This weekend’s edition of Austin City Limits is packed with stellar bluegrass and acoustic music. Steve Martin is the headliner – along with his trusty band, Steep Canyon Rangers – and young acoustic songstress Sarah Jarosz is performing as well.
Both have records to promote, so you can expect to hear some new music mixed in with old favorites during the show.
Martin and the Rangers have recently completed a collaboration project, with some very special guests. It’s a follow-up to Steve’s very popular instrumental banjo album, The Crow, but this time the material featured is his original vocal songs. The arrangements were created as a group, with Tony Trischka producing, and star power contributions from The Dixie Chicks.
Rangers banjoist Graham Sharp tells us that he doesn’t know which songs will make the final edit, though they performed several from this next CD on the live show.
Austin City Limits has released this video montage with footage of Martin and the Rangers backstage, at sound check and from the show itself.
Sarah Jarosz also has a new recording available, which hit earlier this week. It’s a digital single, cleverly titled The New 45.
Like the little records with the big hole of yore, it includes two songs: the A side a new Jarosz composition, My Muse, and her cover of Bill Withers’ Grandma’s Hands as the B side. Again like the old 45’s, My Muse will be included on her next full-length CD.
She appears on this weekend’s program with her current traveling ensemble, Nathaniel Smith on cello and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle. Sarah plays banjo, mandolin and guitar, and sings like a red-headed Texas birdie.
Here’s one song that will be featured on the show, Tell Me True, from her debut Sugar Hill CD, Song Up In Her Head.
Austin City Limits typically airs on Saturday evenings, but times vary from one PBS affiliate to the next. Standard disclaimer applies: check your local listings for air time in your area.
