Next Season Of 'Austin City Limits' Is Mix Of Tributes, New Performances

Austin City Limits will be back for a new season in October but will air more retrospectives and material from its archives than previous seasons.

Only six episodes have been announced for season 46, but another six performances will be announced at a later date. Austin City Limits had to switch up its season since no live music is being recorded because of the pandemic.

A tribute to the late singer-songwriter John Prine will kick off the season on October 3. It'll have an introduction from Jason Isbell, who called Prine a mentor. The episode will also feature a previously unaired performance of Prine singing "Sam Stone" in 1987.

Later throwback episodes will highlight Stevie Ray Vaughan, Asleep at the Wheel, John Legend and The Roots, and Bonnie Raitt.

New performances will also be shown. Americana singer Yola recorded an episode before the pandemic in February. ACL will also experiment with audience-free performances by Rufus Wainwright, and The Mavericks, according to Variety. Austin singer-songwriter Jackie Venson will make her ACL debut in November, too.

Austin City Limits Season 46 Broadcast Line-up

October 3 – The Best of John Prine (featuring Jason Isbell intro)

October 10 – Yola

October 19 – Stevie Ray Vaughan 30 Years On

October 24 – Rufus Wainwright

October 31 – ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel

November 7 – John Legend & The Roots: Wake Up!

November 14 – Bonnie Raitt; Jackie Venson

November 21 – The Mavericks

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