Austin City Limits

Infobox Television
show_name = Austin City Limits


caption = Austin City Limits logo
format = live concert series television series
runtime = 60 minutes
country = USA
network = PBS
first_aired = 1976
last_aired = Present
website = [http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/ ACL website]

"Austin City Limits" is an American television music program and a staple of the Public Broadcasting Service. Austin City Limits was initially created with an eye and ear toward original Texas music, featuring artists that created innovative new sounds in everything from western swing and Texas blues to Tejano music, progressive country and rock n' roll. The series went on to feature a wide range of American roots artists, covering a variety of styles and expanding beyond the borders of the Lone Star State. As the program's audience has grown, the music has encompassed regional, national and even international performers, and producer Terry Lickona continues to seek a balance of music genres in every new season. Austin City Limits today focuses on the unique contributions of diverse artists, music and songwriting from around the world. First aired in 1976, "Austin City Limits" has become American television's longest-running concert music program. The program is taped live by PBS member station KLRU on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Images of Austin, Texas, the self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World," are seen in the opening credits. ACL's set also features a mock skyline of Austin. The show inspired the Austin City Limits Music Festival, an annual live music festival at Zilker Park in Austin.

In 1977, ACL producers made "London Homesick Blues", written by Gary P. Nunn, the ACL theme song. The show originally used the version performed by Nunn, but the song was rearranged several times starting in the mid 1990s. The current theme, beginning with the show's 30th season, is an original composition by Austin musician Charlie Sexton.

"ACL" Tidbits

* Austin City Limits was awarded the National Medal of Arts, by President George W. Bush, in 2003. It’s the only television show honored with this award.

* In 2010, ACL plans to move to a new purpose-built studio complex that will substantially increase the number of audience members who can attend. [ Coons, Leslie. [http://keyetv.com/topstories/local_story_285175251.html Austin City Limits getting new digs.] keyetv.com - Channel 42 - Austin, TX. Retrieved June 21, 2007.]

*Some of the performances from Austin City Limits have been released as CDs and DVDs in the "Live from Austin, TX" series.

*KLRU gives free weekly tours of the Austin City Limits studio to the public.

"Austin City Limits" performances

"See: List of Austin City Limits performers"

Funding

"(as of the 2008-2009 season)"

* AT&T
* Advanced Micro Devices
* Austin Convention Center
* Budweiser

Past funders

* Lone Star Brewing Company (early-1980s)
* Stroh Brewery Company (late-1980s)
* Frito-Lay (1994-1997)
* The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (1976-1997)
* Viewers Like You (1994-2001)
* SBC Communications (now the new AT&T)
* Chick-Fil-A (2005-2006 season, at least)

References

ee also

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

External links

* [http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/ PBS: "Austin City Limits"]
* [http://www.aclfestival.com/ Austin City Limits Festival]
* [http://www.klru.org/ KLRU-TV, Austin's PBS]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/AA/xmaqa.html The Handbook of Texas Online]