The History of Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits is a televised music program and a fixture of the Public Broadcasting Service. When the show aired in 1975 with Willie Nelson as its first performer, nobody knew it would become a cultural institution. The PBS station was in mid-level market, and the network, producers and fans never imagined that this little show would still be around in 2009.

It is successful thanks to a notable agenda of performers who are drawn to PBS's direct no fuss atmosphere, and a production crew that works exclusively to highlight the artist. Austin City Limits has accomplished what no other TV series has done in the history of American television. Influenced by the music scene that continues to thrive in Austin, Texas, the program has for 33 years, presented viewing audiences with live concerts from many of the worlds most renowned and avant-garde musicians. Some of the great artists who have performed on the show are Robert Plant, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Fats Domino, Sheryl Crown and many more. Austin City Limits is the only television show to be awarded the National Medal of Arts, by President George W. Bush in 2003.

In recent years, Austin City Limits has established the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. The event features more than 130 bands, on eight stages, over three days. The music festival is held at Zilker Park and there will be over 65,000 visitors who will attend. Performers who have appeared on both the PBS television show and the music festival include The Pixies, Willie Nelson, R.E.M., Coldplay, Van Morrison, Norah Jones and Franz Ferdinad. The Austin City Limits Music Festival will happen on October 2nd through 4th of 2009. Some of the performers this year are the Beastie Boys, Lily Allen, The B-52's, Pearl Jam, Dr. Dog, Dave Matthews Band and Sonic Youth.