Jack Antonoff Supported James Talarico at ACL Festival
The musician wore a campaign shirt and played a video clip during his Saturday set at Zilker Park.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Alternative
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Should musicians use their concert performances to endorse political candidates?
Musician Jack Antonoff brought political support to the stage during the Austin City Limits Music Festival this weekend. He donned a shirt backing Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico before performing.
Why it matters
The appearance highlights the intersection of the city's marquee music festival and the ongoing Texas U.S. Senate race. Musicians performing in town often use their platform to signal support for local or state political figures during their sets.
The festival spanned two days of political and musical activity for the campaign, with James Talarico present on Friday followed by the on-stage endorsement on Saturday. Specific voter impact or engagement metrics from the event remain unmeasured.
The players
Jack Antonoff
The musician performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
James Talarico
He is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas.
The details
Jack Antonoff signaled his support for James Talarico during his musical performance on Saturday at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The musician changed into a shirt supporting the candidate before playing the song Stop Making This Hurt. Additionally, Antonoff displayed a short video clip featuring the U.S. Senate hopeful during his set. Talarico had previously attended the festival on Friday following time away from the campaign trail due to the flu.
Timeline
Friday, October 9, 2026: James Talarico attended the Austin City Limits festival.
Saturday, October 10, 2026: Jack Antonoff performed at the festival and displayed his support.
The Texas Context
This public endorsement ties the festival atmosphere directly to the ongoing 2026 Texas U.S. Senate election. The event follows a long precedent of artists using Zilker Park to influence voter awareness during major statewide races.
Festival attendees saw the endorsement during Saturday's set at Zilker Park. The candidate's presence at the grounds throughout the weekend provided a visible campaign presence for visitors.
The takeaway
The event underscores how national candidates leverage major Austin events to reach large, concentrated audiences. Keep an eye on local campaign schedules as candidates continue to appear at remaining public gatherings through the election cycle.
Further reading
You can find more coverage of the city's music scene on our Alternative section page.
Live Poll
Should musicians use their concert performances to endorse political candidates?
