Hot! Austin City Limits Music Festival

By Joe Gross as well as Peter Mongillo

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

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On Friday, the actual 10th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival begins in Zilker Park. For a few days, countless amounts with fans coming from Austin plus past will watch a lot more than 100 packages out of popular veterans (Stevie Wonder), take phenomenons (Kanye West) along with up-and-coming acts (Kurt Vile plus the Violators).

Most fans know ACL Fest, that is generated by Austin's C3 Presents, as among the event season's almost all sure-fire attractions, a new three-day weekend of music, sunshine (most with the time) and chicken cones that will sells away wintry every year. But this wasn't usually thus.

In 2002, ACL Fest ended up being the little festivity that will could, an overall total crapshoot from your gentleman which apply to illustrates at Stubb's, the route manager regarding Sister 7 and Lance Armstrong's agent. This will be the storyplot on the first nine years, on the people that managed to get happen.

Patrice Pike, Austin musician:"Charlie Jones seemed to be on excursion with (Pike's then-band) Sister 7 (as route manager) ahead of the festival started, and he would certainly consult me concerning exactly what he or she was envisioning. I don't forget him talking about the New Orleans Jazz plus Heritage Festival and the best way he possessed often wanted to do a happening that will was same for the reason that ?t had been very eclectic, lots of levels really huge normal park space."

Charlie Jones, co-founder involving C3 Presents, after that by using Capital Sports and Entertainment:"I was performing 101X stuff, had completed the particular millennium celebrations with the city and also had spent quite a while attempting to produce my expertise at their side since I definitely desired to do a strong experience-based festival. In 2001, my older business Middle Man merged along with (Lance Armstrong agent) Bill Stapleton's organization Capital Sports to form Capital Sports along with Entertainment."

Lisa Hickey C3 marketing director, in that case Jones' assistant:"He would move out and about on these types of goes all-around Barton Springs together with his puppy as well as envision the layout."

Charles Attal, C3 co-founder, after that travel connected with Charles Attal Presents:"Charlie Jones plus I were officing inside exact same building, within a small minor house, the idea could hardly have been 1,000 sq . feet, with Fifth Street alongside El Arroyo. It had been your pet and Lisa Hickey, me as well as Amy Corbin. We were being excellent buddies, but i was competitors."

Meanwhile, KLRU was attempting to understand how to handle it having " Austin City Limits ." It appeared to be this longest-running song exhibit on television, and it seemed to be time for you to tap your brand's equity.

Ed Bailey, advertising and marketing director, KLRU:"Around 2000, we had a strong desire at KLRU to produce manufacturer extensions for your TV series. We spoke of a festival, a small affair that transpired some element of the year or so where by most of us may possibly generate song outdoor inside the park, because now there have constantly been recently that mythology this `Austin City Limits' had also been opportunity inside a recreation area somewhere."

Though House of Blues have portrayed desire for working on a happening with KLRU, Stapleton suggested how the recently struck CSE - a regional company, in the end - receive a shot. KLRU agreed.

Bailey:"I strongly bear in mind your very first reaching once we many got with each other in order to mention this. Charlie (Jones) have a good marriage using the parks department, we all possessed a great relationship in general with the city. `Austin City Limits' has using some approaches been an outreach vehicle with the city for decades; it plays your role while in the thought of this Live Music Capital."

Attal:"Jones, your dog came up a single time plus said, `Hey, I'm doing a press conference in Zilker; I wish everyone to help take place and check out that out, and put upon some fine pants. Don't wear your T-shirt and also flip-flops.' I said OK, in addition to attended the actual press conference just to be able to test this out."

Bailey:"On April 30, 2002, we all honestly went down for you to Zilker Park and also set up a tiny step by using a number of ergonomic office chair on it, invited the actual mass media down, and also most people designed that announcement this `Austin City Limits' together with Capital Sports plus Entertainment was announcing the very first ever previously Austin City Limits Music Festival pertaining to Sept. twenty-eight along with 29."

Jones:"I asked two promoters; simply Attal showed up, so I requested your ex to figure along with me."

Attal:"I had never ordered a happening before. Amy and also I proved helpful on it night and day. Putting this together inside three days by using two people was a little bit nutty."