ACL 2011 Bullets (9/6/11): Another Give-Away and a Few Band Profiles

Okay, we're getting seriously close folks.  Haven't been over to Zilker Park, but I suspect fences are being arranged and stages are being erected.  If you're going to ACL this year, you better be settling any big question marks out there, like who you're seeing when, what you're bringing, how you're planning to get around town, etc.  Information helps, right?  Here's our latest rundown of some news articles, blog posts and other murmurings about the upcoming festival.

• Wanna go to ACL and also a guitar lover? The nice folks at ACL are giving away a pretty sweet package, and it has a tie-in to rising Austin blues-rock guitar-slinger Gary Clark Jr.: "Take home a music lovers prize package from Austin’s own Gary Clark Jr. to remind you of ACL’s 10th anniversary! Enter to win: (1) A pair of 3-Day Passes; (2) A signed Epiphone Acoustic Guitar; and (3) A meet-and-greet with guitar virtuoso Gary Clark Jr.  All you have to do is add Gary Clark Jr. to your ACL Festival Custom Schedule schedule by 11:59M Sunday, September 11, 2011."  Ten runners-up will receive a signed copy of his latest release, The Bright Lights EP.  Gary Clark Jr. - Friday 9/16, 6:30 @ BMI Stage.
• Here's one from speaker company Bowers & Wilkins that's pretty cool, especially if you're a fan of Coldplay: "On September 16, 2011, three winners, each with one guest, will be among the first to listen to Coldplay’s upcoming album Mylo Xyloto (pronounced my-lo zy-letoe) and then attend their live performance at the Austin City Limits Festival. This exclusive sneak preview will allow winners to hear the album five weeks before the album’s official release in the U.S. on October 24, 2011. ...  Dying to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?  Register on the Bowers & Wilkins Facebook Page for the chance to win this VIP trip for two to Austin, Texas."  Coldplay - Sunday 9/18, 8:10 @ AMD Stage.
• The official ACL website's Artist Discovery Series had a recent addition from Culture Map - Austin.  Caitlin Ryan profiles Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.: "[W]hat you’ll find on their full length It’s a Corporate World are fantastic harmonies on “God Only Knows,” grunge guitars on “Morning Thought,” and philosophical talk on “Skeletons.” See? Surprising breadth for a “pop” band out of Detroit (who knew those two things went together). ... So if you want to have a lighthearted time and momentarily forget the woes of the world in its present state, check out the guys who were called one of the “best new bands” of 2010 from the likes of Stereogum, SPIN, Under the Radar, Real Detroit, The Metro Times and others. You’ll smile, you’ll sway, and you’ll appreciate the effort they put into making sure the crowd has a damn good time."  Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Sunday 9/18, 1:30 @ Honda Stage.
• Lots of people want to know which up-and-comping, lesser known artists are worth checking out at ACL.  Going to see some of the "smaller" acts is often a good way to avoid crowds and the associated frustrations.  Here's Jeff Pollack of Huffington Post with three recommendations -- Foster the People, Young the Giant, and Empire of the Sun: "Empire of the Sun is a difficult band to describe if you've never experienced them. They are an electro-pop duo from Australia who hit it big Down Under with their first single, 'Walking On A Dream' in 2008. We were a little slower to catch on Stateside, but Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore have hit the festival circuit hard this year and with a fantastic stage show, they've definitely made their mark. For a better sense of Empire's mix of catchy electronic music and theatrics, look up a few of their music videos (I would recommend 'Walking On A Dream' and 'We Are The People') and see if you're not tempted to see what these Aussies are like live." Foster the People - Friday 9/16, 5:30 @ Google+ Stage.  Young the Giant - Saturday 9/17, 2:00 @ AMD Stage.  Empire of the Sun - Sunday 9/18, 7:30 @ Google+ Stage.
• Ryan Lester of The Austinist interviews Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen, a band we've seen many times and always brings it.  Turns out Leithauser's worthy of consideration for honorary Austinite status: "I remember one year that I realized I’d spent something like 32 days in Austin, Texas. I couldn’t believe it because I’ve never lived there. We always end up there, and it’s really a major stop on the national tours. There’s a lot of stuff to do there for bands. We go there as much as any other much bigger city."  Catch The Walkman ACL Sunday, 2:30 at the AMD stage, and make sure to spend a bit of time watching dynamo drummer Matt Barrick.
• Elizabeth Seward of Gadling with some general tips: "ACL is crowded, but it's fun. But keep the crowded thing in mind. Plan accordingly. If you have anxiety and think you may need to bring your medication, I suggest you do. It's also going to be hot. HOT. Very hot. Prepare for the heat and sun in every way you know how. I saw a girl passed out cold last year from what I bet was drug or alcohol related, but the heat certainly didn't help. Don't let that be you this year. Prepare."
• Finally, a couple of new videos posted to the ACLfestival Youtube channel: