Every year since 1974, ACL opens up like Wonka's chocolate factory for a handful of exclusive tapings. A few lucky boys and girls get the golden ticket to go see their favorite artist perform, from stadium-ready acts like Radiohead and Wilco to more personal artists like Bon Iver and Bonnie Raitt. The rest of us don't need to fret, though. Austin City Limits is shot, taped, and edited with that intimacy in mind; you might as well be right there looking up at Lyle Lovett's nostrils. Now the longest-running music program in TV history, ACL is a sweet treat that only gets better with age.
