With a lot of other commotion going on Saturday at Austin City Limits like alt-country, indie rock, hip hop and electro-pop, it could be easy to miss the multitude of sounds coming from the Dell stage....

UT game + ACL Fest + Ike evacuees = a hard time finding a hotel or motel room for this weekend. FEMA setting up a disaster center off of 12th Street to help Ike evacuees register for aid. Rep. McCaul won't participate in a debate (hosted by the Statesman) with the two other candidates running for his current position in the House. Former staffers from Ron Kirk's Senate campaign now working for Obama. Stevie Ray Vaughan not chosen for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Bobbie Lee Nelson on playing with brother Willie and releasing her first solo album at the age of 77....

This year, ACL Fest is hosting quite a few official after parties and shows, featuring the talents of Gnarls Barkley, Manu Chao, the Butthole Surfers, Conor Oberst, Bill Callahan and Jose Gonzalez just to name a few....

A brief glance at Charles Attal's calendar reveals some Austin City Limits festival after-shows and ticket information. Several shows are on the books, including performances by Jaime Lidell and Heartless Bastards on Friday night (Parish, Emo's, respectively) and a huge triple ticket featuring Conor Oberst, M Ward and Jenny Lewis on Sunday night at La Zona Rosa. Saturday night is mysteriously quiet aside from a Car Stereo (Wars) performance that indicates an inter/national name will be filling the venue (Emo's) later in the evening. Local DJ Car Stereo (Wars) will also be at Emo's Friday night, warming the crowd for Drive By Truckers and many more. ...

The ACL and Dell Lounge sponsored Sound & the Jury contest is already underway. Bands are submitting their applications for registration through August 22, using their social networking online and off to promote their participation. Fans vote online to keep their favorites in the competition, and at the end of it all a lucky winner takes the stage at ACL. For more information or to submit your band to the contest, visit the Sound &......

This morning, Austin City Limits Festival organizers released the schedule for 2008. The lineup, featuring acts like Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Spiritualized, Foo Fighters, Beck and Manu Chao, is notable this year thanks to its extremely strong middle section (the "heat of the day" section, as we like to call it) and offers acts like MGMT, Patty Griffin, Hot Chip and Duffy, as well as two quip-worthy local acts, Okkervil River and White Denim. ...

It's official: Foo Fighters, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and John Fogerty take top billing along with Beck, Manu Chao, David Byrne, The Raconteurs, The Mars Volta, Gnarls Barkley, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, N.E.R.D., Erykah Badu, Robert Earl Keen, and Parry Griffin rounding out tier one. ...

ACL Fest lineup to be announced April 15. Rodney Reed's lawyers argued before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today. New federal study will figure the environmental impact of coal plants north of Austin. Texas Monthly publisher upset over new City Manager's appointment to head EMS. Wildfire in the Valley covers 25,000 acres and causes hundreds of people to evacuate their homes....

Looks like ACL Fest organizers have chosen Groundhog Day to release their mildly discounted multi-passes. 3-day passes priced at $150 including service charges are on sale now at ACLFest.com. ...