Review: Ryan Beatty Sparks Dreamlike Performance at Austin City Limits Festival

Written by Isabella Navarro

At 5:50 p.m., under gloomy skies and drizzling rain, Ryan Beatty emerged on the Beatbox stage in black jeans, a black long-sleeve shirt, and Ray-Ban sunglasses covering his eyes for his debut performance at Austin City Limits Festival on Oct. 3, 2026. 

The set was the first of the “Arms Over Armor Tour” with small shows across North America. Beatty began singing “Secret Language,” the first single off of Sweet Fortune, his latest album that was released in June. The crowd swayed and sang with emotion, “All the ways I say it / In a secret language / Did you hear what my words couldn’t tell? / I keep it all to myself.” 

Beatty then sat in a foldable chair for “Cinnamon Bread” off of Calico. Beatty moved his head back and forth to the rhythm of his band, letting them take over the presence of the stage. A cold breeze of calmness floated in the air as Beatty joked to the crowd, “Get out of the mud, get into the music.” 

Steering away from his original music, Beatty covered Willie Nelson’s “Summer of Roses.” Even with no choreography or dramatic strobe lights, Beatty maintained his magnetic stage presence behind his sunglasses with his angelic voice. The simple aesthetic provided space for Beatty to be the main focus with all eyes on him, rather than being distracted by other musical aspects. 

“White Lightning” exhibited Beatty’s warm vocals and harmonies while singing about a long-distance relationship. The live production of the song replicated the studio version, with soft electric guitar and drums intertwining with Beatty. The audience waved their arms and sang the chorus in unity. 

“Too Many Ways” was another soulful track that kept the magic of Beatty’s set alive. Old and new fans came together to chant  “I've got a life in California / And a family and a band / But I've got a man in Massachusetts / Who comes to see me when he can” while Beatty remained in his collective composure on stage. 

“You were a beautiful crowd. If only you could see what I see,” Beatty told the crowd before performing “Fleur De Lis,” the last track of his latest album and the set. After an hour of indie transfusion, Beatty exited the stage with his band following. The audience was left smiling, and some in tears, that they saw their favorite artist live.