Austin City Limits to premiere new show with blues all-stars

Austin City Limits is marking the 50th anniversary of Austin’s legendary blues venue Antone’s with a special episode premiering November 8 on PBS. Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone’s & the Blues brings together an all-star lineup of blues legends and rising stars for a one-hour tribute filmed at ACL’s studio home in Austin, Texas.

The episode features performances from Jimmie Vaughan, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Big Bill Morganfield, Bobby Rush, Sue Foley, Charlie Sexton, Kam Franklin, Benny Turner, John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Lil’ Ed Williams, and 18-year-old guitarist Grace Bowers. They are joined by a 14-piece house band led by Antone’s Zach Ernst, including Chris Layton on drums, Derek O’Brien on guitar, Steve Bell on harmonica, John Deas on Hammond organ, and Eve Monsees on guitar.

The special opens with a look at the history of Antone’s, founded in 1975 by Clifford Antone. The Austin club became a cornerstone of the city’s blues scene, hosting icons like Muddy Waters, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King. Today, it remains one of the premier venues for the blues.

Among the performances, Jimmie Vaughan delivers Slim Harpo’s “Baby Scratch My Back,” Charlie Sexton takes on Doug Sahm’s “Why Why Why,” and Kam Franklin showcases her soulful vocals on “If (I Could Be With You).” Kingfish performs his original “Hard Times,” while Sue Foley plays her signature tune “Ice Queen.” John Primer pays tribute to Muddy Waters with “I Can’t Be Satisfied,” and Benny Turner joins Derek O’Brien for “Reconsider Baby.” The episode also includes a trio performance of “Sweet Little Angel” by Lurrie Bell, Lil’ Ed Williams, and Grace Bowers, followed by a show-stopping appearance from 91-year-old Bobby Rush with “You’re Gonna Need a Man Like Me.” The finale features Big Bill Morganfield leading the ensemble in “Got My Mojo Working.”

“Austin City Limits and Antone’s have been twin cornerstones of ‘The Live Music Capital of the World’ for over 50 years,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Antone’s brought some of the greatest blues giants to their stage, and in turn they found their way to the ACL stage. It’s been a unique, synergistic relationship, and it’s stood the test of time.”

The episode airs Saturday, November 8 at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET as part of ACL’s 51st season. Check your local listings for additional airtimes. Viewers can watch live on PBS stations nationwide or stream on PBS.org and the PBS App following the broadcast.