Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits celebrates 30 years on television this fall. It's still America's favorite place to see roots music from blues to rock, swing to country

Austin City Limits is a music program on American television. Although primarily known for featuring country music, performers from folk, jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock and roll and other genres have appeared on the program. The show is a staple of PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) television stations.

Since the show first aired in 1976 it has featured hundreds of different artists. Austin City Limits is American television's longest-running program featuring concert music.

The program is taped live by local PBS affiliate KLRU on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, in Austin, Texas, the self-styled "Live Music Capital of the World," images of which are seen in the opening credits. The backdrop for the stage features a mock-up of the city skyline.

Austin City Limits will be showing repeats from seasons 30, 28 and 29 until the 31st season begins in October 2005.

Guster followed by Los Lonely Boys
May 14
Guster combines songwriting and performances with a penchant for off-kilter moments of ecstatic inspiration. Highlights of this Boston-based trio's performance includes "Amsterdam" and "Diane." One of Willie Nelson's favorite bands Los Lonely Boys bring their Texas blues to the Austin City Limits stage. Highlights include songs from their self-titled debut release which has critics talking.

Sheryl Crow
May 21
Multi-Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow brings her fresh approach to roots rock back to Austin City Limits. Taped live from the third-annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, one of the biggest outdoor music events in the country, this concert features Crow's best-known hits and a couple of surprises.

John Fogerty
May 28
Rock legend John Fogerty makes a rare television appearance to kick-off the 30th season of Austin City Limits. After a short hiatus Fogerty is back with a new CD, taking his music beyond Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Steve Winwood
June 4
Grammy-winning Steve Winwood takes the jam band phenomenon to a new level with rock inspired grooves. Highlights include "Gimme Some Lovin'" from the Spencer Davis Group, "Dear Mr. Fantasy" from Traffic and songs from his new solo release, About Time.

Alison Krauss + Union Station followed by The Flatlanders
June 11
Bluegrass innovators Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas bring their warm Appalachian sounds to the Austin City Limits stage. Highlights include Dan Tyminski‘s “Man of Constant Sorrow” from the O’ Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack and “Lucky One” -- the 2002 Grammy-winning Country Song of the Year. Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock have all had successful solo careers, but the friends reunited as their 1970s band The Flatlanders for a new CD and performance that captures the trio’s decades-long friendship. Highlights include “I Thought the Wreck Was Over” and “Sittin’ On Top of the World.”

Ben Harper
June 18
For nearly 10 years, Ben Harper has been converting the masses to his unique combination of soulful southern gospel, ’70s funk, Marley-esque reggae and electric blues. Harper performs his funky, folky, spiritual songs including "Diamonds on The Inside."

The Jayhawks followed by Gillian Welch
June 25
The Jayhawks blend country, folk and rock for a unique sound that features heartfelt lyrics. Highlights include "Stumbling Through The Dark" and "Tailspin." Gillian Welch, Grammy-winning bluegrass singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, presents powerful stories set to music. Highlights include songs from her recently released CD, Soul Journey.

Jonny Lang followed by Chuck Prophet
July 2
Jonny Lang has been singing the blues since he was a teen. The guitar-great performs songs from his recently released CD, Long Time Coming. Chuck Prophet, a heralded guitar player with songwriting skills to match, has a decade-long career which has resulted in an eclectic collection of country music blended with every other style imaginable. Highlights include songs from his newest release, No Other Love.

Keith Urban followed by Rodney Crowell
July 9
Australian Keith Urban fuses rock elements with traditional country for a unique, chart-topping sound. The 2001 Country Music Association Horizon Award winner performs hits from his Golden Road CD. Singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell has a decades-long career that has made him one of the legends of Texas music. Highlights include songs from Crowell's recently released CD, Fate's Right Hand.

Rosanne Cash followed by Neko Case
July 16
Country music legend Rosanne Cash returns from a recording hiatus to wow fans with her heartfelt songs. Highlights include "Rules of Travel," "44 Stories" and "Will You Remember Me?" Alt-country has never had a singer as torchy as Neko Case. Case shows off her Patsy-Cline-like voice on "Favorite," "Furnace Room Lullaby" and "I'll Be Around."

Pat Metheny Group
July 23
Jazz guitar legend Pat Metheny and his current band have won an unprecedented seven consecutive Grammys for seven consecutive albums. The band performs songs from their album Speaking of Now.

Susan Tedeschi followed by Ruthie Foster
July 30
Contemporary blues-rock sensation Susan Tedeschi performs music from the soul. Highlights include "Wait for Me" and "The Feeling That Music Brings." Ruthie Foster combines blues, gospel, roots and folk for heartfelt songs about real life. Highlights include "Runaway Soul" and "Travelin' Shoes."

Nickel Creek followed by Ralph Stanley
August 6
Nickel Creek, one of the most buzzed about new artists to emerge recently performs their unique blend of music that is being called “avant-folk-bluegrass.” With bluegrass at the core, the young trio borrows freely from jazz, pop and folk to generate a fresh sound that has garnered numerous awards. Mountain music legend Ralph Stanley, hot off the success of his performance on the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, returns to Austin City Limits. Highlights include songs from his self-titled album.

By the Hand of the Father featuring music by Alejandro Escovedo
August 13
Songs and stories of the unique 20th century journey of the Mexican-American father from the stage production “By the Hand of the Father.” Highlights include “Inside this Dance” with Pete Escovedo, “Ballad of the Sun & the Moon” with Rosie Flores and “Mexico Americano” with Ruben Ramos.

The Blind Boys of Alabama with Robert Randolph & The Family Band
August 20
The Blind Boys of Alabama combine their Grammy-winning gospel with the pedal steel guitar sounds of Robert Randolph and The Family Band. The Blind Boys of Alabama combine traditional gospel and modern material for a sound that has kept them singing for over 60 years. Robert Randolph and The Family Band fuse together church-bred passion with rock ‘n’ roll to make music that is purely electric.

Pat Green followed by Cory Morrow
August 27
Pat Green is the hottest new Texas country artist in a decade. His performances, known for high energy and excitement, are quickly making him a national name. Both Green and fellow newcomer Cory Morrow follow in the Texas songwriting tradition as they take on life, love lost and found and the American dream ... with an attitude.

Bonnie Raitt with Special Guests
September 3
Bonnie Raitt brings her rowdy, rockin’ blues to Austin City Limits. Highlights include “Gnawin’ On It” with blues guitarist Roy Rogers, “Hear Me Lord” with Zimbabwean pop star Oliver Mtukudzi and “Angel of Montgomery” with legendary singer-songwriter John Prine.

Jackson Browne
September 10
Singer/songwriter Jackson Browne celebrates his decades-long career with a rare, full-hour television performance. Highlights include “The Naked Ride Home” and “The Pretender.”

Los Lobos followed by RatDog with Bob Weir September 17
Los Lobos celebrates 30 years together by returning to their roots - R&B, folk and soul influenced rock. Highlights include songs from the East L.A. group’s Good Morning Aztlán CD. Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir performs with his long-time side project RatDog. The jazz influenced jam band performs “Corinna,” “Brown-Eyed Women” and more.

Beck
September 24
Pop rock star Beck has a decade-long history of mixing musical innovation with commercial success. Highlights of his Austin City Limits performance include songs from his newest album, Sea Change. Psychedelic-rock band The Flaming Lips serve as Beck's backing band.

31st season begins airing Saturday, Oct. 1