Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Austin City Limits Debut to Stream Online
Ray Wylie Hubbard has waited 45 years to finally make his debut on the Austin City Limits stage. And though COVID-19 restrictions mean there will be no audience in attendance for this monumental event that Ray Wylie and his fans have been lobbying for, the taping of the episode will stream live online.
Fans can watch on Wednesday, October 21st at 7:00 p.m. Central via the Austin City Limits YouTube channel, or right here via the embedded player below as Hubbard takes the ACL stage with his son Lucas, touring drummer Kyle Schneider, fellow Austin legend and producer Gurf Morlix on bass, and Bukka Allen on keyboards. Not all Austin City Limits tapings are streamed, so this is a rare opportunity, and your only opportunity to see the entire set as opposed to what is pared down for broadcast when the ACL episode proper comes out.
Hubbard did appear briefly on the show before when he took the stage with fellow Austin songwriter Hayes Carll to perform the song they wrote together, “Drunken Poet’s Dream.” However, Ray Wylie had been curiously overlooked by ACL over the years, never appearing on his own episode while artists well outside the Austin music sphere who already enjoyed wide popularity were brought in.
“I actually haven’t heard the hoofbeats of the four horseman of the apocalypse approaching so before they saddle up, I’d like to thank each of you who wrote ‘Austin City Limits’ on my behalf,” Hubbard said in his usually wry, self-deprecating manner. “Just when I was approaching the time to be put out to pasture, this happens and I decide to hitch my self back up to the parade wagon for a promenade under the television lights of a show I have watched for around 45 years but never appeared on it.“
At 73, Hubbard is enjoying a resurgence in his career. He recently signed to Big Machine Records, and released a new album called Co-Starring, which sees appearances by Ringo Star, Joe Walsh, Pam Tillis, Ashley McBryde, Ronnie Dunn, and many more. Eric Church (who has played ACL before), has also been a big proponent of Hubbard over the last few years, name dropping him in a song, and co-writing his hit “Desperate Man” with Ray.
Once the episode streams live, it won’t be available afterwards, and it may be months before Ray Wylie Hubbard’s segment is debuted on PBS. So make sure you tune in. Consider it alternative programming to the CMT Awards broadcasting at the same time.
October 20, 2020 @ 3:35 pm
This feels like a huge SCM win!
October 20, 2020 @ 3:36 pm
Kind of cool but part of the experience is the crowd so this won’t be the same.
October 20, 2020 @ 4:46 pm
I thought that way about sports especially college football, but can’t say I miss the fans. No crowd at the Opry all summer didn’t effect my experience watching the shows.
October 21, 2020 @ 5:55 am
Yes…
… but was the tradeoff of having to stare at and listen to the insufferable idiocy of Bobby Bones worth it?
October 25, 2020 @ 11:14 am
No love for BoBones, one hour of his radio show can be summed up as 1-2 snap pop country? Songs, 20 min of nonsense chatter and 30 min of I’m Bobby Bones on the Bobby Bones show because I’m Bobby Bones and this is the Bobby Bones show
October 21, 2020 @ 5:56 am
I felt bad for the artists at the Opry, they did well for the most part but playing to an empty house made the vibe very different. Just my opinion.
October 20, 2020 @ 5:37 pm
Kinda but some of the best sessions I’ve seen have been on Ditty TV, KEXP and Audio Tree without audiences. Just hope he doesn’t waste time playing Snake Farm again.
October 21, 2020 @ 8:07 am
I don’t think he would miss playing snake farm on ACL.. js
October 21, 2020 @ 8:28 am
Yeah I know you’re right but I had just been thinking the time is limited and he has enough other good songs. Of course he will play it and I will enjoy it as always!
October 21, 2020 @ 5:11 am
Hope I can remember to tune in tonight-
October 21, 2020 @ 7:02 am
Hey Deej,
Set the alarm on your phone for 6:45 p.m.
That will give you time to go tinkle, get a beverage, then settle down to watch & enjoy
October 21, 2020 @ 7:45 am
I see him every time he plays in the Washington DC area. I can do without the singalong of Redneck Mother, but whatever he does is great by me.
October 21, 2020 @ 12:12 pm
I first met “Ray” Hubbard with Three Faces West at the Outpost in Red River New Mexico as an awe struck young picker of 14 from the Texas Panhandle. I leaned every song on their album and have followed his solo career from the beginning. Congratulations Ray Wylie on your Grand Old Opry appearance and this Austin City Limits invite. Long overdue!
October 21, 2020 @ 6:08 pm
I remembered- not often you can watch an icon in concert for free
Thanks Trigger for the heads up!
October 21, 2020 @ 6:48 pm
Setlist:
1. (Missed the first song)
2. Snake Farm
3.Drunken Poet’s Dream
4. Bad Trick
5. Rock Gods
6. Fast Left Hand
7. Mother Blues
8. Tell The Devil I’m Gettin’ There As Fast As I Can
9. I Wanna Rock & Roll
10. Desperate Man
Felt a little weird at the beginning without a crowd, but Ray Wylie and the band really hit their groove with “Wanna Rock & Roll” and nailed the end of a strong set.
October 22, 2020 @ 7:49 am
Rabbit was the first song
October 22, 2020 @ 6:40 am
Boy us people that don’t stream don’t get music anymore I guess
October 22, 2020 @ 7:30 am
The Ray Wylie episode will be coming to PBS at some point. This was just a stream of the taping.
October 22, 2020 @ 9:06 am
His true story / joke before rock n roll had me cracking up.
Went something like this –
“I wrote this song awhile ago and was lucky enough that cross Canadian ragweed recorded it. I bought a fence with that royalty check. Where I live, it’s important you have a fence.”
October 23, 2020 @ 5:23 am
Why so long before a re-play? Good grief. Just put it up on YouToob for Ray’s sake.
October 24, 2020 @ 7:19 pm
Trigger,
I know you are extremely busy, but was wondering.
Are you going to try and do a write-up of the RWH, live event, from Austin City Limits, from this past Wed. night?
Was blown away by his performance.
Thought he did an excellent job.
Thought the whole band was tight.
October 25, 2020 @ 8:27 am
Probably not at this point. If I had the time shortly after it aired I might have done that. But I’ve already posted two articles about it. I might post something else when they announce the official airing date.
October 25, 2020 @ 9:51 am
Ok.
Thank you.
& thank you for providing the embedded player.
Without it, would not have been able to watch it live.