Austin City Limits spotlights a pair of compelling acts making their ACL debuts: Japanese Breakfast, featuring acclaimed indie singer-songwriter Michelle Zauner and 21-year-old British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks. Philadelphia’s Japanese Breakfast play songs from their breakthrough Jubilee; while Parks performs numbers from her Mercury Prize-winning Collapsed in Sunbeams. These two celebrated acts both earned 2022 Grammy nods for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Album and both received raves for their deeply personal lyrics and powerful connection with audiences. The new hour-long installment premieres October 8 at 8pm CT/9pm ET. The program, recorded live at ACL’s studio home in Austin, Texas, continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music television show in history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for 48 years as the music institution nears a remarkable half-century milestone. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast.
Acclaimed pop-alternative act Japanese Breakfast performs highlights from Jubilee, their lauded 2021 album. Bandleader Michelle Zauner is also the New York Times bestselling author of Crying in H Mart, her powerful 2021 memoir about growing up Korean-American and dealing with the loss of her mother. The book paved the way for the band’s third release, Jubilee, an album about giving yourself permission to welcome joy back into your life after tragedy. Opening the set with the dreamlike “Paprika,” Zauner bangs a light-up gong at center stage to punctuate the lyrics. She smiles widely as she dances across the stage for the hit “Be Sweet,” a synthy, sparkly power-pop confection. The six-song set elicits a rush of feelings anchored by gorgeous song craft and probing lyrics, in an ultimate celebration of life and love. Zauner and her ace eight-piece band, augmented by horns and violin, provide sublime melodies for a radiant ACL debut.
Fast-rising West London singer-songwriter Arlo Parks showcases gems from her breakout debut Collapsed in Sunbeams. Parks blends poetic lyrics with music to create luscious vignettes via sweet, ruminative indie pop songs. Her thoughtful, relatable lyrics resonate emotionally with fans and foster connection and support. She captivates with her soft vocals and lush sonic palette in a magnetic ACL debut. Set opener “Caroline” sparks an audience singalong of the titular name throughout the chorus, and on the soul-pop “Eugene” the crowd belts the painful lyrics about unrequited love with collective emotion. “I guess my favorite songs that I’ve written come pouring out of me by accident…and this is one of them,” says Parks as she closes out with the electro-pop marvel “Softly,” a cathartic, upbeat anthem about bracing for impact in the face of a relationship’s inevitable demise.
“We’re especially proud this season to be showcasing so many emerging young female singer-songwriters,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona, “And there will be more to come. In the case of both Michelle and Arlo, the fact that Grammy voters considered them worthy of a Best New Artist nominee speaks volumes.”
Japanese Breakfast setlist:
Paprika
Be Sweet
Kokomo, IN
Savage Good Boy
Slide Tackle
Posing For Cars
Arlo Parks setlist:
Caroline
Eugene
Black Dog
Hurt
Too Good
Softly
Season 48 Broadcast Line-up (first half of season)
October 1 Brandi Carlile
October 8 Japanese Breakfast/Arlo Parks
October 15 Sylvan Esso/Lucius
October 22 Allison Russell/The Weather Station
October 29 Parker McCollum/Robert Earl Keen
November 5 Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
November 12 Cimafunk and The Tribe
Watch live, stream anytime, The complete line-up for the full 14-week season, including seven new episodes to air beginning January 2023, will be announced at a later date. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding live streams, future tapings and episode schedules or by following ACL on Facebook, Twitter and IG. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits (ACL) offers viewers unparalleled access to featured acts in an intimate setting that provides a platform for artists to deliver inspired, memorable, full-length performances. Now in its 48th Season, the program is taped live before a concert audience from The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Austin City Limits is the longest-running music series in television history and remains the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts. Since its inception, the groundbreaking music series has become an institution that’s helped secure Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. The historic Austin PBS Studio 6A, home to 36 years of ACL concerts, has been designated an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark. In 2011, ACL moved to the new venue ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement in 2012.
Austin City Limits is produced by Austin PBS and funding is provided in part by Dell Technologies, Workrise, the Austin Convention Center Department, Cirrus Logic and AXS Ticketing. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Austin City Limits. Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com.