Austin City Limits presents a season highlight, an hour with one of the preeminent American singer-songwriters of our time, Jason Isbell, and his band The 400 Unit. Isbell takes his place in ACL history with this revelatory hour, showcasing a new collection of songs from 2023’s acclaimed Weathervanes, newly nominated for a trio of 2024 Grammys, including Best Americana Album. The new installment premieres November 11 at 7pm CT/8pm ET as part of the series Season 49. 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. The show’s official hashtag is #acltv.
The program, produced by Austin PBS and recorded live at ACL’s studio home ACL Live 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 49 years as the music institution nears a remarkable half-century milestone. Austin City Limits celebrates 50 years as a live music beacon in 2024: on October 17, 1974, Willie Nelson taped the pilot episode and the trailblazing series premiered in 1975. Stay tuned for news on special concerts, fan events and activations as Austin City Limits salutes an incredible legacy of 50 golden years of American musical history and iconic performances.
Already a four-time Grammy honoree, Jason Isbell and his mighty band the 400 Unit, who made their ACL debut a decade ago in Season 39, return for a third appearance with their triple-nominated album Weathervanes as the centerpiece. Written and produced by the Nashville-based Isbell, the band’s much-lauded eighth offering is filled with expertly crafted, passionately performed songs that evoke the human experience. “I sure do love doing this show,” says Isbell. “Been watching this since I was a little kid.” Isbell opens the hour with the confessional “Save the World,” in which he contemplates his fears navigating parenthood during challenging times. One of music’s great live acts, the bandleader’s chemistry with his longtime 400 Unit is strong as the five-piece ensemble brings their songs to life. Set highlights include a pair of songs nominated for 2024 Grammy Awards: the melancholy yet soaring “King of Oklahoma” (nominated for Best Americana Performance), and the powerful acoustic gem “Cast Iron Skillet” (nominated for Best American Roots Song). The prodigious songwriter dips into his songbook for the gorgeous “Flying Over Water” from 2013’s breakthrough Southeastern. He polishes off this master class with the fiery Southern Rock-tinged “This Ain’t It,” as Isbell and guitarist Sadler Vaden’s fretboard interplay dazzles the Austin audience.
“There’s no better songwriter on the planet today than Jason Isbell,” says longtime ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “His songs can be gut-wrenching, wistful, or shine light in dark places, but they are always genuine.”
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Save the World
King of Oklahoma
Strawberry Woman
Middle of the Morning
Overseas
Cast Iron Skillet
Flying Over Water
Miles
This Ain’t It
Season 49 Broadcast Line-up (second half of season to be announced separately)
Oct. 7 Rodrigo y Gabriela featuring the Austin Symphony Orchestra
Oct. 14 Jenny Lewis / MUNA
Oct. 21 Lil Yachty / Sudan Archives
Oct. 28 Margo Price / Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Nov. 4 Jorge Drexler
Nov. 11 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Nov. 18 Foo Fighters
Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. 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, IG and TikTok. 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 49th 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, 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.