ACL 2012 Rumors: 10 Bands That Could Make the Cut (No, Not Radiohead)

Photo by Clara Balzary/ redhotchilipeppers.com

The Chili Peppers have a good chance of being ACL headliners this year.

Before we begin, Radiohead is in Europe for the duration of this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival. They will not fly 12 hours to play a field in Austin.

Ah, it just wouldn't be May without ACL rumors running rampant. Rocks Off is guilty every year of stoking the fire, sometimes just one day after we all get back from the last one.

It begins every year around this time, in the lull after SXSW, before Free Press Summer Fest and just as the summer concert season begins pulling itself together as road packages get announced for the bigger venues.

It's a tradition now to handicap who will play ACL, which this year is slated for October 12-14 in Austin's Zilker Park, and as always we will get shit wrong and be way off on some if not all the names on the bill.

For one, we will bet cold hard cash (at least a few bucks) that burgeoning Austin blues institution Gary Clark Jr. will be at ACL. He has become a rock-solid festival draw and he slays crowds.

What about our locals who are getting more national acclaim, like Robert Ellis and Buxton? They aren't bad picks either to play a smaller stage at Zilker. Both acts look to be clear that week so far. Right, dudes?

Red Hot Chili Peppers: A new album, I'm With You, came last August and was a bit of a non-starter, though they can still sell out arenas including Toyota Center. The Chili Peppers seem festival-ready, and they have nothing on their plates around this time in their schedule, save for Houston and San Antonio dates. Not only that, they fit in perfectly with ACL's college-age demo and older folks who remember listening to Blood Sugar Sex Magik on cassette.

Photo by Craig Hlavaty

Foo Fighters: They last played ACL in October 2008, so they are due back, and they should be winding down the cycle for last year's Wasting Light by the fall if not earlier.

No Doubt: A new album hits September 25, and they are now working on a second generation of fans who are rediscovering their breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom, which turns 17 years old this year. You read that right.

Animal Collective: A new album, a warm relationship with Austin and a large fan base could make this happen. Expect at least a late-afternoon Technicolor display, or even an afterparty at Stubb's across town.

Muse: The trio is supposed to be turning in a new record this fall, and they have been off the road for a few years now, at least in the States. Their turn at ACL '07 solidified their headliner status, filling in for the White Stripes.

Jack White: Speaking of the Stripes, a Jack White solo set isn't so farfetched, either. Blunderbuss is a fun album, and I wanna hear it live. Too bad the line at his SXSW showcase was three hours long.

Florence + the Machine There haven't been many female headliners at ACL, and F&M would be a perfect fit. All those robes and shit.

Ryan Adams: Please, at least for me? I mean, with a wife like Mandy Moore, I wouldn't be too thrilled about getting on the road and being around farting dudes and roadies, either.