Monday, July 13, 2026
The Cosmic Clash

Austin City Limits

Billy Srings ACL TV 2 Jesse
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Billy Strings returned to stage for Austin City Limits TV taping

Case Cockrell 795 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Flat-picking mega star Billy Strings returned to the stage for his first full-band gig since April after busting his leg doing an ill-fated skateboard trick backstage at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. After an unintentional break, Strings and his associates returned to ACL Live for Season 52 of Austin City Limits TV. For each consecutive season of the long-running PBS program, there is a show or two that sees high demand, with tons of hopeful fans waiting in line hoping to get a spot for the coveted performances. This was one of those tapings, as Billy’s return has been highly anticipated after a slew of cancellations following the injury in the spring. Despite arriving onstage on crutches and having not played a show in several months, things got right back to business for one of the most revered guitarists making his way around the touring circuit.

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MMJ ACLTV HOF 2025 announcement
April RiggsLive MusicReview

Live music review: My Morning Jacket got inducted into ACL TV Hall of Fame and I missed it

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I sent The Cosmic Clash crew a text about the upcoming Austin City Limits taping of My Morning Jacket, when I realized the band was being inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame on Friday, August 1, by Cameron Crowe. Our editor responded to say it was all mine since I was the first to mention it. I had previous plans to see Dead cover band Deadeye play for Jerry Garcia’s birthday as well as catching the live streams for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and the 60th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead Money Grab happening at the same time, but I’m flexible and enjoy seeing MMJ and their bandleader Jim James anytime I can

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Lyle Lovett at ACL TV
Greg AckermanReview

Live music review: Lyle Lovett and his Large Band taped ACL TV episode, invited Chris Isaak

Greg Ackerman 2996 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

There’s only one Texas artist who has played more Austin City Limits TV episodes for the Austin PBS show than Lyle Lovett and it’s none other than Willie Nelson. If that says anything about Lovett’s impact on Texas music then he’s a bona fide legend on the television show which set out to feature the unique brand of music Texas artists have been making in the Lone Star state. The man just recorded his 17th appearance on the show and 12th as a solo act last Wednesday at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin.

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Japanese Breakfest via ACL TV
Amanda QuraishiReview

Live Music Review: Japanese Breakfast taped Austin City Limits on 420 Day

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The lights went down just after 8 p.m. on April 20 (420 Day), and Japanese Breakfast filed onto the Moody Theater stage in an orderly manner, appearing more like a mild-mannered group of software engineers in business casual than one of the hottest ascendant bands on the face of the earth.

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Charley Crockett
Greg AckermanReview

Live music review: Charley Crockett and the Blues Drifters taped a magical ACL TV episode

Greg Ackerman 3356 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Last Wednesday, July 28 Charley Crockett and the Blues Drifters taped their debut Austin City Limits (ACL TV) episode. The performance was magical. Crockett and his band entered ACL Live at the Moody Theater primed for the taping, coming off a month-long run that included a number of dates on the West Coast, were ripe for a masterful performance.

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Caroline Rose
Ethan GuionReview

Live music review: Caroline Rose rocked BMI’s ACL Fest party last week

Ethan Guion 1912 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Last Thursday at BMI’s Howdy Texas extravaganza leading into weekend two of Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest), venue host, Yeti Flagship store had a lyrical sharpshooter ready to give a playful greeting to Texas locals and visitors in Austin’s music capitol. As the windy October night cooled down, the music-loving crowd warmed to Caroline Rose gradually like the ice melting in the chilled mixed drinks silently swirling together.

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Cage the Elephant at ACL TV
Brian HillsmanReview

Live Music Review: Cage the Elephant Austin City Limits TV Taping

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On Friday, September 27, Cage the Elephant made a triumphant return to Austin for a taping for the 45th season of Austin City Limits.  This would mark the band’s second performance in Austin since late July, when they amazed in a stellar performance at Circuit of the Americas, co-headlining with Beck with support from Austin’s Spoon on their Summer tour.

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Greg AckermanLiveReview

Live music review: Arctic Monkeys taped Austin City Limits TV episode Saturday

Greg Ackerman 2302 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Austin City Limits, the long-running PBS series,  continued its 44th season with the debut of the UK’s Arctic Monkeys on the program. The popular alternative rock band (who headlined at Austin City Limits Festival over the weekend) taped the episode Saturday evening at the Moody Theatre at ACL Live. The relatively intimate space gave fans the opportunity to see the British rockers up close, behind the cameras of the ACL TV crew. 

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