Barton Hills Choir at ACL Fest: A Tradition Since 2009
For more than a decade and a half, the Barton Hills Choir has brought the voices of neighborhood elementary-school students to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, one of the world’s best-known music festivals. What began as an extraordinary opportunity for a newly formed choir has become a recurring part of the ACL experience, shaped by founder and director Gavin Tabone’s vision, arrangements, musicianship and sustained commitment to giving young singers a place on a major festival stage.
From its 2009 debut through the 2026 festival, BHC has appeared in 14 different in-person festival years, including performances by current students and returning alumni. The Choir also contributed to the virtual ACL Fest in 2020. This page brings together the performances, musicians, set lists, photographs and videos preserved in the BHC archives.
From the Music Room to ACL Fest
Tabone began developing his children’s rock-choir concept while teaching music at Palm Elementary School in 2000. His approach introduced elementary-school students to a wide range of musical styles, from rock, pop and soul to folk, country and beyond, while giving young singers opportunities to perform with professional musicians.
When Tabone transferred to Barton Hills Elementary in 2009, an invitation to perform at ACL Fest had already been extended while he was still teaching at Palm. In May 2009, he recruited the first members of the new Barton Hills Choir, who rehearsed throughout the summer alongside students from his Palm Elementary choir to prepare for the October festival appearance. The newly created BHC website became an important part of that preparation, serving as the online repository for the lyrics and recordings the students needed to learn.
Rather than allow his move to Barton Hills to deprive the Palm students of an opportunity that had developed while he was still their teacher, Tabone brought the two groups together for the performance. On October 2, 2009, students from the newly formed Barton Hills Choir joined Tabone’s Palm Elementary choir for BHC’s first major public performance—at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park, just a short walk from the Barton Hills Elementary music room. The occasion also attracted local television attention, with choir members interviewed for a KEYE-TV evening news report, footage of which appears in the multi-camera video of the 2009 performance.
The Musicians Behind the Choir
Tabone directs the Choir, creates its arrangements and performs on keyboards. The Choir is supported by a talented group of experienced professional musicians who generously volunteer countless hours rehearsing and performing with the students. Over the years, these dedicated collaborators have included Jake “Mr. Bubbles” Perlman, Don “El Cento” Cento, Aaron “Hair Doctor” Dembe, Jason “Mr. Boom-Boom” Brint and others. These longtime musicians received their affectionate nicknames from Choir members in its early years, and the names have become part of the Choir’s tradition.
Guest artists and additional players have helped make individual festival years distinctive. Where documented, the musicians for each performance are listed below.
Special Guests and Collaborators
Guest performers have helped shape some of the Choir’s most memorable ACL appearances. Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian joined BHC in 2014, and the Choir also participated in Belle & Sebastian’s own second-weekend set. Austin singer Nakia performed with BHC on both weekends in 2016. In 2017, guitarists Charlie Sexton and David Grissom joined on the first and second weekends, respectively. Andy Harn took lead vocals and rhythm guitar for the Beatles-focused 2018 shows.
From One Generation to the Next
Each festival appearance represents months of preparation, an ambitious repertoire and the contributions of students, families, teachers, musicians, photographers and volunteers. The return of BHC alumni in recent years has added another dimension to the tradition: singers who first performed at the festival as elementary-school students can return to the ACL stage years later.
Barton Hills Choir at ACL Fest: 2009–2026
The following chronology brings together BHC videos, photographs, contemporary posts, set lists and archival records. Click the triangles below to explore performance set lists, musicians, credits and links to additional media, including reviews, photographs and videos. The archive also includes official ACL Festival lineup posters identifying Barton Hills Choir among the participating artists, when available.
Song credits identify the recording artists most closely associated with each selection, rather than necessarily the composers or original performers. Where the exact performance sequence could not be confirmed, the songs are listed as documented repertoire rather than a definitive setlist.
| Year | Austin City Limits Music Festival: Highlights, Setlists, Photos, Videos & Archives |
|---|---|
| 2009 |
October 2 The newly formed Barton Hills Choir and students from Gavin Tabone’s Palm Elementary choir made their ACL Fest debut together—the first major public performance by BHC.  Watch the complete 2009 ACL Festival performance (multiple cameras) Performance set list
Band & Performers
Credits & Media
2009 ACL Rehearsal Video Archive These seven restored videos offer a unique look at the Choir’s beginnings during the summer of 2009, as students prepared for their first major public performance at the world-famous Austin City Limits Music Festival, held within walking distance of their music room at Barton Hills Elementary. BHC parent Jeff Clarkson assembled a DVD from footage of multiple rehearsal sessions and the Choir’s ACL Festival performance. Video footage was recorded by Lynn Williamson and Jeff Clarkson.
|
| 2011 |
September 16 The Choir returned to ACL with a wide-ranging repertoire of rock, pop and soul. Stevie Wonder’s appearance as a 2011 festival headliner inspired the inclusion of his “Sir Duke” in the set list.  Watch “California Dreamin’” at ACL Festival Documented repertoire (performance order unconfirmed)
Band & Performers
Credits & Media
|
| 2013 |
October 4 and 11 BHC appeared on both festival weekends for the first time. With Muse and Wilco among the 2013 ACL headliners, the Choir built a program that included four Muse songs and two Wilco songs, alongside selections by Daft Punk, Queen, the Beach Boys and others.  Watch the 2013 ACL Fest Day 1 performance Performance set list
Band & Performers
Credits & Media
|
| 2014 |
October 3 and 10 Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian joined the Choir on both weekends. During Weekend 2, BHC also joined Belle & Sebastian’s separate festival set to perform “Mayfly” and “Me and the Major.”  Watch Barton Hills Choir’s 2014 ACL Festival performance (Weekend 2) Documented set list
Band & Performers
Credits & Media
|
| 2015 |
October 2 and 9 With the Foo Fighters headlining both weekends of the 2015 Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Barton Hills Choir incorporated several of the band’s songs into its ACL program, including “Times Like These,” “Big Me,” “This Is a Call” and “Learn to Fly.” The Choir performed both weekends, with Jake Perlman on drums for Weekend 1 and Johnny Duran for Weekend 2.  Watch BHC sing Foo Fighters at ACL Music Festival Documented repertoire (performance order unconfirmed)
Band & PerformersBoth weekends
Weekend 1
Weekend 2
Credits & Media
|
| 2016 |
September 30 and October 8 Austin singer-songwriter Nakia joined BHC for both festival weekends. Ahead of the first performance, Austin American-Statesman music critic Peter Blackstock included Nakia & the Barton Hills Choir among his recommended ACL acts, citing Choral Director magazine’s description of BHC as “the coolest elementary show choir ever.” The second weekend added “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” to the program.  Watch BHC perform “Twistin’ the Night Away” — 2016 ACL Festival, Weekend 2 Weekend 1 set list
Weekend 2 set list
Band & PerformersBoth weekends
Weekend 1
Weekend 2
Credits & Media
|
| 2017 |
October 6 and 14 Two celebrated Austin guitarists joined the Choir on different weekends: Charlie Sexton for Weekend 1 and David Grissom for Weekend 2.  Watch the October 6 performance with Charlie Sexton Weekend 1 documented repertoire (order unconfirmed)
Weekend 2 documented selection (not a complete set list)
Band & PerformersWeekend 1
Weekend 2
Credits & Media
|
| 2018 |
October 5 and 13 Inspired by Paul McCartney’s headline appearance at the 2018 Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Barton Hills Choir prepared a Beatles-themed program for its own ACL performances. With Andy Harn on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, the Choir tackled one of its most ambitious arrangements: the closing medley from the Beatles’ Abbey Road. The Choir performed the same set with the same backing band on both festival weekends.  Watch BHC perform the Abbey Road medley at ACL Festival Performance set list
Band & Performers
Credits & Media
|
| 2019 |
October 4 and 12 The Barton Hills Choir once again drew inspiration from the festival’s headline performers in 2019. With Tame Impala, The Cure and Guns N’ Roses appearing at ACL Fest, the Choir included “Disciples,” “Friday I’m in Love” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” in its program, alongside favorites by Stevie Wonder, the Flaming Lips, Wilco and Muse. The same program was performed on both weekends.  Watch BHC perform “Sir Duke” at ACL Festival Documented repertoire (performance order unconfirmed)
Band & Performers
Credits & Media |
| 2020 |
Virtual ACL Fest With no in-person ACL Festival that year, BHC contributed a remotely produced video performance of “Race for the Prize” and “Kamera.” This virtual appearance is included in the archive but is not counted among the Choir’s in-person festival years.  Watch BHC’s video for ACL Fest 2020 Virtual performance
Band & Performers
Credits & Media |
| 2022 |
October 8 and 15 BHC returned to the in-person festival with an Elvis medley and songs associated with the Monkees, Queen, the Beatles, the Go-Go’s and Culture Club. Weekend 2 added “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”  Watch BHC perform “Coal Miner’s Daughter” at ACL Festival Weekend 1 set list
Weekend 2 repertoire
Band & Performers
Credits & Media
|
| 2023 |
October 7 and 14 With the Foo Fighters headlining both weekends of the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Barton Hills Choir included the band’s “Times Like These” in its set list. The Choir performed on October 7 and 14, continuing its tradition of incorporating music by the festival’s headline artists into its own performances.  Watch BHC perform “Times Like These” at 2023 ACL Festival Documented set list
Band & Performers
|
| 2024 |
October 5 (current Choir) and October 12 (alumni) The current Choir sang on the first weekend; BHC alumni returned for the second. Both groups performed the same program, which closed with a selection from the Beatles’ Abbey Road medley.  Watch BHC perform “Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End” Both weekends — set list
Band & PerformersBoth weekends
Credits & Media
|
| 2025 |
October 4 (current Choir) and October 11 (alumni) The Strokes were among the headliners at the 2025 Austin City Limits Music Festival, inspiring the Barton Hills Choir to include their song “Taken for a Fool” in its program. The Choir performed on October 4, followed by a performance with BHC alumni on October 11, continuing a tradition that brings former Choir members back to the ACL stage.  Watch BHC perform “Taken for a Fool” at ACL Festival Both weekends — set list
Band & PerformersWeekend 1
Weekend 2
Credits & Media
|
| 2026 |
October 3 (current Choir); October 10 (alumni) The current Choir performed on October 3, opening with the Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street.” BHC alumni returned to the ACL stage on October 10. The same seven-song set list and backing band were used for both weekends.  Watch BHC open its 2026 ACL performance with “Shakedown Street” Set list — both weekends (October 3 and 10)
Band & Performers — both weekends (October 3 and 10)
Credits & Media |
This page is an evolving archive. As additional set lists, photographs, recordings and firsthand recollections become available, they can be added to the appropriate year. Additional documentation of the October 10, 2026 alumni performance may be added as it becomes available.
Loading ...
Recent Comments