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. Willie Nelson was the featured performer. 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." Austin City Limits was born.

• Willie Nelson.

Season 1 (1976)

In 1976, the first national season of "Austin City Limits" aired on PBS. The show was submitted to KLRN, its national PBS distributor 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." The song was used for the first 29 seasons, from 2003 to 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)

Beginning with this season, Charles Vaughan is the producer and director of "Austin City Limits." Terry Lickona, Ray Lucero, and Gary Menotti are joining the show's staff.

• 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)

The 4th season of "Austin City Limits" in 1979 marks a significant change for the show. It has 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, and later executive producer. Additionally, the partnership with KLRN in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, has been dissolved. During this season, the set featured red and blue lights designed by Robert Sertner. The audience could darken the stage by dimming the lights. This allowed for a more intimate atmosphere.

• 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" aired its 5th season in 1980. This season featured a new set design with horse fences. It was also the season that the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Council took over production of the show. During Season 5, "Austin City Limits" introduced a Songwriters Special featuring performances by some of the most talented songwriters. Buddy Emmons' 1976 recording of "Deep in the Heart of Texas" played during the opening credits. When Allan Muir became the new director of "Austin City Limits," he broadened the scope of the show to include different styles of music. Some of the artists who appeared during his tenure include Roy Clark, Gatemouth Brown, Don Williams, Joe Ely, and Marty Robbins.

• 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 with Willie Nelson, Floyd Tillman, Hank Cochran, Red Lane, Whitey Shafer, Sonny Throckmorton, Whitey Shafer, and Ray Price
• 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)

Season 6 of Austin City Limits, which aired in 1981, was the last season to use the horse fences set. The horse fences set was replaced by the Austin skyline backdrop during Season 7 in 1982.

• 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 with Willie Nelson, Floyd Tillman, Hank Cochran, Red Lane, Whitey Shafer, and Sonny Throckmorton
• Charley Pride/Razzy Bailey
• Michael Martin Murphey/Ed Bruce
• Leo Kottke/Passenger
• Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns/Sir Douglas Quintet NOTE: This episode of "Austin City Limits" marks the last time the horse fences were used as the backdrop. Starting with Season 7 in 1982, the backdrop was replaced with the Austin skyline.

Season 7 (1982)

The seventh season of "Austin City Limits" aired in 1982. This season was the first not to have a Songwriters Special. However, it did introduce the show's iconic Austin skyline backdrop, and 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. The show was nominated for and won Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards. Season 7 of Austin City Limits in 1982 was Allan Muir's last season as the director, as he left the show after this season.

• Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band/Rodney Crowell & The Cherry Bombs NOTE: This episode of "Austin City Limits" was the first to feature the Austin skyline as the show's backdrop. The producers thought the skyline would provide a more iconic and memorable backdrop than the horse fences that were used in seasons 5 and 6 from 1980 to 1981.
• 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)

"Austin City Limits" was originally known for featuring Texas country and blues artists. But with Gary Menotti replacing Allan Muir as the director, the show's scope was broadened to include other musical styles. Artists such as B.B. King, Loretta Lynn, Rosanne Cash, and Tammy Wynette were among those featured. In addition, the lights of the Austin skyline backdrop were given new paint jobs. Season 8 of Austin City Limits, which aired in 1983, featured the Songwriters Showcase. The showcase included performances by Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Keith Sykes, Bill Caswell, and Rosanne Cash.

• Mickey Gilley/T.G. Sheppard
• Don Williams/West Texas Songwriters Special
• Roy Orbison
• Songwriters Showcase with Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Keith Sykes, Bill Caswell, and Rosanne Cash
• 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)

The ninth season of "Austin City Limits" was the last to feature the 1971–1984 PBS logo. The logo had been used since the 1974 pilot episode, which featured Willie Nelson, and Season 1 in 1976. The show's theme song "London Homesick Blues" was rerecorded in a more modern style. This version 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)

This season of "Austin City Limits" celebrated the 10th anniversary of the show. It featured a wide array of performers, from singers and pickers to today's legends and the stars of tomorrow. Season 10 also included a 10th anniversary party in downtown Austin with Bob Wills' Texas Playboys. Additionally, this season featured the show's first tribute show, which honored Steve Goodman. Finally, this is the first season with 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)

In 1986, Austin City Limits introduced an all-female Songwriters Special during Season 11, which featured female performers gathering around to perform their original songs. Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Gail Davies, Lacy J. Dalton, Pam Rose, and Mary Ann Kennedy were among the performers. Also that season, the Austin City Limits Reunion Special aired with a lineup that included Steve Fromholz, Asleep at the Wheel, Tracy Nelson, Marcia Ball, St. Greezy's Wheel, Rusty Wier, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Gary P. Nunn.

• 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 with Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Gail Davies, Lacy J. Dalton, Pam Rose, and Mary Ann Kennedy
• Austin City Limits Reunion Special with Steve Fromholz, Asleep at the Wheel, Tracy Nelson, Marcia Ball, St. Greezy's Wheel, Rusty Wier, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Gary P. Nunn

Season 12 (1987)

Season 12 of "Austin City Limits" aired in 1987. It was the last season to be produced by the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Council, which had been producing the show since Season 5 in 1980. After this season, the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Council dissolved, and PBS stations KLRN and KLRU split up. KLRN became the Alamo Public Telecommunications Council, and KLRU became the Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications Council.

• 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
• Johnny Cash with June Carter Cash, Tommy Cash, and The Carter Family
• Squeezebox Special with Queen Ida, Santiago Jimenez Jr., and Ponty Bone
• 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)

In 1987, the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Council dissolved, and PBS stations KLRN and KLRU split up. KLRN kept the "Austin City Limits" brand and continued producing the show until Season 44 (2018–2019). The Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications Council, KLRU, took over production of "Austin City Limits" during the 13th season in 1988. This was the first season that KLRU produced the show.

• 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)

Austin City Limits Season 14, which aired in 1989, was the last season to use the 1984-1989 PBS logo. That logo had been in use since Season 10 in 1985. This season included a Songwriters Special featuring performances by Harlan Howard, Don Schlitz, Mike Reid, Kye Fleming, and Mark Wright. Season 14 also featured a Texas Music Showcase, which included performances by Robert Earl Keen Jr., Rosie Flores, Tony Perez, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.

• 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 with Harlan Howard, Don Schlitz, Mike Reid, Kye Fleming, and Mark Wright
• Buck Owens/The Geezinslaws
• Texas Music Showcase with Robert Earl Keen Jr., Rosie Flores, Tony Perez, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore
• Leonard Cohen
• Keith Whitley/Skip Ewing
• Timbuk3/Eric Johnson
• John Hiatt/Los Lobos NOTE: This "Austin City Limits" episode was the last to air in the 1980s.

Season 15 (1990)

The 15th season of Austin City Limits was in 1990. It was the last season of the 1980s and the first season of the 1990s. The show celebrated its 15th anniversary and was the first season to use the 1989–1993 PBS logo. This season also featured "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," with performances by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, Vassar Clements, New Grass Revival, Randy Scruggs, Helen and Anita Carter, and Paulette Carlson. Also featured was the W.C. Clark Blues Revue, with performances by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson, and Denny Freeman.

• George Jones/Carl Perkins NOTE: This episode of "Austin City Limits" was the first 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 with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson, and Denny Freeman
• Will the Circle Be Unbroken with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, Vassar Clements, New Grass Revival, Randy Scruggs, Helen and Anita Carter, Paulette Carlson, and Jimmy Martin
• 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 aired in 1992. This was the last season to use the 1989–1993 PBS logo, which had been in use since Season 15 in 1990. The season kicked off with an all-female Songwriters Special featuring performances by Nanci Griffith, Indigo Girls, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Julie Gold.

• Songwriters Special with Nanci Griffith, Indigo Girls, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Julie Gold
• 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)

Season 18 of "Austin City Limits" aired in 1993. It was the first season to use the 1993-1996 PBS logo. This season marked a shift in focus to classic performers, such as B.B. King. King's 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)

The 19th season of "Austin City Limits" aired on PBS in 1994. The season featured a special called "Merle Haggard in Concert," which was a compilation of Merle Haggard's performances on the show from his first Austin City Limits appearance in Season 3 in 1978 to his latest Austin City Limits appearance in Season 16 in 1991. Also in 1994, Season 19 of "Austin City Limits" featured a Songwriters Special that included performances by Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Rodney Crowell.

• Rosanne Cash/Carlene Carter
• Hal Ketchum/Kelly Willis
• Zachary Richard/The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Bruce Hornsby/John Mayall
• John Anderson/Billy Dean
• Songwriters Special with Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Rodney Crowell
• 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 with a special logo that included a "20." Season 20 featured a lineup of great artists and showcased the best in music. The season included a 20th anniversary bluegrass special with performances by Ricky Skaggs, Larry Sparks, and Ralph Stanley. A Tejano Music Special included performers such as Flaco Jimenez, Rick Orozco, Joel Nava, La Diferenzia, and Freddy Fender.

• Vince Gill/Junior Brown
• Nanci Griffith/Iris DeMent
• 20th Anniversary Bluegrass Special with Ricky Skaggs, Larry Sparks, and Ralph Stanley
• Alan Jackson
• The Neville Brothers/Jimmie Vaughan
• The Mavericks/Robert Earl Keen
• Tejano Music Special with Flaco Jimenez, Rick Orozco, Joel Nava, La Diferenzia, and Freddy Fender
• 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)

Season 21 of "Austin City Limits" aired in 1996. It was the last season to use the 1993-1996 PBS logo, which had been in use since Season 18 in 1993. Season 21 featured a special episode called "Sagebrush Symphony" with 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 included replays of performances by Roy Orbison from Season 8 in 1983, Roger Miller also from Season 8 in 1983, and Marty Robbins from Season 5 in 1980. Season 21 of Austin City Limits was in 1996. Asleep at the Wheel celebrated its 25th anniversary with performances by Willie Nelson, Tracy Byrd, Wade Hayes, Delbert McClinton, and Charlie Daniels.

• Alison Krauss/Merle Haggard
• John Prine/Todd Snider
• Asleep at the Wheel's 25th Anniversary Celebration with Willie Nelson, Tracy Byrd, Wade Hayes, Delbert McClinton, and Charlie Daniels.
• 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)

Season 22 of "Austin City Limits" aired in 1997 and featured a Songwriters Special. The special included performances by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Kimmie Rhodes, and Billy Joe Shaver. This season of Austin City Limits paid tribute to Walter Hyatt, who died in 1996. In that same year, Bill Monroe also died. Walter Hyatt was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1997. Season 22 of Austin City Limits featured a tribute to Walter Hyatt. The tribute was performed by Lyle Lovett, who was joined by a group of other artists, including David Ball, Champ Hood, Willis Alan Ramsey, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Junior Brown, David Halley, and Allison Moorer. Season 22 of Austin City Limits in 1997 also featured a Best of Austin Country Showcase. The showcase included performances by Libbi Bosworth, Dale Watson, The Derailers, Wayne Hancock, Don Walser, and Mary Cutrufello. In 1997, "Austin City Limits" launched its official internet website at PBS Online. The address is www.pbs.org. The site featured material from our performers, along with a history of the show. It also had new features designed just for the World Wide Web. This was the first season to use the 1996–1998 PBS logo.

• Wynonna
• Songwriters Special with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Kimmie Rhodes, and Billy Joe Shaver
• A Bluegrass Tribute to Bill Monroe
• A Tribute to Walter Hyatt with Lyle Lovett, David Ball, Champ Hood, Willis Alan Ramsey, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Junior Brown, David Halley, and Allison Moorer.
• Best of Austin Country Showcase with Libbi Bosworth, Dale Watson, The Derailers, Wayne Hancock, Don Walser, and Mary Cutrufello
• 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)

During Season 23 in 1998, Austin City Limits won the W.C. Handy "Keeping the Blues Alive" award. The season featured A Celebration of Townes Van Zandt, which included footage from Townes Van Zandt's 1976 Austin City Limits performance from Season 1, and footage from a West Texas Songwriters Special from Season 8 in 1983. Performers included Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Nanci Griffith, John T. Van Zandt, Lyle Lovett, Peter Rowan, and Jack Clement. Beginning with this season, the opening theme music was produced by John Mills, and recorded at Bee Creek Studio. Season 23 of "Austin City Limits" was the last season to use the 1996–1998 PBS logo, which had been in use since Season 22 in 1997. The Manhattan Transfer performs a full hour of New York style music on the Austin City Limits stage during the 23rd season in 1998. Special guests Ricky Skaggs and Asleep at the Wheel join The Manhattan Transfer on stage.

• 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 with Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Nanci Griffith, John T. Van Zandt, Lyle Lovett, Peter Rowan, and Jack Clement.
• Boz Scaggs/8 1/2 Souvenirs
• Old 97's/Whiskeytown
• Clay Walker/Trace Adkins
• Buddy Guy/Storyville

Season 24 (1999)

Season 24 of "Austin City Limits" aired in 1999. This was the last season that Bill Arhos, the show's creator and founder, served as executive producer. He had returned to the show during Season 7 in 1982. Bill Arhos, a longtime public television executive, retired from producing "Austin City Limits" after the season ended. He had a long career in public television, joining KLRN in 1962 as program director and serving as general manager of KLRU from 1986 to 1999. In 1999, the 24th season of "Austin City Limits" aired, and with it came the adoption of the tagline "Where Music Lives." This tagline reflected the show's commitment to presenting a wide variety of musical genres. Season 24 of "Austin City Limits" in 1999 featured "Mexican Roots Music: A Celebration," which showcased a full hour of Mexican music on the Austin City Limits stage. Performers included Los Lobos, also known as Los Super 7, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Ruben Ramos, Rick Trevino, Joe Ely, Tish Hinojosa, and Campanas de America. Season 24 was the first season to use the 1998–2002 PBS logo, which remained in use until Season 27 (2001–2002).

• 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 with Los Super 7, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Ruben Ramos, Rick Trevino, Joe Ely, Tish Hinojosa, and Campanas de America
• 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 "Austin City Limits" is the last 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 the 25th season of "Austin City Limits" marked a silver anniversary. This season of Austin City Limits introduced interview segments that air after the performance. The interviews provide additional insight into the artists' creative process and inspirations. Austin City Limits featured a logo with a musical note and flames until Season 29 (2003-2004). The logo featured a musical note with flames, and the text "Austin City Limits Twenty-Five Years of American Music 1975-2000". Austin City Limits celebrated its 25th anniversary this season. To commemorate the occasion, a book was offered for sale by phone only. The book, "Austin City Limits 25 Years of American Music," features photographs of performers, a history of the show, and behind-the-scenes stories. This season, Austin City Limits is without its creator, founder, and executive producer, Bill Arhos. Arhos retired after the 24th season in 1999. "Austin City Limits" celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special episode titled "Women in Song." The episode featured women-themed performers from past seasons, and was a celebration of women in music. Season 25 of Austin City Limits featured a Songwriters Special. The special included performances by Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and Judy Miller.

• 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 special guest 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 with Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and Judy Miller
• 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 (part 2)

Season 26 (2000–2001)

Season 26 of Austin City Limits aired during the 2000-2001 season. The Austin City Limits logo still had a musical note with flames, a holdover from Season 25 (2000). The logo read "Austin City Limits Original American Music Since 1975." For classic encores, the Austin City Limits logo had a banner reading "CLASSIC." For this season only, Terry Lickona appeared on camera for the "Austin City Limits" classic encores, introducing the performers. Season 26 of "Austin City Limits" was the last season to use the classic encores that had been a staple of the show since Season 18 in 1993. Season 26 of "Austin City Limits" includes replays of several classic encore performances. These include A Celebration of 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 performance from Season 9 and the 1990 performances from 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)

Season 27 of "Austin City Limits" was the last season to use the 1998–2002 PBS logo, which had been in use since Season 24 in 1999. The 27th season of "Austin City Limits" also marked the discontinuation of the Austin City Limits classic encores, which had been in use since Season 18 in 1993.

• 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 28th season of Austin City Limits was the first season to use the 2002–2009 PBS logo. It was also during this season that we started our annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. During this season, Austin City Limits aired "By the Hand of the Father," which featured music by Alejandro Escovedo, Pete Escovedo, Rosie Flores, and Ruben Ramos.

• 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" dropped Gary P. Nunn's "London Homesick Blues" as its theme song. This was also the last season to broadcast in 480i NTSC, which "Austin City Limits" had done since its first season in 1976.

• 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 the 2004-2005 season, Austin City Limits celebrated its 30th anniversary by switching from NTSC to HDTV. The new theme song, written and performed by Charlie Sexton, was introduced that season and remained in use through the end of Season 32 (2006-2007). It replaced "London Homesick Blues" by Gary P. Nunn, which had been used from 1977 to 2004 in seasons 2-29.

• 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)

Season 32 was the last season of "Austin City Limits" to use the opening theme music written and performed by Charlie Sexton. This theme music had been in use since Season 30 (2004-2005).

• 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)

In Season 33, which aired during the 2007-2008 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)

Season 34 of Austin City Limits was the final season to feature the Songwriters Special, which had been a regular feature since Season 5 in 1980. The Songwriters Special featured songwriters gathering around to perform their original songs. After Season 34, "Austin City Limits" discontinued the Songwriters Special. This was also the last season to use the 2002-2009 PBS logo, which had been in use since Season 28 (2002-2003).

• R.E.M.
• Betty LaVette/Pinetop Perkins
• Lyle Lovett and Friends: A Songwriters Special with Guy Clark, John Hiatt, and Joe Ely
• 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)

Season 35 of "Austin City Limits" celebrated the 35th anniversary of the PBS show. The season marked the end of the Songwriters Special, which had been a regular feature since Season 5 in 1980. This was also the first season to use 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)

Season 36 of "Austin City Limits" was the last season to be taped at its original home at Studio 6A. The pilot episode with Willie Nelson was taped there in 1974, and Season 1 was taped there in 1976. In 2011, after 36 seasons in Studio 6A, "Austin City Limits" bid farewell to that studio. The show then moved to the Moody Theater for Season 37 (2011-2012).

• 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