The BEST episodes of Austin City Limits
Every episode of Austin City Limits ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Austin City Limits!
Established singer-songwriters and acclaimed newcomers perform country, blues, rock, folk, bluegrass, and related styles of music.
#1 - Spoon
Season 36 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/9/2010
Hailed as “one of the most engaging American bands of the past decade” (The Phoenix) by critics and fans, Spoon returns to Austin City Limits for their third turn on the stage with a new album that “strikes a balance between its early angsty indie-rock and the soulful deconstructed pop of its 2007 release, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” (Billboard).
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#3 - The National / Band of Horses
Season 36 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/15/2011
While lead singer Matt Berninger sustains The National with his resonant baritone voice, his bandmates masterfully round out their soul-haunting sound. With their cathartic, raw and reflective new release, High Violet, “The National has graduated from being a critic's band. Now it belongs to everyone.” (Onion AV Club). Formed in 1999, the Ohio-raised, Brooklyn-based band consists of vocalist Matt Berninger fronting two pairs of brothers: Aaron (guitar, bass, piano) and Bryce Dessner (guitar), and Scott (bass, guitar) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Their first full-length releases, including Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, gained critical attention for “deftly balancing country, classical and cabaret” (Alternative Press). 2005’s Alligator included underground anthem “Mr. November,” and raised their profile as The National grew into an incendiary live band. 2007’s Boxer took the band to new levels and earned them spots on many Top 10 albums of the decade list. PopMatters wrote “This album, like all great albums, somehow transcends all the factors that makes it work, absorbs them in a seamless whole and breaks your heart in the process.” The National’s newest release, High Violet, reveals even deeper musical and lyrical wonders with each listen. “We started out trying to make a light and happy record, but it just didn't happen,” said Berninger. “This album is catchier and more fun than our other records, and bleaker in its ideas and themes.” “Somehow we create our own little world, and it works, even though sometimes it shouldn’t,” said Aaron Dessner (guitar, bass, piano). “The process can be difficult, but eventually something beautiful and cohesive will emerge. Making something heartfelt is our only concern.”
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#4 - Coldplay
Season 37 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/31/2011
Modern rock giants Coldplay ring in the New Year with a 90-minute Austin City Limits New Year's Eve special highlighting their mega-hits and songs from their newest LP, "Mylo Xyloto." This historic holiday celebration captures the excitement and energy of the Grammy-winning band that has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
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#5 - Los Lonely Boys / The Gourds
Season 32 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/23/2006
Los Lonely Boys share their "Texican rock 'n' roll" style (From the ACL Taping Program on October 12, 2006) Oye Mamacita Roses Texican Style My Way Outlawsw The Gourds blend country, folk, Tex-Mex and Cajun music (From the ACL Taping Program on June 6, 2006) Lower 48 Burn the Honeysuckle El Paso Mr. Betty Jesus Christ with Signs Following Do 4 U
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#7 - Drive-by Truckers / Ryan Bingham
Season 34 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/7/2009
Rolling Stone called the Drive-By Truckers "the boldest, baddest Southern band in the land" and the band has been living up to that moniker for the last decade. The band fuses solid musicianship with lyrics that tell real stories. "They let the songwriting speak for itself, and it sings loud and clear" (Rolling Stone).
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#8 - Ben Folds / Ray LaMontagne
Season 31 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/2005
Ben Folds' solo career includes his new release "Songs for Silverman"; (Recorded: May 11, 2005) In Between Days Jesusland Still Fighting It Gracie Not the Same Ray LaMontagne performs songs from his debut album. (Recorded: July 23, 2005) Jolene Trouble Shelter Train Song Heaven Is A Honky-Tonk
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#9 - Ray Wylie Hubbard
Season 46 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/23/2021
Austin City Limits is proud to present the long-awaited debut of cult hero Ray Wylie Hubbard in a thrilling new hour. The ‘70s cosmic-country legend is currently enjoying one of the great second acts in music and he entertains with songs and banter, sharing tunes and tales from his legendary career.
#10 - Olivia Rodrigo / Phoebe Bridgers
Season 47 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/4/2021
Enjoy fresh perspectives in song from Olivia Rodrigo and Phoebe Bridgers. The chart-topping Rodrigo performs tunes from her bestselling debut Sour, while Bridgers sings songs from her critically acclaimed LP Punisher.
#11 - The Best of Spoon
Season 46 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/30/2021
Savor the best of Austin alternative rock band Spoon’s four appearances on Austin City Limits. Songs include “Written in Reverse” and “I Turn My Camera On.”
#12 - Texas Icons: Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver
Season 46 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/6/2021
Enjoy a tribute to late Texas singer/songwriters Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver. Walker performs his classics “Mr. Bojangles” and “Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother,” while Shaver plays favorites “Georgia On a Fast Train” and “I’m Just An Old Chunk of Coal.”
#13 - Allen Toussaint: New Orleans Legend
Season 46 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/13/2021
Enjoy a vintage hour with New Orleans soul songwriter, producer and musician Allen Toussaint. Songs include “Southern Nights” and “St. James Infirmary.”
#14 - Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon Randall: The Marfa Tapes
Season 47 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/2021
Relish an hour of Texan singer/songwriters Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon Randall in an intimate acoustic setting. The trio showcase their collaborative LP The Marfa Tapes, including “Tin Man” and “Am I Right or Amarillo.”
#15 - Jade Bird / Dayglow
Season 47 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/9/2021
Enjoy a pair of up & coming, Austin-based singer/songwriters with Jade Bird and Dayglow. The UK-born Bird plays tunes from her album Different Kinds of Light. Sloan Struble, AKA Dayglow, performs cuts from his LP Harmony House.
#16 - Jon Batiste
Season 47 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/16/2021
Rejoice in a high voltage hour with New Orleans-born R&B/jazz/gospel musician Jon Batiste. The Stephen Colbert bandleader performs songs from his album We Are, including “I Need You” and “Freedom.”
#17 - Sarah Jarosz / Billy Strings
Season 47 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/2021
Savor the boundary-pushing roots music of Grammy winners Sarah Jarosz and Billy Strings. Texas native Jarosz plays songs from her heralded LP World On the Ground. Midwesterner Strings performs tunes from his album Renewal.
#18 - Brandy Clark / Charley Crockett
Season 47 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/2021
Delight in the throwback country music of Brandy Clark and Charley Crockett. Nashville-based hit songwriter Clark performs cuts from her highly acclaimed Your Life is a Record. Lone Star native Crockett plays tunes from his album Music City U.S.A.
#19 - Leon Bridges / Khruangbin
Season 47 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/6/2021
Enjoy Texas artists from across the musical spectrum with Leon Bridges and Khruangbin. Fort Worth native Bridges performs modern R&B tunes from his LP Gold-Diggers Sound. Houston trio Khruangbin plays worldbeat-tinged psych rock from its album Mordecai.
#20 - Jackson Browne
Season 47 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/2021
Savor the return of legendary singer/songwriter Jackson Browne to the ACL stage. Browne performs hits and songs from his latest album Downhill From Everywhere.
#21 - Brittany Howard
Season 47 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/20/2021
Enjoy an hour with singer/songwriter and powerhouse vocalist Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, making her ACL solo debut. She performs songs from her Grammy-nominated album Jaime.
#22 - Cage The Elephant / Tank and the Bangas
Season 45 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/25/2020
Thrill to an hour of rock and soul with Cage the Elephant and Tank and The Bangas. Nashville rockers Cage the Elephant blaze through hits and albums from fifth album "Social Cues". New Orleans’ jazz/soul mavens Tank and The Bangas groove through songs from second LP "Green Balloon".
#23 - The War and Treaty / Ruthie Foster
Season 46 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/16/2021
Revel in modern Southern soul with Nashville’s The War and Treaty and Austin’s Ruthie Foster. The War and Treaty play songs from their acclaimed album Hearts Town, while Foster performs numbers from across her career.
#24 - Foo Fighters Rock Austin City Limits
Season 46 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/9/2021
Enjoy highlights from superstar rock band Foo Fighters’ 2009 and 2015 episodes of Austin City Limits. Songs include “The Pretender” and “Best of You.”
#25 - The Mavericks: En Espanol
Season 46 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/2020
Thrill to an hour featuring eclectic country rock band the Mavericks, performing hits and songs from their acclaimed all-Spanish album En Español.