Category: Episode Recap

Episode premiere: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats/Adia Victoria

Post author By michael
Post date January 12, 2023

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats perform on Austin City Limits, Oct. 6, 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Austin City Limits showcases next-generation blues and soul in a new hour with one of music’s finest live acts, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats sharing the hour with soulful Nashville singer-songwriter Adia Victoria. The new installment premieres January 14 at 7pm CT/8pm ET, as ACL’s Season 48 resumes with six new episodes. The Peabody Award-winning program, recorded live at ACL’s studio home in Austin, Texas, continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music television show in history. ACL gives viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance as this American music institution nears its 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 following the initial broadcast.

Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats have become one of the premier rock and soul bands of the past decade. The road-tested, highly acclaimed live outfit made a sensational ACL debut in Season 42 in 2016; now, in their return appearance, Rateliff and his mighty seven-piece Night Sweats showcase their bonafides with songs from their latest The Future. Fueled by a crackling three-piece horn section, the combo turn in a powerhouse performance filled with highlights from the album, including the gut punch set opener “Survivor” and anthemic “Face Down In The Moment,” alongside the fan-favorite soul banger, “I Need Never Get Old” from their 2015 self-titled breakthrough. The band delivers non-stop grooves as frontman Rateliff skillfully switches from electric guitar to keyboards to acoustic, and, to wild, appreciative applause, the ‘Sweats bring things to a rollicking close with the high-energy rouser “Love Don’t.”

Adia Victoria and her band perform on Austin City Limits, Oct. 3, 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Next up is Spartanburg, South Carolina native Adia Victoria, making her ACL debut with numbers from the lauded A Southern Gothic, a 2022 Americana Music Awards nominee for Album of the Year, executive produced by T-Bone Burnett. A daughter of the South whose work continues the rich legacy of Black Southern storytelling, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter explores her relationship to the South and the South’s relationship with her as a Black woman. “What we do I consider to be church,” says Victoria, “Because I consider the blues to be sacred.” A captivating performer and storyteller, Victoria shares many of the stories behind her “gothic blues” songs. “This first song is about a young girl from South Carolina who runs away from home, too far, too fast,” says Victoria before sliding into the smoldering burner “Far From Dixie.” Her feral songs capture tension and confront difficult truths, touching on love and anger, for a spellbinding debut.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats setlist:

SURVIVOR

I NEED NEVER GET OLD

FACE DOWN IN THE MOMENT

AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT

THE FUTURE

LOVE DON’T

Adia Victoria setlist:

FAR FROM DIXIE

MAGNOLIA BLUES

MY OH MY

AIN’T KILLED ME YET

SOUTH GOTTA CHANGE

Season 48 Broadcast Schedule (Second Half):

January 7 Austin City Limits 8th Annual Hall of Fame Honors Sheryl Crow

January 14 Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats/ Adia Victoria

January 21 Adrian Quesada Boleros Psicodélicos

January 28 The War On Drugs

February 4 Pavement

February 11 Maren Morris

February 18 Spoon

February 25 Austin City Limits 8th Annual Hall of Fame Honors Joe Ely

Watch live on PBS, or stream anytime. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding episode schedules, future tapings and select live stream updates 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.

Tags Adia Victoria, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Season 48, TV broadcast

Episode Recap Featured New Broadcast News

Episode premiere: Cimafunk & the Tribe

Post author By michael
Post date November 9, 2022

Cimafunk on Austin City Limits, May 3, 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Austin City Limits fans will be on their feet for a supercharged hour showcasing Afro-Cuban funk sensation Cimafunk. Hailing from Havana Cuba, the celebrated showman and his eight-piece powerhouse band, The Tribe, make a thrilling ACL debut with standouts from Cimafunk’s acclaimed album El Alimento. The new installment rounds out the first half of ACL’s Season 48 and premieres November 12 at 8pm CT/9pm ET. The complete line-up for the full broadcast season will be announced shortly, with new episodes premiering beginning January 7, 2023. The program, recorded live at ACL’s studio home in Austin, Texas, continues its 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.

In a remarkable ACL debut, Cimafunk & The Tribe deliver an electric, unique blend of high-energy funk, Caribbean rhythms and Afrobeat. Cimafunk and his band are earning raves for their incredible live performances tearing up stages across the globe. The freewheeling set explodes with a spectacular James Brown-influenced rhythm for the blazing “Relajao,” with Cimafunk flexing his dazzling vocals and radiant starpower alongside dance moves from percussionists Big Happy and Machete, a finger-busting bass solo from Caramelo, horns (and backing vocals) from Hilaria and Katy Cacao, and a merciless groove from drummer Dr. Zapa. “Put your hands up!” Cimafunk exclaims as he introduces “Funk Aspirin,” the band’s collaboration with funk legend George Clinton which opens 2021’s widely-hailed El Alimento. “Never forget,” the sweat-soaked Cimafunk laughs as the set reaches a fever pitch, “Shake that booty!” They close with “Me Voy,” the 2018 hit that made Cimafunk a household name in Cuba, bringing lucky audience members onstage and taking the groove to the next level.

“Cimafunk’s ACL debut was breathtaking,” says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona “He barely took a breath himself, and for that matter neither did the crowd, which was too busy dancing and screaming themselves. It was one of those rare shows where the performer and audience literally came together as one.”

“Austin is starting to feel like home away from home, and I wanted to bring the energy to Austin City Limits,” says Cimafunk. “It got really funky and sweaty in there with a lot of groove!”

Cimafunk & The Tribe

LA PAPA

SALVAJE

SE ACABO

BEAT CON FLOW

APRETADO

RELAJAO

FUNK ASPIRIN

ME VOY

Watch live on PBS, or 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. The series will continue to air fan-favorite encore episodes through the end of 2022. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding episode schedules, future tapings and select live stream updates 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

Tags Cimafunk, Cimafunk & the Tribe

Episode Recap Featured News

Episode premiere: Lyle Lovett & His Large Band

Post author By michael
Post date November 3, 2022

Lyle Lovett & His Large Band perform on Austin City Limits, Aug. 24, 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Austin City Limits presents a season highlight and homecoming: the long-awaited return of celebrated singer-songwriter and bandleader Lyle Lovett, joined by his iconic Large Band, making his first appearance in over a decade with songs from his first new album in 10 years, 12th of June. One of music’s most vibrant and iconic performers, the Grammy Award-winning Lovett is accompanied by his 16-piece band for an entertaining hour of new songs and extraordinary musicianship. The new installment premieres November 5 at 8pm CT/9pm ET as part of ACL’s Season 48. The program, recorded live at ACL’s studio home in Austin, Texas, continues its 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. The show’s official hashtag is #acltv.

Lyle Lovett made his first headlining appearance on Austin City Limits during Season 12 in 1987 with songs from his landmark self-titled debut, and has since been featured on ACL more times than any artist, save for one Willie Nelson. This beloved performer and ACL Hall of Famer returns for a remarkable seventeenth appearance, with his recent album 12th of June as the centerpiece. The Texas hero is accompanied by his impeccably dressed Large Band for a radiant 10-song set showcasing new gems. Lovett shares the love and joy of home life with his trademark wry humor on new numbers such as “Pants Is Overrated” and the bluesy stroll “Pig Meat Man,” which Lovett explains he wrote for his 5-year-old son “who is a vegetarian except he loves bacon.” Lovett’s longtime backing singer Francine Reed, who recently retired from the road, returns for the occasion and joins Lovett center stage for a gorgeous rendition of the Nat King Cole classic “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You?” He welcomes friend and frequent touring partner Chris Isaak for a pair of songs, including a lively duet on Roy Orbison’s “Dream Baby.” Lovett celebrates life’s joys with his wife and children with the tender title track “12th of June” and closes with the barrelhouse piano-led “On A Winter’s Morning,” which revels in the simple magic of being alive.

“Lyle has always been a big part of the ACL family – in more ways than one,” said executive producer Terry Lickona. “He was there when ACL had barely hit its first 10 years, and even before his career took off. It’s been a joy to capture his music as we both grew and evolved, and it’s obvious that we both still have lots more new music to offer to the world!”

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band setlist:

ARE WE DANCING

PANTS IS OVERRATED

GEE BABY, AIN’T I GOOD TO YOU?

HER LOVING MAN

MIRRORED MAN’S LAMENT (with Chris Isaak)

DREAM BABY (with Chris Isaak)

THE MOCKING ONES

12TH OF JUNE

PIG MEAT MAN

ON A WINTER’S MORNING

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

Tags Lyle Lovett, Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, Season 48

Episode Recap Featured News

Episode premiere: Parker McCollum/Robert Earl Keen

Post author By michael
Post date October 26, 2022

Parker McCollum performs on Austin City Limits in 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Austin City Limits presents a spectacular hour of country music, Texas-style, featuring rising star Parker McCollum and legendary singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen. McCollum makes his ACL debut with songs from 2021’s Gold Chain Cowboy; and, in a special appearance, ACL veteran and Americana great Robert Earl Keen, who recently retired from touring, returns for a triumphant final bow showcasing beloved classics from his four-decade career. The new Season 48 installment premieres October 29 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.

Breakout country artist Parker McCollum is having a big year: he scored a best-selling album with his major label debut, Gold Chain Cowboy, won New Male Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and received a coveted nomination for New Artist of the Year at this year’s upcoming CMA Awards. Raised in the East Texas town of Conroe, the charismatic performer wears his Lone Star roots proudly on his sleeve, and performs Gold Chain Cowboy highlights, including the album’s double-platinum single “Pretty Heart,” and the fan-favorite “To Be Loved By You.” With a smile as wide as Texas, McCollum thrills the crowd with a pair of new songs, “Handle on You,” and “Stoned,” then closes with the heartfelt power ballad “I Can’t Breathe.”

Robert Earl Keen during his final taping for Austin City Limits in 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

A true Texas original, Robert Earl Keen first appeared on the ACL stage in 1989 as part of a Texas showcase. One of the Lone Star state’s most beloved songwriters and performers, the Houston native returns for his seventh appearance, accompanied by his longtime band and joined, for this occasion, by a special guest, pedal steel guitarist Lloyd Maines. A road warrior who has easily played over 180 dates in any given year, appearing at roadhouses, dance halls, theaters and fairgrounds, Keen caps his remarkable musical journey with this ACL swan song as he retires from live performance. He delivers gems from across his legendary career in an emotional set, opening with early highlights “Feelin’ Good Again” and “Gringo Honeymoon.” For the bittersweet send-off, Keen begins with his “I’m Comin’ Home,” which evolves into a full audience singalong; he then notes “You can take this one with ya,” before wrapping up with “I Gotta Go,” after which he sets down his guitar, tips his hat and waves goodbye to the emotional crowd.

“A Texas Country music legend meets the new face (and voice) of Texas Country music today,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Both Robert Earl Keen and Parker McCollum are part of a long tradition of singer-songwriters, with their own take on what makes Texas Country different.”

Parker McCollum setlist:

TO BE LOVED BY YOU

HANDLE ON YOU

STONED

HELL OF A YEAR

PRETTY HEART

I CAN’T BREATHE

Robert Earl Keen setlist;

FEELIN’ GOOD AGAIN

GRINGO HONEYMOON

SHADES OF GRAY

I’M COMIN’ HOME

I GOTTA GO

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

Austin City Limits

Tags Parker McCollum, Robert Earl Keen

Episode Recap Featured News

Episode premiere: Allison Russell/The Weather Station

Post author By michael
Post date October 19, 2022

Allison Russell and band tape Austin City Limits, May 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Austin City Limits showcases a pair of breakthrough Canadian singer-songwriters: Montreal native Allison Russell shares the hour with The Weather Station, the performance name of Toronto’s indie-folk singer/songwriter Tamara Lindeman. Russell makes her show debut with a radiant set featuring songs from her 2022 Grammy-nominated solo debut album Outside Child; while The Weather Station presents a hypnotic set highlighting selections from Ignorance, an album that topped many 2021 year-end-best-of lists. The new Season 48 installment premieres October 22 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.

After years of collaborations with like-minded artists, Allison Russell released her debut solo effort Outside Child to much critical acclaim, earning a trio of 2022 Grammy nominations, including Best Americana Album; it was recently named 2022 Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association. The starkly beautiful breakthrough deals with the abuse Russell suffered as a child and her subsequent survival. Now based in Nashville, the singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist begins a magnetic set with the folk rocker “The Runner,” joined by a six-piece all-female band; the number soars with exquisite backing vocals and strings. She picks up her banjo for the powerful “All of the Women,” an attempt to find survivor’s joy despite continued societal injustices and senseless tragedy. “We believe that music, shared like this, is creative communion, an essential service that helps build up our empathy,” Russell tells the crowd. A co-founder of the supergroup Our Native Daughters, Russell closes with the stunner “You’re Not Alone,” from the 2019 album Songs of Our Native Daughters.

Tamara Lindeman and her band The Weather Station perform on Austin City Limits, 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Tamara Lindeman, leader of the Toronto outfit The Weather Station, has earned critical acclaim for the thoughtful, soulful songcraft showcased on her 2021 breakthrough Ignorance, a commentary on climate change issues. Ignorance was named a Top 10 Album of 2021 by Pitchfork, The New Yorker, Spin, New York Times, Uncut, The Guardian, and several others. In a captivating set centered on the album and accompanied by her five-piece band, Lindeman opens kneeling for the riveting single “Robber,” as the tempo and urgency increase, amplified by saxophone and keyboards for dramatic, atmospheric effect. The musically inventive performance draws from elements of jazz, folk and indie-rock. A highlight is the mesmerizing “Stars,” the main track from her stripped-down companion album, 2022’s How Is It That I Should Look At the Stars. Backed only by keyboards, Lindeman’s voice rings out with pure grace, with the crowd remaining intensely hushed for the entire song.

“No artist can sing or express a song better than the writer, and Allison and Tamara are living proof of that,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Their emotional evocations cover the deeply personal to the global, and their songs resonate with meaning as we try to navigate the world around us.”

Allison Russell:

THE RUNNER

ALL OF THE WOMEN

POISON ARROW

YOU’RE NOT ALONE

The Weather Station:

ROBBER

ATLANTIC

PARKING LOT

STARS

TRIED TO TELL YOU

BETTER NOW

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

Austin City Limits

Tags Allison Russell, Our Native Daughters, The Weather Station

Episode Recap Featured New Broadcast News

Episode premiere: Sylvan Esso and Lucius

Post author By michael
Post date October 13, 2022

Sylvan Esso on Austin City Limits, 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Austin City Limits returns with an entertaining hour you can dance to, featuring two different dynamic duos: electro-pop stars Sylvan Esso along with the versatile vocal powerhouses known as Lucius. Sylvan Esso present songs from their 2022 album No Rules Sandy and their Grammy-nominated Free Love; Lucius perform numbers from their recent album Second Nature alongside career highlights. The new Season 48 installment premieres October 15 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.

Durham, North Carolina-based electronica duo Sylvan Esso, composed of singer/lyricist Amelia Meath and keyboardist/producer Nick Sanborn, make their ACL debut performing songs from their new album No Rules Sandy as well as favorites from 2020’s Free Love and 2017’s What Now, both of which received Grammy nominations for Best Dance/Electronic Music album. The pair create rapturous sounds with 21st century sensibilities, as Meath sings the irresistible hooks with a playful magnetism. Opening with two songs from their acclaimed Free Love, the duo shine on their pop-groove hit “Ferris Wheel.” They perform a suite of songs from the experimental No Rules Sandy, a platform for partner Sanborn’s animated manipulation of his electronics, triggering beats and sounds in the moment, even remixing Meath’s vocals live on the buoyant “Look At Me.”

Lucius on Austin City Limits, 2022. Photo by Scott Newton.

Los Angeles-via-Brooklyn indie act Lucius’ versatility is on full display with their fourth album, 2022’s acclaimed Second Nature, as they shape-shift through synth-pop, country, melodic folk and dance-groove funk. Produced by pals Brandi Carlile and Dave Cobb, the album was made for joyful dancing through life’s unpredictable tangents — which has always been Lucius’s sunny mission in their decade-long career. Lucius leaders Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig deliver a highly stylized visual presentation that’s as much a part of their identity as their sound, sporting matching green ensembles and identical hair styles. Accompanied by a four-piece band, they open with a pair of highlights from Second Nature, first donning blinged out keytars and synchronized stage moves for the discofied “Next to Normal,” then stunning a rapt crowd with their entwined vocals on “The Man I’ll Never Find.” Wolfe and Laessig thrill with the early career gem “Dusty Trails” as they unite their soaring sopranos in perfect harmony, stepping back from the mic to sing in a capella glory. They close with highlights from 2013’s Wildewoman, the album that first brought them to wide attention. The duo stroll into the audience for a powerfully intimate moment on “Two of Us On the Run,” a tribute to their friendship and collaboration, for a shimmering set-closer.

“Both Sylvan Esso and Lucius represent what musical female empowerment is all about in the 2020’s,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Amelia, Holly and Jess write and sing about all the raw emotions of life, from darkness to light, sadness to joy, and ACL captures their electric live shows. You won’t be able to sit still for this hour!”

Sylvan Esso

WHAT IF

FERRIS WHEEL

DIE YOUNG

SUNBURN

LOOK AT ME

SOUND

COFFEE

ECHO PARTY

Lucius

NEXT TO NORMAL

THE MAN I’LL NEVER FIND

DUSTY TRAILS

TEMPEST

TWO OF US ON THE RUN

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

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.

Tags Amelia Meath, Holly Laessig, Jess Wolfe, Lucius, Nick Sanborn, Sylvan Esso