ACL 2010 Bullets (9/21/10): Apps, Tips and More Ticket Giveaways

• The official ACL festival website just released iPhone and Android apps. "Plan your Custom Schedule (or sync with your saved schedule on our website), check out bios & videos from this year’s artists, navigate the park with the Festival Map, update your peeps on Facebook and Twitter, and much more." Free too. Details on the ACL website.
• More interested in music? The ACL website has also been profiling this year's performers in its weekly "Discover" series of posts. This week both Sonic Youth and The Temper Trap are featured. Sonic Youth has been, the profile reminds, "consistent without becoming complacent or annoyingly self-referencing for almost thirty years now." Lydia Simmons, meanwhile, makes a convincing case that Australia's The Temper Trap is more than a one-hit wonder (“Sweet Disposition” has been featured in movie (500) Days of Summer and on TV in both shows and ads from some pretty big companies).
• In other news from the big guys, the Austin American Statesman's Austin360.com came out with its ACL Fest 2010 staff picks yesterday. There's a split opinion on the debate between The Soft Pack and Those Darlins. Regarding The Soft Pack, Joe Gross calls the band's music "Anthemic" and "perfect for jumping up and down before it gets too hot (or too wet)." On the other hand, Michael Corcoran casts his vote for Those Darlins, warning that the stage banter may be a matter of taste, but "when they kick in with their country garage rock it's magic." Check it the whole set of picks in slide show format.
• Yet one more way to get into this year's festival. Another Statesman product, All Ablog Austin, reports that the Statesman is giving away a pair of 3-day passes. Just "like" the Statesman Facebook page, then comment or "like" some piece(s) of content. Shazam! You're entered in a drawing. Bonus for active participants: Each time you provide feedback constitutes a separate entry. Share your opinion and increase your chances of winning! Deadline for entries is midnight 10/3. Full Rules.
• I have already chimed in that Friday is the most loaded day. Want help for Saturday? Austin Girl Music Guide tells you what bands to see, starting at 11:20 AM with Balmorhea. Too early? C'mon, make like an Austinite and grab a breakfast taco and a cup of good coffee, brush off last night and head to Zilker.
• If you think you can't come to ACL if you have kids, think again. Not only should you be doing your required duty as a good parent and introducing your children to the joys of good music and concertgoing early, but there are lots of ways to have fun with your kids at ACL. As long as you're willing to sip the fight for real estate close to the big stages, there's plenty of room to spread out and picnic. There are a few spots here and there that are comfortably big enough for frisbee and the like. Most importantly, there's Austin Kiddie Limits, ACL's stage that always has the young set first in mind. This year, kids music blog Zooglobble plans to be there to document the fun.
• Similar to my "matchup" posts of the past, Austin Town Hall has its view on some "ACL Battles." Read now about a tough four-way battle: LCD Soundsystem/Gogol Bordello/Monsters of Folk/David Bazan.
• Finally for today, Covert Curiosity shines the spotlight on one of the artists I'm planning to catch, Deadmau5. Check out the post for audio, video and a short bio on the mouse-helmeted electro-wizard.