Category: Featured

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Encore Broadcast Featured News

Encore: Jimmy Cliff

When it comes to reggae, Jimmy Cliff, whose ACL episode encores this weekend, is indisputably one of the greats. He first found fame as a teenager, with a string of hit singles in his native Jamaica. By the late 60s, reggae was spreading beyond the borders of his birthplace and Cliff became one of its first international stars with “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” and “Vietnam,” which Bob Dylan called “the best protest song I’ve ever heard.” In 1972 Cliff starred in the acclaimed film The Harder They Come, writing and singing the hit title song. Other Cliff compositions like “Many Rivers to Cross” and “You Can Get It If You Really Want” have also become often-covered, much-loved reggae standards. Cliff continues to record and tour all over the world, collaborating with Sting, the Clash’s Joe Strummer, Kool & the Gang, Wyclef Jean and the Rolling Stones along the way. As popular now as he ever was, Jimmy Cliff is the face of reggae, as you’ll see for yourself this Saturday – check your local PBS listings for the broadcast time and channel.

Check out the episode page for more details, and drop in on our Facebook and Twitter pages for more ACL info, or sign up for our newsletter. Next week: Spoon.

 

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Encore Broadcast Featured News

Encore: Radiohead

The day after we recorded Radiohead  back in March 2012, our reaction was, “Radiohead taped Austin City Limits last night. It almost feels like that’s all we need to say.” Even now we still feel the same sense of met anticipation. It was a happening that fans and we had personally been waiting for and it finally came to fruition. A band like Radiohead, (well, let’s be honest – there really isn’t a band out there like Radiohead) that can constantly challenge themselves and evolve to change their sound to continue to make beautiful and inspiring music is a rare gift. We are incredibly grateful to encore an episode featuring such progressive rock icons and modern day musical legends.

Radiohead open their set with “Bloom,” the busy and fitting song for the occasion that opens their 2011 self-released album The King of Limbs. From there the group goes to the piano-heavy and melodic “Daily Mail,” another new song from that year. The rest of the set features a collective mix of tracks from TKOL, Hail to the Thief, Kid A, OK Computer, and new singles. One highlight of the night is when they played a forgotten B-side, “The Amazing Sounds of Orgy.” Of course the essence of the night was captured at the very end when the band played the big hits and crowd favorites, “Idioteque” and “Paranoid Android.”

photo by Scott Newton

For those that missed seeing the taping live or the original broadcast last October, this is your opportunity to see what many described as being a passionate and “life-changing” performance. You can truly feel the energy of the band and the audience in this episode, and Thom Yorke’s dancing may even inspire you to flail around in your living room. (Seriously, if you don’t dance during “Idioteque” then there may be something wrong with your well-being.)

Don’t miss this weekend’s episode with Radiohead! And don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for updates about ACL. Tune in next week for Randy Newman.

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Featured News Taping Announcement

New taping: Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka may not be a household name – yet. But we predict that, following his debut taping on June 10 for Austin City Limits, the British singer/songwriter will become a fast favorite. He’s bringing his distinctively lush folk/soul/pop sound to our stage for a taping that will also be streamed live. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/austincitylimitstv so you’ll be notified not only when we schedule this stream, but also whenever we post anything. Watch online, wherever you are.

Growing up in London, Kiwanuka was exposed to a huge variety of music, becoming a fan of everyone from Radiohead to Nirvana to Jimi Hendrix. But it was his discovery of Bob Dylan and Otis Redding’s “Sitting On the Dock of the Bay” that put him on the path to his true voice, one comparable to soulful folk visionaries Bill Withers, Terry Callier and John Martyn. Starting as a session guitarist when he was just a teenager, Kiwanuka began writing songs at home for his own entertainment, eventually passing demos around in hopes of convincing someone to record them. But it was his voice that listeners connected with, which encouraged him to play shows, and eventually led him to a record contract and the Isle of Wight studio owned by British pop band the Bees. His debut LP Home Again reached #4 on the British charts and went top 10 around the world, earning him a gig opening for Adele’s 2011 tour and a slot at the 2012 ACL Fest.

 

 

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Featured News Taping Announcement

New tapings: Juanes and Emeli Sande

On June 4, we welcome Juanes back to the ACL stage. The Colombian superstar last appeared on the ACL stage in 2005, when he packed 6A – the original ACL studio – at 11:00 in the morning. Now the awards-laden singer and songwriter is back in support of his Grammy-winning album Juanes: MTV Unplugged and new memoir Chasing the Sun for what is sure to be another memorable episode.

We’re also pleased to announce the ACL debut of Emeli Sandé. Of Zambian and English descent, the Scotland-based singer/songwriter’s debut album Our Version of Events was the bestselling LP in the U.K. for 2012, as well as the new record-holder for the most consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the U.K. charts, and she performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics. Having already garnered critical acclaim and appeared on late-night TV, Sandé now hits the ACL stage on July 7.

Information about passes is forthcoming. Stay tuned!

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Featured News

George Jones R.I.P.

We here at ACL were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of George Jones this morning at the age of 81. Few country singers had as big an impact on the genre as Texas native Jones, whose career includes such iconic hits as “White Lightnin’,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Race is On” and, of course, the immortal “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He had a big impact on us as well, appearing on the show in 1981, 1986 and 1990.

“George Jones ranks right up there with Hank Williams in my book as one of the all time greatest country singers,” says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “He was the first major country star I booked in my third year as ACL producer, when he and his voice were in their prime. It was an uplifting, breathtaking performance.”

May he rest in peace.

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Featured News Taping Announcement

New tapings: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell and Jesse & Joy

We’re excited to announce a pair of new tapings for June, both from duos – one featuring music veterans and the other by fast-rising newcomers.

Back in the mid-70s, Emmylou Harris was a rising star in country music and Rodney Crowell was a up-and-coming young songwriter who played rhythm guitar in Harris’ Hot Band. Nearly four decades later, each has become an Americana icon, and the pair reunites for the acclaimed duet album Old Yellow Moon. ACL vets both, the duo brings their tour in support of the record to our stage on June 14 for what is sure to be a landmark taping.

On June 17, we welcome, for the first time, Jesse & Joy.  The award-winning brother and sister duo from Mexico was a hit with Latin audiences practically right from the start, climbing up the Mexican and U.S. charts starting in 2006 and culminating in the triple platinum LP ¿Con Quién Se Queda El Perro?. The twosome also boasts five Latin Grammy awards, including Song and Record of the Year for the hit “¡Corre!” We’re excited to host these international rising superstars.

photo by Francis Bertrand

We’ll be announcing the ticket giveaways for these incredible shows as we get closer to the taping dates. Keep up with the latest by following us on Facebook and Twitter. More to come – stay tuned!