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ACL Presents 23rd Annual Americana Honors: A Celebration of the Best in Americana Music

Waxahatchee at Americana Awards

Austin City Limits returns to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for a special broadcast featuring performances from the 23rd Annual Americana Honors. For more than two decades, this celebration of roots music has honored the leading lights of the Americana field while showcasing unique performances and collaborations from pioneering mainstays and trailblazing newcomers. The program is filled with musical highlights from award-winning legends, buzzworthy new artists and longtime fan favorites, among them (in order of appearance): Duane Betts, Blind Boys of Alabama, Waxahatchee featuring MJ Lenderman, Noah Kahan, Jobi Riccio, Fantastic Negrito, Larkin Poe, Sarah Jarosz, Dwight Yoakam, Shelby Lynne, Sierra Ferrell and Emmylou Harris with Rodney Crowell. The hourlong special premieres Saturday, November 23 @ 7pm CT/8pm ET on PBS and the PBS app and varies by market (check local listings for times). Check PBS listings for local airtimes. The special will be available to music fans everywhere to stream online beginning Sunday, November 24 @10am ET at pbs.org/austincitylimits. The program’s official hashtags are #acltv and #americanafest. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming tapings, episode schedules and select live stream updates. The complete line-up for Austin City Limits’ full 14-week milestone Season 50, including six new episodes to air beginning January 11, 2025, will be announced shortly. 

Recorded live at Nashville’s historic “Mother Church,” the Ryman Auditorium, in September 2024, The Americana Music Association’s 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony is a celebration of the confluence of roots, blues, soul, folk and country music. For the thirteenth year, the producers of Austin City Limits, in conjunction with producers Martin Fischer, Michelle Aquilato, and Jed Hilly for the Americana Music Association, proudly deliver a special ACL Presents. 

Sierra Ferrell performs
Sierra Ferrell performs on the 23rd Annual Americana Honors, 2024

Duane Betts opens the hour with a tribute to his late father Dickey Betts with a rollicking version of the Allman Brothers classic “Blue Sky.” “That one’s for you, Dad. We love you,” says the next-generation guitar ace. Folk duo The Milk Carton Kids introduce Sierra Ferrell, one of Americana’s top stars, saying “Dolly Parton is who we should look to for where Sierra is headed.” Ferrell, the much-honored Artist of the Year, performs her spellbinding Song of the Year-nominated “American Dreaming” from her LP Trail of Flowers (awarded Album of the Year). The country-folk-bluegrass star also recently scored nods across all the Americana categories for the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards. 

Waxahatchee (the performance name of acclaimed indie musician Katie Crutchfield) performs her Song of the Year-nominated “Right Back To It” from her album, Tigers Blood, also newly-nominated for a Grammy for Best Americana Album. She is joined by the record’s guest artist, singer-songwriter-guitarist MJ Lenderman for the performance. Artist of the Year nominee Noah Kahan delivers a stirring version of his 2023 breakout smash “Dial Drunk” accompanied by the Americana All-Star Band, including bandleader Buddy Miller, guitarist Larry Campbell, bassist Don Was and Jim Hoke on banjo. Americana legend T Bone Burnett introduces the Duo/Group of the Year honorees, the sibling act known as Larkin Poe, as “two sisters, who are deep practitioners of this [Americana] art form” and the powerhouse pair perform their scorching “Bluephoria” dressed in striking red outfits. Texas native and acclaimed singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz delivers a sparkling “Jealous Moon,” a Song of the Year nominee from her 2024 album Polaroid Lovers. Emerging Act of the Year nominee Jobi Riccio shines with her slowburn “For Me It’s You” from 2023’s acclaimed LP Whiplash. 

The special honors singular artists with Lifetime Achievement Awards, including The Blind Boys of Alabama, who revolutionized Gospel music with their infusion of a nontraditional, grooving rhythm section. The current line-up of the legendary group performs an ecstatic rendition of “Work Until My Days Are Done” that earns a standing ovation from the Ryman audience. The late blues and gospel pioneer Reverend Gary Davis receives the Legacy of Americana award with a salute by three-time Grammy-winning blues firebrand Fantastic Negrito. Resplendent in gold lamé, the guitar slinger shines in a sanctified take on the Rev. Davis classic “Samson and Delilah,” with revival-like intensity in a soaring performance amplified by the vocals of gospel greats the McCrary Sisters. Singer-songwriter Allison Moorer celebrates her big sister and Lifetime Achievement Honoree Shelby Lynne, calling Lynne “my personal trailblazer.” Moorer joins Lynne for a performance of “Gotta Get Back,” from her breakthrough album I Am Shelby Lynne, celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2025. C&W icon Dwight Yoakam is presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by singer-songwriter Brandy Clark, the night’s Song of the Year award winner. Yoakam thrills with his trademark Bakersfield-meets-rockabilly groove on his 1993 hit “Fast as You,” joined by Americana great Jim Lauderdale on backing vocals, and the Americana All-Star Band.

Americana favorite Margo Price introduces country legends Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell and the luminous hour comes to an unforgettable close as the two greats perform a gorgeous reading of the Gram Parsons classic “Return of the Grievous Angel” earning one more Ryman ovation. 

Longstanding house band leader Buddy Miller returns as musical director for the Americana All-Star Band, featuring Don Was—a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Honoree—Larry Campbell, Jen Gunderman, Bryan Owings, Jerry Pentecost, Jim Hoke, and The McCrary Sisters backing many of the night’s performers. 

Broadcast setlist: 

Duane Betts “Blue Sky” 

Blind Boys of Alabama “Work Until My Days Are Done” 

Waxahatchee w/MJ Lenderman “Right Back To It” 

Noah Kahan “Dial Drunk” 

Jobi Riccio “For Me It’s You” 

Fantastic Negrito “Samson and Delilah” 

Larkin Poe “Bluephoria” 

Sarah Jarosz “Jealous Moon” 

Dwight Yoakam “Fast As You” 

Shelby Lynne “Gotta Get Back” 

Sierra Ferrell “American Dreaming” 

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell “Return of the Grievous Angel” 

Watch new Austin City Limits episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding the Season 50 second half broadcast line-up and episode schedules or follow 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. 

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Coming Soon Featured New Broadcast News

Austin City Limits Spotlights Country Music Hall of Fame Icon Wynonna in Powerful Hour

This Saturday, November 9, Austin City Limits (ACL) spotlights country superstar Wynonna in an uplifting, revelatory hour. The Country Music Hall of Fame icon delivers an epic, career-spanning performance filled with solo hits, Judds classics and new gems. The celebrated singer/musician shares heartbreak, joy and stories behind the songs in this truly “must-see” installment. The new episode premieres Saturday, November 9 @8pm ET/7pm CT as part of Austin City Limits anniversary Season 50. 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. 2024 kicked off the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Wynonna performs on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.

With fringe on her mic stand, sparkling in a bejeweled black velvet suit with her distinctive mane of perfectly coiffed red hair, the one and only Wynonna lights up the Austin City Limits stage in an unforgettable hour. A musical force like no other, the charismatic singer with a giant voice takes the audience on a journey through her celebrated 40-year career. “I’ve sung a lot of songs about love,” winks Wynonna ahead of the early-career hit “Cry Myself To Sleep.“ “And this ain’t one of ‘em…I’d like to dedicate this to my first ex-husband.”

“So this is where it gets real y’all,” shares an emotional Wynonna about the 2022 death of mother Naomi, her longtime partner in the Judds. “I am a woman of faith, and that has been tested these past two years. I lost my momma to suicide and when she died I thought I would die of a broken heart. So instead I went on tour—a lot of people didn’t understand why—I now understand it’s because the music healed me and the fans supported me through a very difficult time in my life.” Despite the personal heartache, she fondly adds, “I shared a bus with her for 10 freakin’ years, try it sometime…We were something weren’t we,” Wynonna beams with pride to cheers. “So different, and yet those Kentucky harmonies is what drove us and that’s what this next song is about.” She then performs the deeply personal new number, “All Downhill From Ashland,” about the Kentucky town they came from and the crowd rises to its feet. 

“It’s about to get country up in here,” announces the singer, and with vivacious, dazzling showmanship, she takes fans on a hit-filled joyride through classics from the Judds catalog and her own solo career, including “Why Not Me,” “Tell Me Why,” and “What It Takes.” Her ace eight-piece band is joined by Austin’s own Grooveline Horns for an ecstatic close as she thrills the crowd with a pair of fan-favorites, “Rock Bottom” and “No One Else on Earth,” proving there’s no one else like Wynonna.

“Wynonna is the perfect example of the healing power of music – whether it’s personal or political,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Life is an emotional roller coaster ride, and Wynonna’s songs and her very persona make that ride just a little bit smoother.”

Wynonna setlist:

What It Takes 

Tell Me Why 

Ain’t No Thing

Cry Myself To Sleep

Broken and Blessed

Give A Little Love

Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days) 

Why Not Me 

All Downhill From Ashland

Rock Bottom 

No One Else On Earth 

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced shortly)

September 28 Kacey Musgraves

October 5 Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 Brittany Howard

November 2 Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 Wynonna

November 16 Juanes

Categories
New Broadcast News

Austin City Limits Spotlights Jelly Roll and The War And Treaty in a Powerhouse Hour

Austin City Limits (ACL) spotlights a pair of sensational live acts, both 2024 Grammy Best New Artist nominees: Jelly Roll and The War And Treaty. First, in a much anticipated ACL debut, Grammy and  CMA Awards-nominated Jelly Roll performs highlights from his chart-topping new album Beautifully Broken and his 2023 breakthrough Whitsitt Chapel. Then, celebrated husband-and-wife duo The War And Treaty, nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards, thrill with new songs and electrifying vocals in their return to the ACL stage. The new episode premieres Saturday, November 2 @8pm ET/7pm CT as part of Austin City Limits anniversary Season 50. 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. 2024 kicks off the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Jelly Roll on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.

No other artist has dominated 2024 like Jelly Roll, and country music’s newest superstar keeps gathering accolades and milestones: his new LP Beautifully Broken has earned the Nashville-based phenomenon his first No. 1 Album. The reigning CMA New Artist of the Year, a 2024 nominee for the upcoming CMA Awards’ highest honor Entertainer of the Year, and a 2024 Grammy Best New Artist nominee, Jelly Roll has scored hit singles on the country, rock and pop charts. A singular artist, he creates chart-topping anthems about adversity, faith and redemption that resonate with fans across genres. Currently headlining a U.S. arena tour, Jelly Roll’s unique connection with audiences is evident in his magnetic ACL debut. Jelly delivers a six-song set featuring gems from his record-breaking debut country album Whitsitt Chapel including the megahit “Need A Favor” and the Grammy-nominated “Save Me”—a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt that became a No. 1 smash. Backed by a seven-piece band, he showcases his powerful brand of southern-rock and hip-hop-inflected country performing highlights from the just-released Beautifully Broken. He shares his own struggle with mental health and addiction before launching into “I Am Not Okay,” inspiring the rapt audience to sing along.

The War And Treaty on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.

Known for a live show that’s almost revival-like in its intensity, The War And Treaty has emerged as one of the most electrifying acts in American music. The Nashville-based partners/ collaborators Michael and Tanya Trotter garnered their first-ever Grammy nods in 2024, including the coveted Best New Artist, along with 2024 Duo of the Year nominations from the CMA Awards and the Academy of Country Music. The pair made their Austin City Limits debut in Season 46 in 2020 during the series’ limited-audience pandemic tapings, and they now return at the peak of their powers to light up the ACL stage, this time for a full audience. “Can we take you to church tonight?” asks Michael, and the two deliver a high-energy, exhilarating showcase of new songs, opening with the seductive country soul scorcher “Stealing A Kiss.” Tanya introduces the “country gospel” song “Blank Page” from their 2023 major label debut Lover’s Game, which earned them a 2024 Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Song. The dynamic partners bring the fireworks, thrilling the crowd with their staggering vocal power and onstage chemistry. The captivated ACL crowd hangs on to every lyric, offering multiple standing ovations throughout a stellar set.

“Country Music is enjoying a renaissance today like nothing that has come before, and Jelly Roll and The War And Treaty epitomize that better than anyone else,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Their stories, their songs, their voices represent a culture shift that is undeniable, and the ACL stage is the perfect place to showcase that to the world.”

Jelly Roll episode setlist:

The Lost

Son of a Sinner

Liar

Need A Favor

I Am Not Okay

Save Me

Save Me Reprise

The War And Treaty episode setlist:

Stealing A Kiss

Called You By Your Name

Blank Page 

Leads Me Home

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately)

September 28 Kacey Musgraves

October 5 Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 Brittany Howard

November 2 Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 Wynonna

November 16 Juanes

2024 kicks off the 50th Anniversary of Austin City Limits, which taped its debut pilot episode with Willie Nelson on October 17, 1974; the pioneering series then premiered on PBS in 1975. That now legendary debut became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television. ACL is proud to have Willie Nelson return on the 50th anniversary of the pilot taping to commemorate Austin City Limits’ remarkable half-century milestone with a Texas-sized outdoor concert that took place on October 17, 2024, at Austin’s Long Center. Musical highlights from the performance will air as a special hourlong broadcast of Austin City Limits on February 15, 2025 as a season highlight of the program’s golden anniversary Season 50.

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming Season 50 tapings, live streams 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.

Categories
Episode Recap New Broadcast News

Episode Premiere: Austin City Limits Showcases Brittany Howard in Electric Hour

Brittany Howard on Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits (ACL) presents an electric hour with one of music’s finest live acts, five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brittany Howard. The powerhouse vocalist and ACL favorite returns for Austin City Limits’ anniversary Season 50 to showcase new numbers from her latest album What Now alongside career highlights. The hourlong episode premieres Saturday, October 26 @8pm ET/7pm CT. 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.

2024 kicks off the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

“Let’s have us a good time,” smiles Howard, taking the stage in a celestial, sparkling caftan. The Nashville-based musician (and frontwoman for four-time Grammy Award-winning Alabama Shakes) brings her singular musicality to a shapeshifting sound encompassing everything from psychedelia and dance music to dream-pop and avant-jazz in a 13-song set, with songs from her powerful second solo LP What Now as the centerpiece. Opening with a trio from the album, the songs are anchored in Howard’s inimitable and infinitely commanding voice—a supreme vessel for channeling raw emotional truth. Howard is backed by her stellar eight-piece band,  amplified by longtime backing vocalists Shanay Johnson and Karita Law. Howard throws it back to her 2019 solo debut Jaime for the radiant Grammy-winning radio hit “Stay High,” as the ecstatic crowd joins in on the soaring chorus. 

Brittany Howard on ACL, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.
Brittany Howard on ACL, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

“Live music is such an important thing, you know,” shares Howard from the stage. “I saw my first live band play when I was eleven years old, and it was from that moment that I decided that this was what I wanted to do. And I studied hard and I worked real hard, taught myself how to play, and I taught myself how to write songs, and now I get to be here with all of ya’ll.”  With that, she dons an acoustic guitar and renders a mesmerizing, stripped-down “Short and Sweet,” before being rejoined by her full band with Howard on explosive guitar for the hard-funk title track “What Now” in a cathartic close.

“When Brittany Howard sets foot on a stage, she doesn’t really need a microphone,” said longtime ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “She owns that stage, and she owns the room. Her voice is the voice of power, and truth. We gave her the full hour, because she deserves it! See and hear for yourself.”

Brittany Howard setlist:

Earth Sign

I Don’t

Patience

Stay High

Red Flags

Samson

Prove It to You

To Be Still

Every Color in Blue

Power to Undo

Short and Sweet

Another Day

What Now

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately):

September 28 Kacey Musgraves

October 5 Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 Brittany Howard

November 2 Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 Wynonna

November 16 Juanes

2024 kicks off the 50th Anniversary of Austin City Limits, which taped its debut pilot episode with Willie Nelson on October 17, 1974; the pioneering series then premiered on PBS in 1975. That now legendary debut became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television. ACL is proud to have Willie Nelson return on the 50th anniversary of the pilot taping to commemorate Austin City Limits’ remarkable half-century milestone with a Texas-sized outdoor concert that took place on October 17, 2024, at Austin’s Long Center. Musical highlights from the performance will air as a special hourlong broadcast of Austin City Limits scheduled for early 2025 as a season highlight of the program’s golden anniversary Season 50.

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming Season 50 tapings, live streams 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.

Categories
Episode Recap New Broadcast News

Episode Premiere: Grammy-Nominated Singer-Songwriters Maggie Rogers & Gracie Abrams

Maggie Rogers and Gracie Abrams on ACL

Austin City Limits has all the feels in a heartfelt new installment showcasing two gifted singer-songwriters: Maggie Rogers and Gracie Abrams. Both artists create honest, personal music and prioritize connection with the audience, encouraging listeners to feel all the feelings. In her second appearance on ACL, Grammy-nominated Rogers shines with gems from Don’t Forget Me; she’s followed by 2024 Grammy Best New Artist nominee Abrams making her program debut with standouts from her chart-topping The Secret of Us. The hourlong episode premieres Saturday, October 12 @8pm ET/7pm CT. 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. 2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the revered music de institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Maggie Rogers at Austin City Limits, May 2024
Maggie Rogers on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Producer/songwriter/performer Maggie Rogers made her Austin City Limits debut in Season 45 with songs from 2019’s Heard It In a Past Life and returns as a must-see live act amid her first arena tour. Rogers takes viewers on a journey of her cinematic songs, featuring highlights from her third LP Don’t Forget Me, a road trip album written from the perspective of someone leaving home for the first time. Accompanied by a six-piece band, Rogers has her foot on the gas for the raw emotion of the opener “So Sick Of Dreaming,” a lovestruck kiss-off with a spoken-word interlude to an ex-partner. “This song is a love song,” smiles Rogers in the intro to her 2019 hit “Love You For A Long Time.” She dances ecstatically across the stage and inspires a genuine connection with her audience, as the adoring Austin crowd sings along passionately. She reaches back to her 2020 sophomore release Surrender for “Anywhere With You,” and closes out the exuberant set awash in good vibes for this year’s big-hearted title track “Don’t Forget Me.”

Gracie Abrams on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Los Angeles native Gracie Abrams was handpicked by Taylor Swift to open on select dates of her blockbuster Eras Tour, and rejoins Swift on the final leg of that tour this fall, in addition to playing her own sold-out headlining tour. The 25-year-old Abrams has amassed a devoted fanbase of ecstatic fans who chant her name and sing-along to every word of her emotionally intimate lyrics. In her ACL debut, Abrams performs with her latest album The Secret Of Us as the centerpiece. She opens a captivating set with a trio of songs from the album, including fan-favorite single “Risk,” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” as the stoked crowd screams out every lyric. Abrams revisits the 2020 EP that started her meteoric rise for the tender ballad “Friend.” She wears her heart on her sleeve and engages with fans by waving and mouthing messages mid-song. Abrams has struck a chord with vulnerable tunes that speak of modern love, songs with millions of streams that resonate with a new generation.

“Maggie Rogers and Gracie Abrams are part of a new generation of women songwriters who share their stories in powerful, intimate ways, and these stories come to life in this special hour,” says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “They are both also powerful performers who take command of the stage and their audience. It’s an emotional experience for everyone.”

Maggie Rogers episode setlist:

So Sick Of Dreaming

The Kill

Love You For A Long Time

Anywhere With You

Don’t Forget Me

Gracie Abrams episode setlist:

Risk

Blowing Smoke

I Love You, I’m Sorry

Friend

Let It Happen

Free Now

Categories
Episode Recap New Broadcast News

Austin’s Own Gary Clark Jr. and Black Pumas On Austin City Limits Season 50

Gary Clark Jr. and Eric Burton of Black Pumas

Austin, TX—October 4, 2024—As Austin City Limits (ACL) celebrates its Season 50, the program is proud to spotlight a pair of acclaimed Austin acts for the occasion. Four-time Grammy Award winner Gary Clark Jr. performs highlights from his powerful LP JPEG RAW and eight-time Grammy-nominated Black Pumas sparkle with selections from their Chronicles of a Diamond in a thrilling hour of next-generation rock and soul. The new episode premieres Saturday, October 5 @8pm ET/7pm CT. 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. 2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the revered music institution, which continues its extraordinary run as the longest-running music series in television history, providing viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance for an incredible half-century.

Ever since Austin City Limits taped its pilot episode in 1974 (featuring the one and only Willie Nelson), a hallmark of the series has always been the strong connection between performer and audience. This week’s installment highlights that relationship as a pair of sensational live acts demonstrate the communal experience with concertgoers and viewers. Austin hometown six-string hero Gary Clark Jr., who made his ACL debut in 2013, has often mentioned how, as a kid, he watched his heroes (like Stevie Ray Vaughan), on old episodes of the series. Clark Jr. now returns for his fourth appearance with selections from his latest studio album, JPEG RAW. The record signals the advent of an expansive sonic era in his musical journey, and finds the revered axeman exploring new sounds and textures from West Africa to the Mississippi Delta, classic ‘70s funk and soul, ‘90s R&B and elements of jazz and hip-hop. Clark Jr. opens the magnetic set with the powerful call to action “Maktub,” singing the urgent lyrics “We gotta move…time for a new revolution,” accompanied by his blazing guitar. The standout “What About The Children,” an album duet with Stevie Wonder, is both a funk stunner as Clark Jr. flexes his falsetto, and a family affair, as he is joined by his three sisters on celestial backing vocals. The epic set-closer “Habits,” a nine-minute opus, is a showcase for his honest, open-hearted songwriting, elevated by a passionate guitar solo for an electrifying close.

Gary Clark Jr. on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.
Black Pumas on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.
Black Pumas on Austin City Limits, 2024. Photo by Scott Newton.

Black Pumas return to the ACL stage for their second appearance with highlights from their acclaimed sophomore release Chronicles of a Diamond. The psychedelic soul act, led by vocalist Eric Burton and guitarist Adrian Quesada, and an ace six-piece band, are known for their transcendent live shows which Burton refers to as “electric church.” Opening with the 2024 Grammy-nominated “More Than A Love Song,” a blissed-out marvel enhanced by their backing singers sublime vocals, Burton invites the rapt crowd to sing-along on the soaring “We’ll fly together” refrain. Pumas reach back to their star-making 2019 debut for the breakout hit “Colors,” a soulful anthem that spoke to fans across the globe, pairing it with the chorus of the soul classic “You’re All I Need to Get By.” Burton contemplates the romance of rock music while pointing out the perils on the hypnotic “Rock and Roll,” as Quesada’s guitar wails, for a spellbinding close.

“Beyond being the ‘Live Music Capital of the World,’ Austin has long been a launchpad for fresh, new music that has gone on to national acclaim, world stages, and many Grammy awards,” says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Gary took the guitar to new heights with his unique stylings, and Black Pumas fused a myriad of sounds, styles and genres into a powerhouse live show.”

Gary Clark Jr. setlist:

Maktub

This Is Who We Are

What About the Children

Habits

Black Pumas setlist:

More Than A Love Song

Ice Cream (Pay Phone)

Colors/You’re All I Need to Get By

Rock and Roll

Season 50 Broadcast Line-Up (second half of season to be announced separately):

September 28 – Kacey Musgraves

October 5 – Gary Clark Jr. | Black Pumas

October 12 – Maggie Rogers | Gracie Abrams

October 19 – Jacob Collier | Nickel Creek

October 26 – Brittany Howard

November 2 – Jelly Roll | The War And Treaty

November 9 – Chris Stapleton

November 16 – Juanes

2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of Austin City Limits, which taped its debut pilot episode with Willie Nelson on October 17, 1974; the pioneering series then premiered on PBS in 1975. That now legendary debut became the cornerstone for 50 years of groundbreaking, award-winning music television. ACL is proud to announce that Willie Nelson will return on the 50th anniversary of the pilot taping to commemorate Austin City Limits’ remarkable half-century milestone with a Texas-sized outdoor concert on October 17, 2024, at Austin’s Long Center. The performance will be taped; musical highlights will air as a special hourlong broadcast of Austin City Limits to air in early 2025 as a season highlight of the program’s golden anniversary Season 50.

Watch new episodes live, stream online, or download the PBS App. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding upcoming Season 50 tapings, live streams 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.