Jackie Venson is ready for her close-up. The Austin native singer/songwriter and guitarist who has already been championed by the likes of Gary Clark Jr., blazes through songs from her acclaimed 2020 LP, Vintage Machine, as well as her 2019 debut, Joy, on this weekend’s episode of Austin City Limits.
Venson used the screen time to make a powerful Black Lives Matter statement, wearing a black leather dress emblazoned with the names of 73 Black Americans who’ve died at the hands of the police in this country. She backed up the visual impact with a statement before her performance: “Black lives matter. Not the hashtag, not the slogan, not the organization, but actual lives. Me, my family, my band. We matter.” Watch Venson perform “Back to Earth” below.
The set will air on Austin City Limits, along with a performance from Mavis Staples, this Saturday, November 14, at 6 p.m. PST.
