Flora and Fawna ACL performance

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Lily Hickman is no stranger to the scene.

Lily’s mother, Sarah Hickman, the official 2010 Texas State Musician, asked Lily to come on tour with her at only ten months old. At some concerts, Sarah strapped Lily to her back as she sang to audiences of up to 10,000 people, Sarah said.

It’s no surprise that Lily became a musician.

“Lily was always musical and always sang,” Sarah said. “They wrote their first serious song when they were four,” she said.

Lili and their collaborators—including guitarist and producer Mason Ables—make up Flora & Fawna, an indie pop group with roots firmly planted in Austin.

Lili and Flora & Fawna will make their Austin City Limits Music Festival debut on Sunday. They will be playing the Miller Light Stage at 11:45am

As a born and raised Austin resident, Lilly said it was surreal to have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage in Austin.

“I feel good,” Lily said. “I’m definitely super nervous. It’s one of the bigger stages I’ve played on,” they continued.

“Growing up in Austin, you know, it’s a dream come true. To play at the biggest festival in our city,” Lily said.

Flora & Fawna began playing venues around Austin consistently in September 2019. Just as their momentum began to build, they were forced to slow down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As restrictions began to ease late last year, they’ve picked up where they left off, regularly playing shows at Red River District venues such as Cheer Up Charlies and Hotel Vegas.

“It’s exciting to get back out there and finally get the ball rolling again,” Lilly said.

Although this is Lily’s first time performing at ACL, they have been many times before; either backstage at their friends’ shows or accompanying their mother Sarah – a four-time ACL performer.

Sarah told KXAN the fact that her child is following in her footsteps and performing at ACL couldn’t be less surprising.

“I might cry during this interview,” Sarah said. “But I haven’t doubted my mind.”

“Lily and Mason have created this amazing sound and worked really hard. I have nothing but deep respect for them,” Sarah said. “I know the crowd is going to absolutely love them.”

Sarah said Lily has learned a lot about music from watching her over the years, but is naturally musically inclined and incredibly hardworking.

“I think they’ve written over 500 songs during the pandemic and they’re all really good,” Sarah said. “Lily just started,” she said.

Sarah, unfortunately, won’t have the chance to see Lily perform this weekend as she is in Bend, Oregon playing her own show. Although she won’t be there physically, her heart will be, Sarah said.

“Lily is golden and will go very far. And I’m not saying that because I’m their mother, but because it’s true,” Sarah said.

Lily Hickman uses they/them pronouns.