A recent Reddit thread in r/aclfestival has brought back vivid memories of the infamous 2009 Austin City Limits Festival, now commonly dubbed the "Mudfest." Festival-goers shared photos and stories from that year’s Cactus-shaped grounds, where heavy rains and mud defined the experience.
Highlights from the Reddit discussion:
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Year Confirmed as 2009: Numerous commenters confirmed the timeline and recalled losing shoes to thick Texas mud that plagued the site.
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Dillo Dirt Controversy: A user explained that the festival’s lawn was treated with Dillo Dirt — a compost mix that includes sewage sludge — as fertilizer before the event, which contributed to health concerns. Some attendees reported skin and eye irritations after contact with the mud. (PR Watch coverage)
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Community Fallout: Local residents chimed in on the burden of cleaning up muddy pool water and other fallout from festival visitors trying to wash off the grime.
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Great Lawn Resodded—Then Ruined: 2009 was the first year the ACL site’s Great Lawn had been freshly re-sodded, but the muddy arrivals quickly ruined the new grass. (Pollstar article)
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Nostalgia & Humor: Festival fans reminisced about skipping school, embracing the distinct smell, and the gritty communal vibe that only a mud-soaked music fest can create.
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Weekend Tips: One longtime attendee advised choosing Weekend 1 over Weekend 2 in subsequent ACL years to avoid the muddier conditions from heavy rain and foot traffic.
Visually, the flood of photos depicts crowds sprawled out on soggy lawns in lawn chairs, some barefoot or sporting caked-on mud, perfectly encapsulating the unique atmosphere of ACL 2009’s muddy chaos.
This festival lore now stands as a defining moment in ACL’s history—and a cautionary tale shaping festival groundcare and attendee expectations alike.
Source: r/aclfestival