As we started to prepare for our first ever visit to Austin City Limits, easily one of the most famed music festivals in the world, we were a bit stunned by the number of choices that we’re going to have to make when it comes to who we’ll be seeing. 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of this iconic event and the crew with C3 have pulled of yet another brilliant lineup to commemorate the occasion. Scheduled for October 12th – 14th, ACL is set to take place in Zilker Park in downtown Austin, Texas, and will be home to over 100 bands from around the world, cuisine styled by the attentive palate of Jeffery Blank, and as many vendors and booths as one could ever want. All this comes only a short time after the C3 crew announced plans to add another weekend to the 2013 lineup, meaning double the fun… While tickets to the fest are already sold-out (sorry), if you’re a college or high school student, you can volunteer some of your time in exchange for a weekend that you’ll always remember. Check out their site for details. In the meantime, we’ve put together a list of our 12 favorite acts on the 2012 lineup (who won’t be co-headlining, of course), as well as a playlist of tracks we’d suggest listening to for prep work. See you in Austin!

(in chronological order)

#1 – Los Campesinos – FRIDAY – 12:30pm @ Bud Light Stage

#2 – First Aid Kit – FRIDAY – 1:15pm @ Honda Stage

#3 – Patrick Watson – FRIDAY – 1:30pm @ Barton Springs Stage

#4 – Alabama Shakes – FRIDAY – 5:30pm @ Barton Springs Stage

#5 – The Deep Dark Woods – SATURDAY – 11:45am @ Barton Springs Stage

#6 – Dry The River – SATURDAY – 2:00pm @ Austin Ventures Stage

#7 – Gardens & Villa – SATURDAY – 2:00pm @ BMI Stage

#8 – Father John Misty – SATURDAY – 3:15pm @ Austin Ventures Stage

#9 – The Features – SUNDAY – 11:30am @ Honda Stage

#10 – Kopecky Family Band – SUNDAY – 12:20pm @ Austin Ventures Stage

#11 – Lera Lynn – SUNDAY – 2:15pm @ BMI Stage

#12 – Bad Books – SUNDAY – 3:45pm @ Austin Ventures Stage

TheBlueIndian.com’s ACL 2012 Playlist

1. He’s My Brother She’s My Sister – “Clackin’ Heels”
2. Quiet Corral – “Lonely Company”
3. Patrick Watson – “Adventures In Your Own Backyard”
4. The War on Drugs – “Brothers”
5. The Black Lips – “Family Tree”
6. Quiet Company – “You, Me & the Boatman”
7. Native Run – “Give Me Your Heart”
8. Bombay Bicycle Club – “Shuffle”
9. Big K.R.I.T. – “Country Shit”
10. Kishi Bashi – “Manchester”
11. Kopecky Family Band  – “Little Sister”
12. Freelance Whales – “Enzymes”
13. Lera Lynn – “Wolf Like Me (TV on the Radio”
14. The Lumineers – “Ho Hey”
15. Barrington Levy – “Murderer”