make you feel warm & fuzzy, you’ll also be rewarded with cool gear like a collectible ACL t-shirt. Plus, the chance to win a brand spanking new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid! Find out how you can join the Rock & Recycle revolution.

6. MIND THE CHAIR-FREE ZONES

   Please do not bring your folding chairs inside the designated Chair-Free Zones in front of the stages. Patrons, Security and Emergency Personnel must have room to move. You can lounge anywhere else on site. You can even drop off your bag or folding chair at the free American Airlines Bag & Chair Check (next to the Lady Bird Lake entrance) when you want to move up close to a stage, or just want to offload some weight.

7. 3 WAYS TO STAY PLUGGED-IN & MOBILE AT ACL FESTIVAL

   1. Download the official iPhone app
   2. Sign up for Text Alerts: Text ACL to 44264
   3. Join in on the Photo-to-Screen fun in Zilker! Get your photos up on the Festival Jumbotrons and website. The best shots will win super sweet prizes (can you say VIP upgrades?) Keep your eyes on the big screens for daily calls for photos.

8. AUSTIN EATS & ARTS

   Austin favorites are slinging their fares at the Austin Eats Food Court and selling their wares at the SoCo Art Market. See what’s on this year’s menu. And discover which local shops will be setting-up in Zilker Park.

9. KNOW THE AUTOGRAPH SCHEDULE

   Waterloo Records, right next to the Festival Store, will be hosting signing sessions with dozens of ACL artists like Phoenix, Girl Talk, Coheed & Cambria, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Passion Pit, Michael Franti, and many more. They’ll have the sharpie. You’ll have to get the schedule.

10. 3 PRIME SHADE GRABBING SPOTS

    Want to take a quick break between sets? Try any or all of these places:

    1. Grab a seat and a cool drink, while you catch the weekend football games at Rock Island Hideaway.
    2. Kick back and cool off under the misting stations at one of the most popular chill zones in the park, the H-E-B Zilker Beach.
    3. Take a load off at a tree-shaded picnic table with sudsy brew at the Barton Springs Beer Garden featuring Heineken.

11. KEEP YOUR GEAR SECURE, OR VISIT LOST & FOUND

    Only bring the stuff you really need to the park and be sure to lock it up. Every year reveling fans loose valuable keepsakes in the throes of the show. Wearing your red pleather “Beat It” jacket is not only a lovely homage to MJ, its plentiful zippered pockets might just save the day. Lost & Found is located at the Info Centers, if you need it.

Have more questions? Head over to our handy FAQs section for more answers.

Sure did. If you’re bringing your iPhone to Zilker Park, we’ve got the App for you. Download the Festival’s free iPhone App to help guide you through your weekend. You’ll be able to create a custom schedule, or synch with your custom schedule from aclfestival.com; peruse the map; check out artist bios and music; and even raise the built-in lighter high into the air when the music moves you.

Search for “ACL Festival” in the App Store or download it here:

Download the app>>

Want to make it on the big screen at ACL? We’ve teamed up with T-Mobile to put our fans best shots on the big jumbotrons and ACLFestival.com throughout the Festival. To kick off our Photo to Screen program (and give you a little practice before the big gig), here’s what we need you to do:

1) Dig through your Festival photo archives for the best of these “Best” categories:

. Best ACL 08 Band Shot
. Best Austin Skyline Shot from ACL
. Best Mustache or Beard at ACL
. Best Shot of You & Your Friends at ACL

2) Send your top-notch ones to pics@aclfestival.com OR upload your photos to Flickr and tag them with “ACL Festival”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aclfestival (Tag your photos: ACL Festival)

3) Submission deadline: Monday, September 28 at the stroke of midnight

4) One talented shutterbug will win two VIPs to ACL Festival

Don’t fret if you don’t win this one! You’ll have multiple chances to submit your shots during the Festival (from your phone or via pics@aclfestival.com) for more chances at VIP tickets and international fame.

Be part of ACL Festival’s commitment to being kind to Zilker Park (and the planet) — our Rock & Recycle program. Take park in designated eco-mindful activities before and during the Festival. Not only does it feel great, you’ll also be rewarded with cool stuff like a collectible ACL Festival t-shirt and the chance to win a brand new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid! Find out how you can join the Rock & Recycle revolution >>

We’ve teamed up with Goom Radio to produce the official radio station for this year’s Festival. Tune in 24/7 to live, streaming music from artists rocking the 2009 lineup, and memorable performances from past Festivals.

Launch pop up

This week we are giving 2 lucky fans the chance to meet The Avett Brothers at this year’s ACL Festival!

The lucky winners will also receive a copy of their new LP “I and Love and You” (Available now, CD to be released 9/29).

It’s easy to enter, here’s how to win:

1. Check out The Avett Brothers ACL Band Bio

2. Post a comment telling us why you think they rock (don’t forget to publish it to your Facebook page) by Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:59 PM CST

3. On Monday we will randomly select 2 lucky winners and announce them on our social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace).

Good Luck!