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Featured News

ACL congratulates the AMA winners

Austin City Limits congratulates the winners of last night’s Americana Music Awards, presented, of course, by the Americana Music Association. It was a very special ceremony for some very special artists, including many of our friends from our show. We’ll broadcast highlights from the ceremony on Nov. 25 as part of ACL Presents: Americana 22nd Annual Awards

Billy Strings, who lit up Season 47 with his clever songs and sizzling guitar, won Artist of the Year for the second year in a row. Singer/songwriter and former Emerging Artist of the Year Tyler Childers won Album of the Year for his top 10 triple album Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? Childers appeared on ACL in Season 44 as a special guest of John Prine, and will return to the stage to pay tribute to his mentor at this year’s ACL Hall of Fame Awards. Song of the Year honors went to longtime ACL veteran Bonnie Raitt’s self-penned tune “Just Like That,” from her LP of the same title. The singer, songwriter, and slide guitarist will perform songs from that album at her fourth ACL taping on Oct. 15. 

The Duo/Group of the Year nod went to Nashville soul powerhouses The War and Treaty, who were one of the few performers to tape during our pandemic-afflicted Season 46. Violinist Chauntee Ross and cellist Monique Ross, AKA SistaStrings, took home the Instrumentalist of the Year honors, as well they should have – we can testify to their talents after seeing them perform with both Brandi Carlile’s and Allison Russell’s tapings last year. The Emerging Artist of the Year for 2023 was singer/songwriter S.G. Goodman. 

The AMA also presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to singer, songwriter, and ACL frequent flyer Patty Griffin. Fellow ACL pals and folk rockers the Avett Brothers and progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek both received Trailblazer Awards. Season 48 standout Allison Russell received the Spirit of Americana/Free Speech in Music Award, while the great Bettye LaVette, who visited ACL in Season 34, accepted the Legacy of Americana Award. The evening also included tributes to Seasons 2 and 9 guest Jimmy Buffet, Season 4 performer Tom Waits’ debut album Closing Time, and Season 42 premiere artist Paul Simon’s There Goes Rhymin’ Simon. George Fontaine, Sr., owner and co-founder of New West Records, who have released many ACL episodes on CD and DVD as the Live From Austin TX series, received this year’s Jack Emerson Award.  

Congratulations to all the winners! You can catch performances by AMA honorees in this year’s ACL Presents: Americana 22nd Annual Awards on Nov. 25 on your local public television station.

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Featured Live Stream News

Live Stream our taping with Asleep at the Wheel and special guests

Austin City Limits is pleased to announce a live stream of Western swing institution Asleep at the Wheel joined by special guests The Avett Brothers and Amos Lee, in a special tribute to the late Bob Wills, King of Western swing. The taping, Tuesday, February 24th @ 9pm ET/ 8pm CT, is the first of ACL’s new season, and will be live streamed worldwide directly from ACL’s stage via the show’s YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/austincitylimitstv. Fans can log on to watch the entire taping as it happens live from The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. The broadcast episode will air on PBS this fall as part of the legendary music series upcoming Season 41. The show’s hashtag is #acltv. The live stream is powered by ACL underwriter Dell Computers.

Asleep at the Wheel were featured in ACL’s first official episode in 1976 along with The Texas Playboys, and their return marks an incredible eleventh appearance on the program. Asleep at the Wheel are also the newest members of the ACL Hall of Fame, and will be inducted at a ceremony to be held in Austin later this year. The legendary band releases their highly-anticipated new Bob Wills tribute album Still The King: Celebrating The Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys on March 3rd, featuring an all-star line-up of special guests, including ACL veterans Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, The Avett Brothers, George Strait, Kat Edmonson and Merle Haggard.  Founded in 1970 and based in Austin, TX, Asleep at the Wheel, lead by founder Ray Benson, has won nine GRAMMY awards, released more than 20 studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard charts. For over 40 years, Ray Benson & Asleep at the Wheel have been the chief practitioners, conspirators and caretakers of Western swing, carrying Bob Wills’ traditions well into the 21st century, reaching both their contemporaries and the next generation of artists inspired by the great bandleader.

ACL recently announced the inductees for its second annual ACL Hall of Fame and the first round of tapings for the series’ upcoming Season 41, which also include the Grammy nominated country rebel Sturgill Simpson and acclaimed rock outfit The War on Drugs.