Austin City Limits

For the music festival, see Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Austin City Limits
Created by	Bill Arhos Paul Bosner Bruce Scafe
Directed by	Bruce Scafe (1976–1977) Charles Vaughn (1978) Clark Santee (1979) Allan Muir (1980–1982) Gary Menotti (1983–present)
Narrated by	Terry Lickona (1979–present)
Theme music composer	Alan Tew (1980–1982) John Mills (1982–1998; seasons 7–23) Gary P. Nunn (1977–2004; seasons 2–29) Fats Waller (1977–1981; seasons 2–6) Kevin Roth (1992–1996; seasons 17–21) Tequila Mockingbird (2000–2004; seasons 25–29) Charlie Sexton (2004–2007; seasons 30–32) Explosions in the Sky (2011–2014; seasons 37–39) Gary Clark Jr. (2014–2015; season 40) White Denim (2015–2017; seasons 41–42) The Black Angels (2017–2019; seasons 43–44) Spoon (2019–2020; season 45, 2021–2022; season 47) Black Pumas (2020–2021) St. Vincent (2022–2024; seasons 48–49) Adrian Quesada (2024–2025)
Opening theme	"London Homesick Blues" (1977–2004) "Louisiana Fairy Tale" (1977–1981) "Shining Time Station" (1992–1996) "An Introduction" (2011–2014) "Travis County Line" (2014–2015) "New Shake" (2015–2017) "History of Women" (2017–2019) "Hot Thoughts" (2019–2020, 2021–2022) "Colors" (2020–2021) "Cruel" (2022–2024) "An Introduction" (2024–2025)
Ending theme	"The Big One" (1980–1982)
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	50
No. of episodes	(over) 1,000
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	Austin PBS
Original release
Network	PBS
Release	January 3, 1976 (1976-01-03) – present

Austin City Limits is an American live music television program recorded and produced by Austin PBS. The show helped Austin become widely known in the United States as the "Live Music Capital of the World", and is the only television show to receive the National Medal of Arts, which it was awarded in 2003. It also won a rare institutional Peabody Award in 2011 "for its more than three decades of presenting and preserving eclectic American musical genres". Austin City Limits is produced by Austin PBS under the Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications Council. The show was created in 1974 by Bill Arhos, Bruce Scafe, and Paul Bosner.

Beginning in Season 15 (1990), Austin City Limits began broadcasting in Dolby Surround, and continued until season 24 (1999). From 1976 to 2004 (seasons 1–29), the show was broadcast in NTSC. From 2004 to 2007 (seasons 30–32), the show was broadcast in HDTV 720p. Beginning in season 33 (2007–2008), the show began broadcasting in widescreen 1080i.

Format

Each episode begins with a preview of the artist as read by executive producer Terry Lickona, which leads into an opening credit sequence. After the credits, Lickona would introduce the artist. The camera was usually positioned during the performance to permit various closeup shots. After the performance, there was an interview segment. After the interview segment, Lickona would introduce the next artist, and another interview segment, followed by the closing credits. The show consisted of two performers in a half-hour format, as well as one performer in a one hour format. Beginning in Season 30 (2004–2005), Lickona would ask the artist a question. The show was originally taped at KLRU's Studio 6A during the first 36 seasons (1976–2011). Beginning in season 37 (2011–2012), the show moved to its new home at the Moody Theater.

Songwriters Special

Beginning in Season 5 (1980), Austin City Limits introduced its Songwriters Special, which remained in use until Season 34 (2008–2009). The first Songwriters Special included performances by Willie Nelson, Floyd Tillman, Hank Cochran, Red Lane, Whitey Shafer, and Sonny Throckmorton.

Television pilot

The pilot was taped on October 17, 1974, and starred Willie Nelson. (B.W. Stevenson was actually taped the night before, but the recording was deemed unusable). The deliberate lack of production slickness plus attention to audio detail pleased even the notoriously TV-shy Nelson. Lead Marketer Ken Waggoner, and Austin City Limits creator Bill Arhos pitched the pilot to PBS as part of its 1975 pledge drive. The show's success as a fundraiser was enough for Arhos to get Austin City Limits green-lighted as a series.

Availability

The show inspired the creation of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, an annual live music festival at Zilker Park in Austin. In 1981, Austin City Limits became the highest rated live music show on PBS during Season 6. In 1982, Bill Arhos returned to Austin City Limits as the executive producer starting in Season 7, and he stayed until his retirement in Season 24 (1999). In 2015, Arhos died at the age of 80. In 2014, he was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Some of the performances from Austin City Limits have been released as CDs and DVDs in the Live from Austin, TX series. Full episodes can also be viewed online at the show's official website. There is an Austin City Limits store at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

On June 21, 2012, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, announced that nearly 40 years of Austin City Limits footage would be digitally archived "in perpetuity" at the Museum's new Library and Archives; recordings from more than 800 live performances will be made available to the public. On September 9, 2018, Austin City Limits Radio was launched in Austin at 97.1 FM (utilizing a leased HD Radio subchannel of KGSR (93.3-HD2)), with an eclectic playlist representative of the television show's history.

Syndication

In 1981 during Season 6, when Austin City Limits became the highest rated live music show on PBS, Austin City Limits went to commercial syndication, and the show began syndicating commercially to local stations under the moniker Austin City Limits Encore. MTV Live (formerly Palladia HD) acquired rerun rights to the series in 2016 under the moniker Best of Austin City Limits. From 2002 to 2003, CMT (formerly Country Music Television) repackaged several country music-themed episodes under the moniker Best of Austin City Limits. When Austin City Limits aired on CMT, episodes ran for 42 minutes to make room for commercials, and began with an introduction by Charlie Robison and Tara McNamara. From 1992 to 1993, TNN repackaged older Austin City Limits performers under the moniker Austin Encore. The program also aired on CMT Canada from 1998 to 2002. In 2022, Circle Country (formerly Circle Network) began repackaging older Austin City Limits episodes under the moniker Austin City Limits: Country, which was hosted by Rodney Crowell during Season 1 in 2022, and Ray Benson during Season 2 in 2023.

By Season 16 in 1991, Austin City Limits was broadcast both in the United States and Canada, so Austin City Limits started broadcasting internationally in different countries from satellites around the world, with translations cropping up in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, Australia, and Japan.

Production

Terry Lickona – producer of Austin City Limits

Joe Gracey was the talent consultant during Season 1 in 1976. Executive producer Terry Lickona joined the program in 1979 during season 4 as a producer. The first director of Austin City Limits was Bruce Scafe, who was the director for the show's first two seasons in 1976 and 1977; Charles Vaughn took over as producer-director in Season 3 (1978); Clark Santee took over as director in Season 4 (1979); Allan Muir took over as director in Season 5 (1980), and he continued until Season 7 (1982); Gary Menotti replaced Allan Muir as the show's current director starting in Season 8 (1983).

Venues

Austin City Limits sign at ACL Live – Moody Theater in Austin, TX (2012)

For the first 36 seasons (1976–2011), Austin City Limits was taped at Studio 6A in the Communications Building B on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The studio had a seating capacity of approximately 800, but due to limited access to fire exits the audience size was limited to 300. In 2010, the show and its original studio were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A plaque near the entrance to Communications Building B commemorating the occasion proclaims Austin City Limits as the "longest running music show in the history of American television". On February 26, 2011, Austin City Limits held its first taping in its new purpose-built Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin's Block 21. The additional seating capacity of 2,750 is used for an estimated 100 concerts and 100 private events per year at the venue.

40th season

On December 2, 2014, in celebration of Austin City Limits' 40th season, a DVD titled Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years was released.

Episodes

Main article: List of Austin City Limits performers

Pilot (1974)

The pilot episode of "Austin City Limits" was taped on October 17, 1974 at KLRN in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, and featured Willie Nelson. The episode aired on March 22, 1975, on 34 PBS stations nationwide. Paul Bosner came up with the idea for a live music show while driving back to Dallas, Texas, and seeing an Austin City Limits highway sign. Bill Arhos then said, "Why don't we do a music show? I've got the perfect title."

• Willie Nelson.

Season 1 (1976)

The first national season of "Austin City Limits" aired on PBS in 1976. The show was submitted to its national PBS distributor, KLRN in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The first season consisted of 13 one-hour episodes. Paul Bosner ran the soundcheck at the beginning of the show. This is the first season with the 1971–1984 PBS logo.

• Asleep at the Wheel/Bob Wills' Texas Playboys
• Rusty Wier
• Townes Van Zandt/Clifton Chenier
• Flaco Jimenez and his Conjunto and Ry Cooder
• Doug Sahm
• Alvin Crow and the Pleasant Valley Boys
• Steve Fromholz
• B.W. Stevenson/Bobby Bridger
• Wheatfield
• Balcones Fault
• Greezy Wheels/Marcia Ball
• The Charlie Daniels Band
• Jerry Jeff Walker/The Lost Gonzo Band

Season 2 (1977)

"London Homesick Blues" by Gary P. Nunn was chosen as the theme song for the first season of "Austin City Limits" and remained until Season 29 (2003–2004). For the first season, the director, Bruce Scafe, took the song from Season 1, Episode 13, which featured Jerry Jeff Walker and The Lost Gonzo Band, and used it as the audio to accompany landscape and nightclub shots.

• Willie Nelson/Tracy Nelson
• The Amazing Rhythm Aces/Gove Scrivenor
• The Earl Scruggs Revue
• Jimmy Buffett/Rusty Wier
• Gatemouth Brown/Delbert McClinton
• Firefall/Denim
• Guy Clark/Steve Fromholz
• The Dirt Band/Kiwi
• Larry Gatlin/Alex Harvey
• Willis Alan Ramsey/Roy Buchanan

Season 3 (1978)

• Michael Murphey
• Steve Goodman
• John Prine
• The Texas Playboys/Ernest Tubb
• Chet Atkins/Merle Travis
• Doc and Merle Watson/Gove Scrivenor
• Johnny Rodriguez/Linda Hargrove
• John Hartford/The Dillards
• Jesse Winchester/Mother of Pearl
• Asleep at the Wheel/Bobby Bridger
• Vassar Clements/Gatemouth Brown
• Merle Haggard
• Killough & Eckley/The Lost Gonzo Band

Season 4 (1979)

Beginning with this season, "Austin City Limits" broadened its scope to include musical styles other than Texas country artists. This change was prompted by a change in producers, with Terry Lickona taking over as producer, later executive prodicer. Also, the partnership with KLRN in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, was dissolved.

• Norton Buffalo
• John McEuen and Friends with Elizabeth Cotten
• Dan Del Santo/Taj Mahal
• The Neville Brothers with Robert Shaw and Lightnin' Hopkins
• Nashville Super Pickers/Tom T. Hall
• Leon Redbone/Steve Fromholz
• Tom Waits
• Delbert McClinton/The Cate Brothers
• Pure Prairie League/Bobby Bare
• Alvin Crow/Marcia Ball
• Hoyt Axton
• Little Joe y La Familia/Esteban Jordan
• Doug Kershaw/Clifton Chenier NOTE: This episode of "Austin City Limits" is the last to air in the 1970s.

Season 5 (1980)

Austin City Limits said goodbye to the 1970s and hello to the 1980s with a new set featuring horse fences. This was also the season that the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Council took over production of the show.

• Roy Clark and Gatemouth Brown NOTE: This "Austin City Limits" episode is the first to air in the 1980s.
• Don Williams/Janie Fricke
• Songwriters Special
• Ray Charles and His Orchestra
• Ralph Stanley/Uncle Walt's Band
• Joe Ely/Jerry Jeff Walker
• Hank Williams Jr/The Shake Russell-Dana Cooper Band
• Johnny Gimble and His Bosque Bandits/Texas Swing Pioneers
• Johnny Paycheck/Billy Joe Shaver
• Flaco Jimenez/Beto y Los Fairlanes
• Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley/Marty Robbins
• Carl Perkins/Joe Sun
• Mel Tillis/Gail Davies

Season 6 (1981)

• The Charlie Daniels Band
• Bobby Bare/Lacy J. Dalton
• George Jones with Hank Thompson and Johnny Gimble
• Ray Price/Asleep at the Wheel
• Johnny Rodriguez/Alabama
• David Grisman Quintet/Mandolin Special
• Bill Monroe/Riders in the Sky
• Tony Joe White/Gary Stewart
• Songwriters Encore
• Charley Pride/Razzy Bailey
• Michael Martin Murphey/Ed Bruce
• Leo Kottke/Passenger
• Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns/Sir Douglas Quintet NOTE: This is the last time, the horse fences set was used.

Season 7 (1982)

This season of "Austin City Limits" introduced its iconic Austin skyline backdrop. The show was nominated for and won Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards. The season also saw the return of "Austin City Limits" creator and founder Bill Arhos as the executive producer. In addition, this season introduced the show's opening theme music by John Mills.

• Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band/Rodney Crowell & The Cherry Bombs NOTE: This is the first Austin City Limits featuring the Austin skyline backdrop.
• Kris Kristofferson with special guest Billy Swan
• Jerry Reed/Chet Atkins
• Johnny Lee/Charly McClain
• Willie Nelson/Guy Clark
• Merle Haggard with Leona Williams and The Strangers
• Bellamy Brothers/John Anderson
• Larry Gatlin/Ricky Skaggs
• Tompall and the Glaser Brothers/George Strait
• Don McLean/Terri Gibbs
• Roy Clark/The Geezinslaws
• Pete Fountain/Jazzmanian Devil
• George Thorogood & The Destroyers/David Olney & The X-Rays

Season 8 (1983)

• Mickey Gilley/T.G. Sheppard
• Don Williams/West Texas Songwriters Special
• Roy Orbison
• Songwriters Showcase
• B.B. King
• Janie Fricke/B.J. Thomas
• Frizzel & West/Con Hunley
• Michael Martin Murphey/Gary P. Nunn
• Rosanne Cash/Steve Wariner
• Rank and File/Delbert McClinton
• Tammy Wynette/John Conlee
• Loretta Lynn & The Coal Miners

Season 9 (1984)

This season of Austin City Limits is the last to feature the 1971–1984 PBS logo. Also during this season, "London Homesick Blues" was rerecorded in a more modern style. The rerecording features Gary P. Nunn on lead vocals and several backup vocalists. The original recording was taken from Season 8, Episode 8 in 1983 and featured Michael Martin Murphey and Gary P. Nunn.

• Ray Charles/Lee Greenwood
• Jerry Lee Lewis & The Memphis Beats
• Freddie Powers with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
• Gary Morris/Gail Davies
• The Whites/New Grass Revival
• Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band
• Johnny Rodriguez/David Allan Coe
• Dottie West/Floyd Cramer
• Bonnie Raitt with The LeRoi Brothers, Ray Campi and Sleepy LaBeef
• John Anderson/Lisa Gilkyson
• George Strait/The Kendalls
• Country Legends
• Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble/The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Season 10 (1985)

The 1985 season of "Austin City Limits" celebrated its 10th anniversary by showcasing the best of country music, from singers and pickers to today's legends and the stars of tomorrow. This season also featured the show's first tribute show, which honored Steve Goodman. Additionally, this season marked the first use of the 1984–1989 PBS logo.

• Oak Ridge Boys/Bob Wills' Texas Playboys
• Neil Young
• Exile/The Maines Brothers with Terry Allen
• Waylon Jennings/Billy Joe Shaver
• Eddie Rabbitt/Tammy Wynette
• Ricky Skaggs/The Judds
• Glen Campbell/Eddy Raven
• The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/A Tribute to Steve Goodman
• Juice Newton/Mark Gray
• Larry Gatlin/Nanci Griffith
• Freddie Powers with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard/Whitey Shafer
• Earl Thomas Conley/Vince Gill

Season 11 (1986)

• Gary Morris/Sylvia
• Mel Tillis/The Geezinslaw Brothers
• George Jones/Vern Gosdin
• John Schneider/Southern Pacific
• Tanya Tucker/Sawyer Brown
• Merle Haggard with special guest Freddie Powers
• Rockin' Sidney/The Neville Brothers
• Roger McGuinn/Kate Wolf
• Louise Mandrell/Mel McDaniel
• George Strait/Dwight Yoakam
• Legends of Bluegrass
• Songwriters Special
• Austin City Limits Reunion Special

Season 12 (1987)

This is the last season of Austin City Limits produced by the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Council. After this season, PBS stations KLRN and KLRU split up.

• Ronnie Milsap
• Steve Wariner/Restless Heart
• Brenda Lee/Sweethearts of the Rodeo
• Leon Russell with Edgar Winter/Steve Earle
• Fats Domino
• Chet Atkins and Friends
• Randy Travis/Kathy Mattea
• Squeezebox Special
• The Fabulous Thunderbirds/Omar and the Howlers
• Lyle Lovett/Judy Rodman
• Riders in the Sky/Hot Rize
• Michael Martin Murphey/Marty Stuart

Season 13 (1988)

Beginning with this season, KLRU; The Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications Council took over production of "Austin City Limits" from its inception and remained until Season 44 (2018–2019).

• The O'Kanes/Highway 101
• The Forester Sisters/Thom Bresh and Lane Brody
• Rosanne Cash/Desert Rose Band
• Reba McEntire
• Larry Gatlin/Holly Dunn
• John Prine/Asleep at the Wheel
• K.D. Lang/Foster & Lloyd
• Jerry Jeff Walker/Loudon Wainwright III
• Leo Kottke/Schulyer Knobock and Bickhardt
• Ricky Van Shelton/Darden Smith
• Ricky Skaggs/The Whites
• The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/New Grass Revival
• Gene Watson/Moe Bandy
• Bellamy Brothers/The Wagoneers

Season 14 (1989)

This is the last season of Austin City Limits to feature the PBS logo that was used from 1984 to 1989.

• George Strait & The Ace in the Hole Band
• K. T. Oslin/Rodney Crowell
• The Charlie Daniels Band/Gary P. Nunn
• Stanley Jordan
• Emmylou Harris/Nanci Griffith
• Delbert McClinton/The Crickets
• Dwight Yoakam/Patty Loveless
• Songwriters Special
• Buck Owens/The Geezinslaws
• Texas Music Showcase
• Leonard Cohen
• Keith Whitley/Skip Ewing
• Timbuk3/Eric Johnson
• John Hiatt/Los Lobos NOTE: This is the last episode of "Austin City Limits" to air in the 1980s.

Season 15 (1990)

Austin City Limits celebrated its 15th anniversary in 1990, marking 15 years of great music. This season was the first to feature the 1989–1993 PBS logo, symbolizing the transition from the 1980s to the 1990s.

• George Jones/Carl Perkins NOTE: This is the first Austin City Limits episode to air in the 1990s.
• Marcia Ball/Beausoleil
• Gary Morris/Mary Chapin Carpenter
• Kathy Mattea/Tish Hinojosa
• Waylon Jennings/Marty Stuart
• Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble/W.C. Clark Blues Revue
• Will the Circle Be Unbroken with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends
• Lyle Lovett & His Large Band
• Michelle Shocked/Strength in Numbers
• Lucinda Williams/Guy Clark
• Garth Brooks/Shenandoah
• James McMurtry/Sweethearts of the Rodeo
• Lorrie Morgan/Steve Wariner

Season 16 (1991)

• Ricky Van Shelton/Kelly Willis
• Sara Hickman/Kennedy-Rose
• Shelby Lynne/Willie Nelson
• Alan Jackson/Mark Collie
• Cowboy Junkies/Walter Hyatt
• Texas Tornados/McBride & The Ride
• Merle Haggard/Masters of Bluegrass
• Chet Atkins with Johnny Gimble and the Cluster Pluckers
• The Robert Cray Band with the Memphis Horns/Buddy Guy
• Shawn Colvin/John Hammond
• Little Feat
• Joe Ely/Foster & Lloyd
• A Salute to the Cowboy

Season 17 (1992)

The 17th season of Austin City Limits was the last to use the 1989–1993 PBS logo. The logo was replaced by a new one in 1993.

• Songwriters Special
• Los Lobos/C.J. Chenier
• Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks/The Acoustic Warriors
• Vince Gill/Alison Krauss and Union Station
• Albert Collins/Danny Gatton
• K. T. Oslin
• Travis Tritt/Holly Dunn
• The Subdudes/Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
• Trisha Yearwood/Hal Ketchum
• Rosanne Cash with Bruce Cockburn and Lucinda Williams
• Kevin Welch/Will T. Massey
• Doug Stone/Maura O'Connell
• John Prine/Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Season 18 (1993)

The 1993 season of "Austin City Limits" was the first to feature the 1993-1996 PBS logo. This season also marked a shift in focus to classic performers, such as B.B. King, whose performance from Season 8 in 1983 was rebroadcast.

• Michael Nesmith/Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers
• Marc Cohn/Leo Kottke
• Aleep at the Wheel/Riders in the Sky
• Pam Tillis/Mike Reid
• Lyle Lovett & His Large Band/Dr. John
• Delbert McClinton/Lee Roy Parnell
• Mary Chapin Carpenter
• Garrison Keillor with Chet Atkins and Johnny Gimble
• Tracy Lawrence/Suzy Bogguss
• Kathy Mattea/Great Plains
• John Gorka/Steve Forbert
• Taj Mahal/Tish Hinojosa

Season 19 (1994)

This season, PBS aired an "Austin City Limits" special called "Merle Haggard in Concert." The special featured a compilation of Merle Haggard's performances on the show from his first appearance in Season 3 in 1978 to his latest appearance in Season 16 in 1991.

• Rosanne Cash/Carlene Carter
• Hal Ketchum/Kelly Willis
• Zachary Richard/The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Bruce Hoensby/John Mayall
• John Anderson/Billy Dean
• Songwriters Special
• Joan Baez/Rory Block
• Diamond Rio/John Michael Montgomery
• Suzanne Vega/Darden Smith
• Leonard Cohen/Christine Albert with Paul Glasse
• John Hiatt/Radney Foster with Mary Chapin Carpenter

Season 20 (1995)

In 1995, "Austin City Limits" celebrated its 20th anniversary. For two decades, the show has brought us great music from a wide variety of artists.

• Vince Gill/Junior Brown
• Nanci Griffith/Iris DeMent
• 20th Anniversary Bluegrass Special
• Alan Jackson
• The Neville Brothers/Jimmie Vaughan
• The Mavericks/Robert Earl Keen
• Tejano Music Special
• Tammy Wynette/Rick Trevino
• Mark Chesnutt/Tracy Byrd
• Shawn Colvin/Bill Miller
• David Ball/Gary P. Nunn with Jim Henson's Muppets
• Stevie Ray Vaughan: A Retrospective
• Lyle Lovett & His Large Band

Season 21 (1996)

The 1996 season of "Austin City Limits" was the last to feature the 1993-1996 PBS logo. During that season, PBS aired an "Austin City Limits" Sagebrush Symphony special featuring Michael Martin Murphey, the Sons of the San Joaquin, Hank Thompson, Robert Mirabal, and Herb Jeffries with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. This season's classic encores include performances by Roy Orbison, Roger Miller, and Marty Robbins.

• Alison Krauss/Merle Haggard
• John Prine/Todd Snider
• Asleep at the Wheel's 25th Anniversary Celebration
• B.B. King
• Pam Tillis/A Guitar Pull with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Iris DeMent, and Freddie Powers
• Lee Roy Parnell/A.J. Croce
• The Allman Brothers Band
• Lisa Loeb/Jimmy LaFave
• Los Lobos/Joe Ely
• Faith Hill/Trisha Yearwood
• Gatemouth Brown/Keb' Mo'

Season 22 (1997)

Beginning with this season, "Austin City Limits" and other PBS shows are going on the internet with the launch of the "Austin City Limits" website. The website features interactive elements from our performers, as well as a history of the show. It also has new features designed for the World Wide Web. The "Austin City Limits" website can be found at www.pbs.org. Austin City Limits paid tribute to bluegrass music legend Bill Monroe, who died in 1996. This season, the show aired a retrospective episode that included Monroe's Season 6 performance in 1981 and the legends of bluegrass during Season 11 in 1986. Austin City Limits paid tribute to Walter Hyatt, who also died in 1996. The show featured a tribute to Hyatt with performances by Lyle Lovett, David Ball, Champ Hood, Willis Alan Ramsey, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Junior Brown, David Halley, and Allison Moorer. This season's Best of Austin Country Showcase will feature a stellar lineup of local Austin artists. Performers include Libbi Bosworth, Dale Watson, The Derailers, Wayne Hancock, Don Walser, and Mary Cutrufello. This is the first season with the 1996–1998 PBS logo.

• Wynonna
• Songwriters Special
• A Bluegrass Tribute to Bill Monroe
• A Tribute to Walter Hyatt
• Best of Austin Country Showcase
• Mary Chapin Carpenter/BR5-49
• Travis Tritt/Wade Hayes
• Eric Johnson/Kenny Wayne Shepherd
• Lyle Lovett & His Large Band
• Son Volt/Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
• Robert Earl Keen/Jack Ingram
• Sheryl Crow
• Blues Night with Delbert McClinton and Miss Lavelle White

Season 23 (1998)

This season of Austin City Limits won the W.C. Handy "Keeping the Blues Alive" award. The show featured a Townes Van Zandt tribute with performances by Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Nanci Griffith, John T. Van Zandt, Lyle Lovett, Peter Rowan, and Jack Clement. This is the last season to use the 1996–1998 PBS logo.

• Junior Brown/Robbie Fulks
• Patty Loveless/Collin Raye
• Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, and Tracy Nelson
• The Manhattan Transfer with special guests Ricky Skaggs and Asleep at the Wheel
• The Indigo Girls with Vonda Shepard, Freedy Johnston, and Mark Eitzel/Kim Richey
• Loretta Lynn & The Coal Miners
• Nanci Griffith with The Crickets
• Hal Ketchum/Terry Allen
• A Celebration of Townes Van Zandt
• Boz Scaggs/8 1/2 Souvenirs
• Old 97's/Whiskeytown
• Clay Walker/Trace Adkins
• Buddy Guy/Storyville

Season 24 (1999)

The 1999 season of "Austin City Limits" was the last with Bill Arhos as the executive producer. He retired after the season ended, leaving the show in the hands of the creator, executive producer, and founder. This season also marked the adoption of the tagline "Where Music Lives." The season featured the musical stylings of Los Lobos, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Ruben Ramos, Rick Trevino, Joe Ely, Tish Hinojosa, and Campanas de America. This is the first season to use the 1998–2002 PBS logo.

• Deana Carter with special guests Matraca Berg and Fred Carter Jr.
• Dixie Chicks/Charlie Robison
• Ruth Brown/Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra
• Billy Brag sings Woody Guthrie/Lucinda Williams.
• Vince Gill/Martina McBride
• Ray Price with Junior Brown/Hank Thompson with Junior Brown
• Jonny Lang/Jimmie Vaughan
• Mexican Roots Music: A Celebration
• Fastball/Mary Cutrufello
• Dave Alvin/Loudon Wainwright III
• Bruce Hornsby/Monte Montgomery
• Hootie and the Blowfish with Nanci Griffith and Peter Holsapple
• Bobby Blue Bland/Susan Tedeschi NOTE: This is the last episode of "Austin City Limits" to air in the 1990s.

Season 25 (2000)

In 2000, Austin City Limits celebrated its 25th anniversary. The season celebrated 25 years of American music, and its 25th season marked a silver anniversary. This season saw the introduction of interview segments. Also, a book titled "Austin City Limits 25 Years of American Music" was offered by phone for this season only.

• An Hour with Garth Brooks
• Robert Cray/Doyle Bramhall II
• Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black, Eric Johnson, and Ray Benson
• Willie Nelson and Family with Leon Russell
• Marty Stuart with Pam Tillis and Earl Scruggs/Susan Ashton
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Texas Tornados with a Tribute to Doug Sahm
• Kenny Rogers
• The Mavericks/The Warren Brothers
• Wilco/Bela Fleck & Friends
• Songwriters Special
• Joe Ely/Indigenous
• Lyle Lovett with special guests Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, Michael Martin Murphey, Eric Taylor, Vince Bell, and Steve Fromholz
• Trisha Yearwood/Alison Krauss
• Jewel
• Garth Brooks II

Season 26 (2000–2001)

This season, Terry Lickona appeared on camera for the "Austin City Limits" classic encores. This season's classic encores include a tribute to Townes Van Zandt from Season 23 in 1998, Tom Waits from Season 4 in 1979, Fats Domino from Season 12 in 1987, the outtakes of Stevie Ray Vaughan's 1984 and 1990 performances from Season 9 and Season 15, and Leonard Cohen from Season 14 in 1989.

• Phish
• John Hiatt/Kelly Willis
• Shelby Lynne/Toni Price
• Lee Ann Womack/Clay Davidson
• Brad Paisley/Eric Heatherly
• Joe Cocker
• Widespread Panic
• Merle Haggard/The Derailers
• Steve Earle/Kasey Chambers
• David Gray/Dar Williams
• Bruce Hornsby/Eric Johnson
• Dixie Chicks
• Double Trouble with Jimmie Vaughan, Susan Tedeschi, Jonny Lang, Doyle Bramhall II, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Charlie Sexton, Lou Ann Barton, and Malford Milligan
• Dolly Parton/Nickel Creek
• Toby Keith/Allison Moorer
• Joan Osborne
• Shawn Colvin with Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, and Bruce Hoensby
• Keb' Mo'/Willis Alan Ransey
• Patty Griffin/Bob Schneider

Season 27 (2001–2002)

The 1998–2002 PBS logo is used for the last time this season on Austin City Limits. After this season, the logo will be retired.

• Buena Vista Social Club featuring Ibrahim Ferrier and His Orchestra
• Richard Thompson/Eliza Gilkyson
• Patty Loveless/Del McCoury Band
• Mary Chapin Carpenter/Nanci Griffith
• The String Cheese Incident
• Shemekia Copeland/Jimmie Vaughan
• Brooks & Dunn
• Brad Paisley/Sara Evans
• Robert Earl Keen/Charlie Robison
• Delbert McClinton/Asleep at the Wheel
• John Hammond/Blue Rodeo
• David Byrne
• Natalie Merchant/Eric Taylor

Season 28 (2002–2003)

The 2002–2003 season was the first season to use the 2002–2009 PBS logo. It was also the first season that the Austin City Limits Music Festival was held.

• Bonnie Raitt with Oliver Mtukudzi, John Prine, and Roy Rogers
• "By the Hand of the Father" with music by Alejandro Escovedo, Pete Escovedo, Rosie Flores, and Ruben Ramos
• Alison Krauss and Union Station/The Flatlanders
• Los Lobos/RatDog with Bob Weir
• Chris Isaak/Norah Jones
• Robert Plant
• Jackson Browne
• The Blind Boys of Alabama/Robert Randolph and the Family Band
• Nickel Creek/Ralph Stanley
• Beck with The Flaming Lips
• Spoon/Ben Kweller
• Pat Green/Cory Morrow
• Pat Metheny Group

Season 29 (2003–2004)

After 29 seasons, from 1977 to 2004, "Austin City Limits" stopped using Gary P. Nunn's "London Homesick Blues" as its theme song. This was the last season to broadcast in 480i NTSC.

• Steve Winwood
• Susan Tedeschi/Ruthie Foster
• Vince Gill
• Tracy Chapman
• Rosanne Cash/Neko Case
• John Mayer with special guests Buddy Guy and Double Trouble
• Joe Nichols/Jessica Andrews
• Jason Mraz/Fountains of Wayne
• Jonny Lang/Chuck Prophet
• The Jayhawks/Gillian Welch
• Guster/Los Lonely Boys
• Ben Harper
• Keith Urban/Rodney Crowell

Season 30 (2004–2005)

In 2004, Austin City Limits celebrated its 30th anniversary by switching from NTSC to HDTV. The show also introduced a new opening theme song written and performed by Charlie Sexton. This replaced "London Homesick Blues" by Gary P. Nunn, which had been used from 1977 to 2004.

• John Fogerty
• Robert Randolph and the Family Band
• Damien Rice/Patty Griffin
• Michael McDonald/Joss Stone
• Lyle Lovett/Jamie Cullum
• Sheryl Crow
• Polyphonic Spree/Ozomatli
• Elvis Costello
• The Flaming Lips/The Shins
• Wilco/Bright Eyes
• Trey Anastasio
• Modest Mouse/Guided by Voices
• Pixies

Season 31 (2005–2006)

• Jack Johnson/Rilo Kiley
• Alison Krauss and Union Station/Kathleen Edwards
• Etta James
• Ben Folds/Ray LaMontagne
• The Killers/Spoon
• John Prine/Amos Lee
• Franz Ferdinand/What Made Milwaukee Famous
• Coldplay
• Blues Traveler/Cafe Tacuba
• Ryan Adams/Tift Merritt
• Widespread Panic
• Gretchen Wilson/Miranda Lambert
• Death Cab for Cutie/My Morning Jacket

Season 32 (2006–2007)

This is the last season of "Austin City Limits" to use the opening theme music by Charlie Sexton. This theme music has been used since Season 30, which aired from 2004 to 2005.

• Ray Davies
• The New Orleans Social Club
• Juanes
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Sufjan Stevens/Calexico
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• Van Morrison
• Corrine Bailey Rae/KT Tunstall
• Los Lonely Boys/The Gourds
• The Raeconteurs/Cat Power
• Damian Marley
• James Blunt/James McMurtry
• The Dixie Chicks

Season 33 (2007–2008)

This season, "Austin City Limits" aired a special episode recorded at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

• Norah Jones
• The Decembrists/Explosions in the Sky
• Femi Kuti
• Tribute to Bluesman Jimmy Reed
• Wilco
• Arcade Fire
• Palolo Nutini/Grupo Fantasma
• John Mayer
• Lucinda Williams/Old Crow Medicine Show
• Ghostland Observatory
• Crowded House
• Kings of Leon/Roky Erickson
• Brad Paisley/Dierks Bentley

Season 34 (2008-2009)

This is the last season to use the Songwriters Special, which "Austin City Limits" had been using since Season 5 in 1980. After this season, "Austin City Limits" discontinued the Songwriters Special. This is also the last season to use the 2002-2009 PBS logo.

• R.E.M.
• Betty LaVette/Pinetop Perkins
• Lyle Lovett and Friends: A Songwriters Special
• Jacob Dylan/Carrie Rodriguez
• My Morning Jacket
• Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings/Carolyn Wonderland
• Aimee Mann/Iron & Wine
• Gnarls Barkley/Thievery Corporation
• Foo Fighters
• Manu Chao
• Nick Lowe/The Swell Season
• Drive-by Truckers/Ryan Bingham
• Sara McLachlan/Duffy

Season 35 (2009-2010)

This season of Austin City Limits is the 35th anniversary of the show. It features a wide variety of musical artists, just as it has for the past 35 years. This is the first season with the 2009-2019 PBS logo.

• Dave Matthews Band
• Ben Harper and Relentless7
• Kenny Chesney
• Andrew Bird/St. Vincent
• M. Ward/Okkervil River
• Elvis Costello/Band of Heathens
• Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel
• Pearl Jam
• Allen Toussaint
• K'Naan/Mos Def
• The Avett Brothers/Heartless Bastards
• Steve Earle/Kris Kristofferson
• Esperanza Spalding/Madelieine Peyroux
• Them Crooked Vultures

Season 36 (2010-2011)

"Austin City Limits" has been taped at Studio 6A since its first season in 1976. However, this is the last season to be taped at its original home.

• Jimmy Cliff with special guest Michael Franti
• Spoon
• Patty Griffin & Friends
• Alejandro Escovedo/Trombone Shorty
• Robert Earl Keen/Hayes Carll
• Steve Martin/Sarah Jarosz
• Rosanne Cash/Brandi Carlile
• John Legend and The Roots
• Cheap Trick
• Monsters of Folk
• The National/Band of Horses
• Sonic Youth/The Black Keys
• Lyle Lovett/Bob Schneider

Season 37 (2011-2012)

Austin City Limits began its 37th season in 2011 at a new location, ACL Live at the Moody Theater. The show's opening theme music, "An Introduction" by Explosions in the Sky, was introduced this season. A classic encore from Season 4 in 1979, a Tom Waits performance, aired during the Christmas season until 2019.

• Mumford & Sons/Flogging Molly
• Raphael Saadiq/Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears with special guests The Relatives
• Widespread Panic
• The Decembrists/Gillian Welch
• Steve Miller Band/Preservation Hall Jazz Band with special guests Yim Yames, Del McCoury Band, and James Petralli
• Miranda Lambert/Jeff Bridges
• Randy Newman
• The Head and the Heart/Gomez
• Arcade Fire
• Fleet Foxes/Joanna Newsom
• Florence and the Machine/Lykke Li
• Wilco
• Coldplay

Season 38 (2012-2013)

• Radiohead
• Bon Iver
• Bonnie Raitt/Mavis Staples
• The Shins/Dr. Dog
• The Civil Wars/Punch Brothers
• Jack White
• Rodrigo y Gabriela
• Norah Jones/Kat Edmonson
• Bob Mould/Delta Spirit
• Tim McGraw
• Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes/tUnE-yArDs
• Gary Clark Jr/Alabama Shakes
• Esperanza Spalding

Season 39 (2013-2014)

"An Introduction" by Explosions in the Sky is the opening theme music for Season 37 of "Austin City Limits." This is the last season to feature this song.

• Juanes/Jesse & Joy
• Phoenix
• The Lumineers/Shovels & Rope
• Vampire Weekend/Grizzly Bear
• Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
• Emeli Sande/Michael Kiwanuka
• Jim James/The Black Angels
• Queens of the Stone Age
• Jason Isbell/Neko Case
• Fun./Dawes
• Portugal. the Man/Local Natives
• Sarah Jarosz/The Milk Carton Kids
• Kacey Musgraves/Dale Watson

Season 40 (2014-2015)

This season of "Austin City Limits" marks the show's 40th anniversary. The show introduced a new opening theme music, "Travis County Line" by Gary Clark Jr. This season also saw the establishment of the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Season 40 of Austin City Limits is dedicated to Bill Arhos, the show's creator, founder, and executive producer. Arhos was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2014. Sadly, Arhos passed away on April 11, 2015, at the age of 80. Arhos was the executive producer of "Austin City Limits" from 1982 to 1999. He was responsible for producing seasons 7 through 24 of the show. Bill Arhos served as president and general manager at KLRU from 1986 to 1999. He retired from producing Austin City Limits in 1999.

• Beck
• Ed Sheeran/Valerie June
• Nine Inch Nails
• Tweedy
• Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
• Los Lobos/Theo & The Get Down Stay Down
• Eric Church
• The Avett Brothers/Nickel Creek
• Spoon/White Denim
• Sam Smith/Future Islands
• Ryan Adams/Jenny Lewis
• The Black Keys/J. Roddy Walston and The Business
• Foo Fighters

Season 41 (2015-2016)

The 41st season of "Austin City Limits" features a new opening theme song, "New Shake" by White Denim. This season of "Austin City Limits" is the first since the passing of its creator, Bill Arhos. He was a pioneer in the world of televised music. His contributions to the music industry were significant, and he will be greatly missed. During this season, Terry Lickona formed his production company, LickonaVision. LickonaVision was acquired from KLRU.

• Cassandra Wilson
• Sturgill Simpson/Asleep at the Wheel
• Don Henley
• Gary Clark Jr./Courtney Bartnett
• TV on the Radio/The War on Drugs
• James Taylor
• Alabama Shakes/Vintage Trouble
• Kendrick Lamar
• Ryan Adams/Shakey Graves
• Angelique Kidjo
• Sleater-Kinney/Heartless Bastards
• Leon Bridges/Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
• Tedeschi Trucks Band

Season 42 (2016-2017)

• Paul Simon
• James Bay/Rhiannon Giddens
• Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters
• Florence and the Machine/Andra Day
• Iggy Pop
• Natalia Lafourcade/Grupo Fantasma
• My Morning Jacket/Ben Harper
• Ms. Lauryn Hill
• Cyndi Lauper
• Margo Price/Hayes Carll
• Band of Horses/Parker Millsap
• CeCe Winans/St. Paul and The Broken Bones
• Foals/Alejandro Escovedo

Season 43 (2017-2018)

The 43rd season of "Austin City Limits" featured a new opening theme music, "History of Women" by The Black Angels.

• Ed Sheeran
• The Pretenders
• Zac Brown Band
• Norah Jones/Angel Olson
• Miranda Lambert
• The Head and the Heart/Benjamin Booker
• Father John Misty/The Black Angels
• Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit/Amanda Shires
• Herbie Hancock
• Run the Jewels
• LCD Soundsystem
• Dan Auerbach/Shinyribs
• Chris Stapleton/Turnpike Troubadors

Season 44 (2018-2019)

This is the last season of "Austin City Limits" produced by KLRU, the Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications Council. KLRU has produced the show since Season 13 in 1988. This is also the last season with the 2009-2019 PBS logo. During that season, KGSR was rebranded as Austin City Limits Radio. The rebranding was a success, and Austin City Limits Radio was launched.

• St. Vincent
• John Prine
• Sam Smith/Anderson East
• Brandi Carlile
• Miguel/Alessia Cara
• Kacey Musgraves/Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real
• Janelle Monae
• Khalid/MacDeMarco
• Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
• Residente
• Arctic Monkeys/Wild Child
• Willie Nelson & The Family Band
• Buddy Guy/August Greene

Season 45 (2019-2020)

This season, KLRU rebranded as Austin PBS. At the same time, PBS introduced its new logo and rebranding. Austin City Limits introduced a new opening theme for the 2019-2020 season, "Hot Thoughts" by Spoon. The song is from Spoon's 2019 album "Hot Thoughts". This season, "Austin City Limits" paid tribute to Guy Clark with a performance by Steve Earle and the Dukes. Earle and the Dukes performed some of Clark's songs.

• Gary Clark Jr.
• Maggie Rogers
• Steve Earle and the Dukes: A Tribute to Guy Clark
• H.E.R.
• Patty Griffin/The Revivalists
• Vampire Weekend
• Kane Brown/Colter Wall
• Sharon Van Etten/Lucy Dacus
• The Raconteurs/Black Pumas
• Mitski/Rainbow Kitten Surprise
• Cage the Elephant/Tank and the Bangas
• Billie Eilish
• Rosalia

Season 46 (2020-2021)

Austin City Limits is back for its 46th season. This season will feature a new opening theme song, "Colors" by Black Pumas. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all episodes will be taped without a live studio audience.

• The Best of John Prine
• Yola
• Stevie Ray Vaughan 30 Years On
• Rufus Wainwright
• John Legend and the Roots: Wake Up
• Jackie Venson/Mavis Staples
• The Mavericks En Espanol
• Foo Fighters Rock Austin City Limits
• The War and Treaty/Ruthie Foster
• Ray Wylie Hubbard
• The Best of Spoon
• Texas Icons: Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver
• Allen Toussaint: New Orleans Legend

Season 47 (2021-2022)

This season of "Austin City Limits" returned to a live studio audience after the COVID-19 pandemic ended. The show's producers had previously announced that the show would return to a live audience for its 47th season. This season of "Austin City Limits" was a bittersweet one. While the series continued to produce high-quality performances, its creator and executive producer, Paul Bosner, died on March 24, 2022 at the age of 94. Paul Bosner was a veteran television producer, filmmaker, and photographer. He was one of the three creators of "Austin City Limits," along with Bruce Scafe and Bill Arhos. This season's Best of Nanci Griffith is a compilation of her appearances on "Austin City Limits." The season includes performances from 1985 to 2002, beginning with Season 10 and ending with Season 27.

• Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, and Jon Randall: The Marfa Tapes
• Jade Bird/Dayglow
• Jon Batiste
• Sarah Jarosz/Billy Strings
• Brandy Clark/Charley Crockett
• Leon Bridges/Khruangbin
• Jackson Browne
• Brittany Howard
• Olivia Rodrigo/Phoebe Bridgers
• St. Vincent/Joy Oladokun
• Duran Duran
• Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band
• The Best of Nanci Griffith

Season 48 (2022-2023)

This season, "Austin City Limits" has introduced a new opening theme music, "Cruel" by St. Vincent.

• Brandi Carlile
• Japanese Breakfast/Arlo Parks
• Sylvan Esso/Lucius
• Parker McCollum/Robert Earl Keen
• Allison Russell/The Weather Station
• Lyle Lovett & His Large Band
• Cimafunk and The Tribe
• Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats/Adia Victoria
• Adrian Quesada: "Boleros Psicodelicos"
• The War on Drugs
• Pavement
• Maren Morris
• Spoon

Season 49 (2023-2024)

• Rodrigo y Gabriela featuring The Austin Symphony Orchestra
• Jenny Lewis/MUNA
• Lil Yachty/Sudan Archives
• Margo Price/Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
• Jorge Drexler
• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
• Foo Fighters
• Robert Glasper/DOMI & JD Beck
• Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
• Tanya Tucker/Brittney Spencer
• Noah Kahan/Flor de Toloache
• Alanis Morissette
• Bonnie Raitt

Season 50 (2024-2025)

This season marks the 50th anniversary of "Austin City Limits." To celebrate, the theme song has been changed to "An Introduction" by Adrian Quesada.

• Kacey Musgraves
• Gary Clark Jr./Black Pumas
• Maggie Rogers/Gracie Abrams
• Jacob Collier/Nickel Creek
• Brittany Howard
• Jelly Roll/The War and Treaty
• Chris Stapleton
• Juanes

Hall of Fame

Established as part of the 40th anniversary of Austin City Limits in 2014.

• Bill Arhos (2014)
• Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (2014)
• Darrell Royal (2014)
• Lloyd Maines (2014)
• Willie Nelson (2014)
• Asleep at the Wheel (2015)
• Townes Van Zandt (2015)
• Loretta Lynn (2015)
• ACL Season One Crew (2015)
• Guy Clark (2015)
• Flaco Jiménez (2015)
• Dickie Peterson (2016)
• B. B. King (2016)
• Bonnie Raitt (2016)
• Kris Kristofferson (2016)
• The Neville Brothers (2017)
• Roy Orbison (2017)
• Rosanne Cash (2017)
• Marcia Ball (2018)
• Ray Charles (2018)
• Los Lobos (2018)
• Lyle Lovett (2019)
• Buddy Guy (2019)
• Shawn Colvin (2019)
• Alejandro Escovedo (2021)
• Wilco (2021)
• Lucinda Williams (2021)
• Sheryl Crow (2022)
• Joe Ely (2022)
• Garth Brooks (2024)

Set design

The pilot episode of "Austin City Limits" was taped at Studio 6A on October 17, 1974, and aired on March 22, 1975. The set for the pilot was designed by Bruce Scafe. "Austin City Limits" was taped at Studio 6A for Seasons 1 through 36, which ran from 1976 to 2011. The first set for "Austin City Limits" was designed by Bruce Scafe, Paul Bosner, and Augie Kymmel. It featured a black stage backdrop with colored mats, a stage floor with audience seats, and a view of the audience that could be seen far behind the performer. This set was used during Season 1 in 1976 and Season 2 in 1977. In 1978, during Season 3 of Austin City Limits, the audience was removed from behind the performer, and the performer was placed on a black stage backdrop with the audience to the side. In 1979, during Season 4, red and blue lights were added to the set, which allowed the audience to darken the stage to focus attention on the performer. In 1980 and 1981, during Seasons 5 and 6, horse fences were added to the set. The Austin skyline backdrop was added to the set in 1982 during Season 7. The lights of the skyline changed color in 1983 at the start of Season 8. A grid of stairs was added to the middle of the backdrop in 1986 for Season 11, and remained until Season 22 in 1997. The grid of stairs was removed in 1998 at the start of Season 23. Starting with Season 37 (2011–2012), Austin City Limits moved from Studio 6A to its new home at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. The Moody Theater is a state-of-the-art venue with a capacity of 2,750.

Theme song

In 1976, during Season 1 of "Austin City Limits," producer Paul Bosner ran a soundcheck. The resulting audio was used to accompany each episode's two-minute opening sequence. From 1977 to 2004, Austin City Limits used "London Homesick Blues" by Gary P. Nunn as its theme song. The song was used for seasons 2 through 29. From 1977 to 1981, "Louisiana Fairy Tale" by Fats Waller was the theme for "Austin City Limits." The song was later adopted as the theme for "This Old House" from 1979 to 2002 in seasons 1-23. The closing theme for "Austin City Limits" from 1980 to 1982 in seasons 5-7 was "The Big One" by Alan Tew. This song was later used on "The People's Court" during the Joseph Wapner era from 1981 to 1993. From 1992 to 1996 ins season 17-21, the theme music for Austin City Limits was "Shining Time Station". It was written by Joe Raposo and performed by Kevin Roth. From 1982 to 1998, the opening theme music for Austin City Limits was performed by John Mills. Mills composed the opening theme for seasons 7-23. From 2000 to 2004, Austin City Limits featured music by Tequila Mockingbird. The band provided the opening theme music for seasons 25-29. From 2004 to 2007, Austin musician Charlie Sexton composed the opening theme music for seasons 30-32 of Austin City Limits. From 2011 to 2014 in seasons 37-39, Austin City Limits featured "An Introduction" as its opening theme music. The song was written and performed by Explosions in the Sky. The opening sequence for "Austin City Limits" was created by Jonathan Jackson. Season 40 of Austin City Limits featured Austin native Gary Clark Jr.'s "Travis County Line" as its theme song. The song was an appropriate choice, as it captures the spirit of Austin, Texas. Season 41-42 of Austin City Limits featured "New Shake" by White Denim as its opening theme music. The song was written by White Denim and is included on their album "Corsicana Lemonade." The Black Angels' song "History of Women" was used as the theme song for seasons 43 and 44 of Austin City Limits. The opening theme music for Season 45 and Season 47 of Austin City Limits was "Hot Thoughts" by Spoon. Season 46 of Austin City Limits featured "Colors" by Black Pumas as the opening theme music. The song was released in 2019 as part of the band's debut album, "Black Pumas." "Cruel" by St. Vincent became the theme song for Season 48 and Season 49 of Austin City Limits. S Season 50 of Austin City Limits featured "An Introduction" by Adrian Quesada as its theme music. The music was composed by Adrian Quesada and performed by him and his band.

See also

• Sessions at West 54th: a short-lived public television series that also featured music performances
• Soundstage: similar program from WTTW in Chicago
• Music of Austin
• Austin City Limits Music Festival

External links

• PBS: Austin City Limits full-length videos
• Austin City Limits Episode Guide
• The Handbook of Texas Online
• Austin City Limits Artist Interviews at the Wayback Machine (archived December 2, 2006)
• 35 Years of Austin City Limits
• Austin City Limits – Live