Proof that we really did go to Austin City Limits!
Logan here.
As we wrap up October of 2026 on this Halloween, I want to talk about a topic some might find scary: music festivals. That’s right! Crowds, loud music, the Texas heat, merch prices, parking (or lack thereof), not to mention the price of admission. If you’re like me, thinking about all those components together stresses you out. Others of you may live for the experience and plan your whole weekend around how much great music you can see. Sometimes, you go for one band, and in spite of the stress and preparation it takes to see that one show, it turns into one of the most significant memories you’ll ever have. This is the story of Gia and I’s first time at Austin City Limits.
In middle and high school, I had lots of friends and classmates who would go to ACL Fest, year after year. While there was a part of me that certainly wanted to be included, I pretty much swore off ever trying to attend, for all the reasons mentioned above. Plus, and this is a pretty big one, I don’t know if you were aware—I’m disabled. (I know, quite the bombshell, right?). As I’ve explored in previous posts, my limited movement and wheelchair use means that I depend on others for transportation to and from events, and while I use my power wheelchair at home and for work, the majority of my outings have to be done in my manual chair, due to terrain and space available in the car. For events like concerts, I have to be familiar with things before I commit my time and money. Is the venue wheelchair accessible? Is there handicap parking nearby, or how can I get safely dropped off? I’ve had to forego some shows and events that I would’ve loved to attend but couldn’t due to some of those logistical issues. There’s a degree of research and planning required if I really want to make a concert.
If you’ve known me or followed me on social media very long, you know that one of my all-time favorite bands is a duo called twenty one pilots. (Yes, I realize it’s in lowercase, that’s part of their brand). I became a fan in high school after hearing songs like Stressed Out and Ride off of their album Blurryface, which has sold multi-million copies globally. The more I explored of their music, the more I got hooked because, as cliché as this might sound, it was unlike anything I had heard musically. It combined genres like pop, electronic, reggae, rap, and even folk in a way that really fascinated me. Not to mention, the deeper I dove into the lyrics and reading about Tyler and Josh, the two band members, I learned that they are Christians, and faith is a constant theme across all their albums, particularly as it relates to hope in the midst of depression, anxiety, and self-doubt. They are also phenomenal storytellers, building a narrative world across their music, videos, the live shows, album covers, and even hidden websites and puzzles for fans to piece together. Being a fan of this band is a really unique experience, and they’ve meant a lot to me for a long time.
When Gia and I started talking, naturally it didn’t take me long to bring up twenty one pilots. She was very patient and would listen to me babble about my love for the band, the lore, and everything in between, but never got hooked. She liked a handful of songs I shared with her, but wasn’t a fan of their music for the most part. Until I took her to see their concert film, More Than We Ever Imagined, in February. Much to her dismay, the glimpse into their high-energy live performances and Tyler and Josh’s talent and friendship really changed her. She will be the first to tell you that concert film was what really turned her.
So, April rolls around and the lineup is released for this year’s ACL. I wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but then there they were, headlining acts for both weekends: twenty one pilots. I had seen them live once before, back in 2019, with my good friend and fellow fan, Isaiah, as a graduation present from my parents. Of course, I’d been hoping to see them again one day, and Gia and I had it on our relationship bucket list for a while, but I had my doubts that this was it. This was ACL, not their own show at a venue. All the typical questions sounded in my head: could my chair navigate the area? How much walking would Gia have to do? Would we drive ourselves or get a ride from my brother? Would spending that much money be worth it if we just plan to see one band? What happens when I need to use the restroom? I don’t want to use a Porta Potti! Yet, as Gia and I discussed, what rang the most true amidst all the uncertainty was the excitement at seeing one of our favorite bands together. Whatever barriers stood in our way, we could figure it out—together.
Fast forward to the weekend of October 11. While Gia and I are, above all else, pumped, there remained a level of stress and uncertainty. At this point, we’d committed to Gia driving us herself. Through research and communicating with festival staff, we understood that there was first-come, first-serve accessible parking and seating, so we were going to brave it as the two of us. Since Gia was doing all the driving and handling our stuff, my responsibility was to figure out the parking situation, and I was determined to do everything I could to get to the festival seamlessly. I put together notes in my phone with routes from my house to the supposed ADA lot, (down to latitude and longitude, mind you!) as well as backup routes to parking garages and the shuttle system. We were hopeful in my findings and I was grateful to take a load off Gia’s shoulders. However, as we found out, my meticulous planning wasn’t perfect.
As we neared what I thought was our destination, we were relatively close to Zilker, but it was routing to streets and unmarked fields. We turned around and eventually moved to our backup plan: find a parking garage, then the shuttle. As often happens, I was feeling stressed and like I had failed my one job. I apologized over and over, and Gia met me with so much patience and grace, assuring me that we were doing our best, especially as we were both first-time ACL attendees. We passed a couple of very far away and expensive parking garages, many confusing signs, until finally we found a handicap garage space and crossed the street to the shuttle. We crossed and a modified van with a ramp quickly pulled up to us, offering us a ride as part of a volunteer-based, free service offered to disabled festival goers. Praise God for accessible vans with A/C! The very kind and helpful driver took us to the elusive ADA lot we had read so much about. From there, we were picked up not with another van but a golf cart! Yes, an accessible golf cart with a ramp, where my chair could slide right up into the passenger side and Gia had a seat behind me. The golf cart driver took us to the entrance, and we were finally at the festival!
We met up with a friend of ours, Laya, who is a seasoned ACL and concert veteran. She hung out with us, took photos and walked with us. Through the heat, hunger and exhaustion, Gia pushed me uphill, found us a spot to sit and rest, and, God bless that woman, she helped me in and out of the Porta Potti before our show. We made our way to a pair of seats in the accessible viewing area, which was far back enough from the stage to avoid the crowd but close enough for a great view! It was no surprise to us that the show itself was so much fun. We sang at the top of our lungs, anxiously waited to figure out what the next song would be on the setlist, watched Tyler and Josh perform on top of the crowd, (yes, you read that right) and cried out to God in worship along with them, particularly with their closing song, Trees. It was a really sweet experience that you just have to see for yourself.
When the show was over, we headed back in the dark, amongst the festival crowd, Gia once again being such a pro navigator. Though we were in a line of people headed back towards the shuttle, the two of us were able to take a separate pathway to the lot. Once we were back there, a staffperson told us we’d need to wait about 10 minutes and apologized profusely, but considering we could’ve been in that line for eternity, we were fine. In fact, we waited merely two minutes before another van picked us up and got us back to our car.
Going to ACL was easily one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Gia and I were literally in unknown territory, and I can’t sing her praises enough. She emboldened and empowered me to experience it all, because she would be by my side through it all. She planned, prepped, packed and pushed, and even when my preparation fell through, God provided. We were able to laugh, sing, cry, creating a memory for just the two of us. Gia knows that life with me means facing my limitations together, but she doesn’t shy away from the trial. One or both of us may get stressed out but we push on through. In the face of my limitations, we find joy.