History of ACL Live | Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
By Deanna Kent
Key Takeaways
- Born on PBS, built on passion: Austin City Limits began in 1976 with Willie Nelson’s now-legendary TV taping—and became the longest-running music series in American television history.
- From studio to skyline: In 2011, the show’s new home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater, opened in the heart of downtown Austin’s Second Street District, blending modern design with the spirit of old Austin.
- Where legends meet locals: The 2,750-seat venue has hosted icons from Diana Ross and Bob Dylan to Jack White and Florence + the Machine—each one adding another note to Austin’s soundtrack.
- Award-winning and world-renowned: Recognized by Austin Monthly and The Austin Chronicle, ACL Live remains a cornerstone of the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
- More than history—it’s heartbeat: ACL Live at The Moody Theater isn’t just a concert venue; it’s where Austin’s sound keeps evolving, night after night.
Every legend has a backstory—and this one’s still playing.
Every city has a sound. Austin’s is a mix of guitars, grit, and good timing. And if there’s one place that’s bottled that magic for the world to hear, it’s ACL Live at The Moody Theater.
The story of ACL Live and Austin City Limits isn’t really about a building—it’s about a heartbeat that’s been pulsing since the 1970s, keeping Austin’s music scene distinctly wild, weird, and world-famous.
The Roots: From PBS to Primetime
A little TV show that changed everything.
In 1976, a crew of dreamers at PBS set up a few cameras in a University of Texas studio and hit record. The very first Austin City Limits taping featured a local outlaw named Willie Nelson, and that night became legend.
It wasn’t slick or scripted. It was raw, real, and exactly what the world needed—a window into Texas’ live-music soul. Word spread, and Austin City Limits grew from a small local showcase into the longest-running music series in American television history.
Those early years made Austin more than a dot on a map. They made it the destination for live performance, creativity, and sound that’s alive enough to shake your bones.
The Move Downtown
Bigger stage, same soul.
Fast-forward to 2011. The city’s skyline had grown, but so had its sound. Austin City Limits needed a new home—a space worthy of its legacy and its future.
So, right in the heart of downtown, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater was born.
Perched at 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd, in the Second Street District, this 2,750-seat Austin theater fused modern design with old-soul charm. It’s a concert venue with perfect sightlines and world-class acoustics.
But even with its new shine, ACL Live never forgot where it came from. The same authenticity that defined the TV series still runs through its walls. Every taping, every encore—it’s the same story: Austin sound, amplified.
The Room Where It Happens
A modern temple for Austin’s live music faithful.
Step inside and you’ll feel the hum of soundchecks and the whisper of strings warming up. From the first chord to the last bow, ACL Live at The Moody Theater is a downtown Austin concert venue that really doesn still feel like home. More than another major music venue in Austin, TX, this is where the crowd and the artist share the same breath.
Over the years, the ACL Live stage has hosted every kind of legend—outlaws like Willie Nelson, powerhouses like Adele, rockers like The National, and boundary-breakers like Jon Batiste. Add icons like Maggie Rogers, Zedd, and Billy Strings, and YungBlud, and you’ve got a lineup that reads like a mixtape of modern music history.
Every artist who’s played here leaves something behind. The room doesn’t just hold music; it remembers it.
Why It Still Matters
This legacy isn’t nostalgia—it’s momentum.
Austin didn’t earn the title “Live Music Capital of the World” by accident. Venues like ACL Live keep that reputation alive by bridging eras—bringing outlaw country, indie rock, soul, funk, hip-hop, blues, and comedy onto one timeless stage.
Every year, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater hosts hundreds of shows, festivals, and special events, proving that this live performance theater in Austin is as alive today as ever.
It’s a movement, not a museum. And while the sounds change, the heartbeat stays the same.
Take the Tour
Walk the hallways, feel the echoes.
Want to see what decades of music history look like up close?
Check the Events Calendar to see who’s playing next.
Take the ACL Live Venue Tour to step onto the same stage where legends played.
The Beat Goes On
From one stage to another—Austin’s legacy keeps playing.
The show goes on because Austin keeps creating. ACL Live at The Moody Theater is part of the city’s DNA. From the hum before the first note to the roar after the encore, this is where Austin’s past, present, and future all meet under one spotlight. Music history is still being written here today. Come see for yourself.
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