 Like New Years in September: Coldplay taped a special Austin City Limits TV performance last night (Sept 15) that will air on New Year’s Eve complete with fake countdown and confetti. The band headlines the Austin City Limits Fest tonight (Sept. 16). |
As Austin geared up for three sweaty days of festival fun, Friday headliners Coldplay warmed up in style, taping their Austin City Limits TV performance on Thursday (Sept. 15) night. The special will air on New Year’s Eve, a fact that frontman Chris Martin hammed up in full — confetti drop and fake countdown included.
Peekeing in the ACL TV control room during the band’s encore, headset-clad producers and directors were more calm than one might think (see photo below).
Before the taping, Billboard caught up with ACL Communications Director Maury Sullivan and Director of Marketing Sharilyn Mayhugh, as well as executive producer Terry Lickona.
Giant Noise’s Courtney Knittel gave Billboard a tour of the 2700-capacity Moody Theater, Austin City Limits’ new facilities adjacent the W Hotel. The latest edition to the ACL compound includes a gallery, which features the works of renowned rock photographer Jim Marshall.
In collaboration with Jack Daniel’s, the “Jack & Jim” gallery highlights Marshall’s most iconic shots – from Johnny Cash flipping the bird at San Quentin, to Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar ablaze at Monterey Pop.
The gallery will remain open to the public until the fall of 2014.
 Purple Pros: (From left) Billboard reporter Devon Maloney, ACL Director of Marketing Sharilyn Mayhugh, ACL Communications Director Maury Sullivan, Giant Noise’s Courtney Knittel, Billboard reporter Jillian Mapes. |
 Brighten the Corners: The 2,700-capacity Moody Theater, Austin City Limits’ new facilities. |
 57 Channels (Ain’t Nothin’ On): Austin City Limits Executive Producer Terry Lickona. |
 Aretha Franklin in 1970 at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. This shot is one of Jim Marshall’s many iconic photos on display at the “Jack & Jim” Gallery at Austin’s Moody Theater. (Photo: Jim Marshall) |
 Coldplay and Austin’s Moody Theater bathed in blue light. |