Chris Isaak live in Studio 6A to premiere his Beyond the Sun special!

On February 13, Chris Isaak brought the house down at ACL Live at the Moody Theater with his Beyond the Sun tour featuring the classic rock ’n roll that inspired his own musical career. In case you weren’t one of the lucky ones in the venue that night, there’s no need to worry: We filmed it and will air the special on Monday evening at 7pm!

Even better, we’ll be coming to you live from KLRU Studio 6A with Chris Isaak to talk about this tour and what makes him come back again and again to create memorable music on public television.

This is not only a special evening because of Chris Isaak’s concert, but it’s also an important night for KLRU. We’ll be sharing the Chris Isaak Beyond the Sun special with public television stations all over the country to help them showcase the quality music that can only be found on public television. From concert specials like this to the music on Great Performances and American Masters, PBS gives audiences the best seats in the house to the best concerts week after week. We’re so thrilled to be able to share Chris Isaak’s incredible concert with other cities, communities and families.

We hope you’ll tune in on Monday night to support your public television station and to rock out with Chris Isaak! And if you haven’t already supported KLRU during our March pledge drive, you’ll want to call in with your donation on Monday – we have the DVD of his Beyond the Sun concert as well as his exclusive 2-CD Beyond the Sun album as thank you gifts!

Because this is such a special evening for KLRU, we want to look our best! Wardrobe provided by 81Poppies.com.

Austin City Limits Signed Poster Auction!

The tapings for season 38 of Austin City Limits are starting up, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t still revel in the great times from season 37 – and what better way to remember the incredible line up than owning one (or all!) of the limited edition band posters.

To kick off the KLRU March fundraising drive, we have organized an eBay auction of signed, limited edition band posters from ACL’s season 37 – the auction will be up until March 10, so bid now and bid often to get your favorite performer’s poster into your personal collection.

Posters currently available for bids
(click on band name below to visit auction site)

Arcade Fire

Coldplay

Florence & The Machine

Gillian Welch & The Decemberists

Jeff Bridges

Miranda Lambert

Randy Newman

Raphael Saadiq

Steve Miller Band

Wilco

All proceeds will go directly to KLRU to inspire creativity, exploration and understanding in Austin – and beyond.

KLRU Endowment Receives Gift From Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin

KLRU Endowment Receives Gift From Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin Recognizing Longtime Supporters Sandy and Dudley Youman

Gift In Honor of Station’s 50th Anniversary

Austin, TX — KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, announces that Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin have created the Sandy and Dudley Youman Fund within the KLRU Endowment honoring two of the station’s key supporters and the station’s 50th anniversary.

“PBS’s success depends on having best friends, and KLRU, Ian, and I have all survived and thrived because of the selfless service and extraordinary talent of our unsung heroes Sandy and Dudley Youman,” Johnson said. “Their tireless commitment of time, talent and treasure has been a blessing beyond measure to PBS and to us and we know the greatest way to thank them is to give back to the cause they love.”

“Sandy and Dudley certainly have a place at center stage in the history of KLRU, and I’m very happy that this gift recognizes that and helps us continue the station’s great work into the next 50 years,” said KLRU CEO Bill Stotesbery.

The Sandy and Dudley Youman Fund, part of the KLRU Endowment, will be used to help support KLRU programming and events. The KLRU Endowment was established in 1991 to provide a permanent fund that furthers KLRU’s vision to make Central Texas the most vibrant, informed, and engaged community in the country through the creative use of educational and inspirational content.

Sandy Youman retired from KLRU in 2005 after a career at the station spanning two decades. While at KLRU, Youman was instrumental in building membership, increasing major donors and in creating the Producers Circle. Sandy and Dudley, a physician, have continued to support KLRU and other non-profit organizations in Austin through their boundless volunteer activities.

“As I told Luci,” Sandy Youman said, “This is a real ‘grace-gift,’ defined as thoroughly unexpected, unnecessary at a level of such magnitude, but certainly really appreciated! I am humbled and thrilled that through this fund we can continue to play a part in making a difference for KLRU; not only inspiring the next generation of Youmans, but for the KLRU families throughout Austin, Central Texas and beyond.”

About KLRU
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, presents quality multimedia content that engages people in the thoughtful exchange of ideas, the expression of the arts, and enjoyable lifelong learning opportunities, resulting in a more vibrant community and a higher quality of life. In addition to providing locally produced and quality national television programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community engagement projects and public events. Known as the producing station of the longest-running live music television show Austin City Limits, KLRU has also worked on several other national productions including Overheard with Evan Smith and documentaries like Citizen Architect and Last Best Hope. Get more information about KLRU at klru.org.

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2012 KLRU Antique Appraisal Fair a success!

Thanks to all of our donors who contributed during our August and December pledge drives to attend the 2nd KLRU Antiques Appraisal Fair on January 21, 2012. We had a great turn out and everyone really enjoyed getting to know a little more about their prized possessions.

A special thanks also to our incredible volunteer appraisers – many of whom saw close to 50 items throughout the day. We couldn’t have this event without their generosity and expertise! For more information on all the appraisers who were with us that day, please visit the Appraisal Fair website.

Watch a highlight reel of the day here – thanks again for everyone’s support and enthusiasm!

Douglas Drane Charitable Trust Renews Support

The Douglas Drane Charitable Trust has made a $25,000 contribution to KLRU in support of our Strategic Research Plan.  The Plan will provide the market intelligence needed to inform strategic and tactical decisions and measure KLRU’s progress in meeting its vision, mission and goals.

This gift will enable us to perform an annual market tracking study, as well as monthly viewer and member studies.   We will turn an eye toward programming and campaign measurement, Web and social media, and the KLRU Member Advisory Panel.  As a result of this gift, the community data we capture will be representative of Central Texas Households as never before, and we will incorporate this data in a meaningful way into the planning and execution of our ongoing strategy.

We are delighted that the Douglas Drane Charitable Trust will continue partnering with our station to further refine our community identity so that, as we are inspired by Austin, we may better inspire Austin.  Thank you!

MFI Foundation Renews Support of Public Affairs

The MFI Foundation has renewed its generous support of Overheard with Evan Smith, KLRU’s locally-produced public affairs program.

Overheard provides viewers with unique perspectives on current affairs.  Hosted by Evan Smith, the CEO and Editor in Chief of The Texas Tribune, this weekly 30-minute program features in-depth interviews with noteworthy guests.  Viewers meet politicians, authors, artists, actors, journalists, businesspeople and anyone who’s at the center of things. The series offers smart conversations with the country’s most interesting people, always with an eye toward the news and always with a sense of humor.

KLRU is grateful for MFI’s longtime friendship.  Together, we are inspiring understanding in Austin and beyond.  Thank you!

Your Station…Your Schedule! Viewer's Choice Lineup Announced

We’re approaching the end of our December drive which can only mean one thing: Viewer’s Choice weekend! We’ve picked your favorites to air during the final Saturday and Sunday of the pledge drive and we’ll need your support to meet our goal of $240,000. With 6 days left in the drive, you’ve helped raise over $174,000 – thanks to everyone who has contributed so far this drive and thanks in advance to anyone who donates today!

We’re excited to announce that our Viewer’s Choice weekend line up is jam packed with great specials that highlight the music, entertainment, and informative programming KLRU does year-round!

Saturday, December 17
Julia Child Memories: Bon Appetit at 10am
Great Performances: Andrea Bocelli: One Night in Central Park at 12:30pm and 8pm
Great Performances: Jackie Evancho: Dream With Me In Concert at 3pm
Victor Borge: Comedy in Music! at 4:30pm
60s Rock, Pop & Soul at 6pm
3 Steps to Incredible Health with Dr. Joel Fuhrman at 10:30pm
Paul Simon: Live at Webster Hall at 10:35pm on KLRU-Q

Sunday, December 18
Financial Fitness After 50! With Paul Merriman at 1pm
3 Steps to Incredible Health with Dr. Joel Fuhrman at 2:30pm
Great Performances: Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas at 4:30pm
Great Performances: Jackie Evancho: Dream With Me In Concert at 6:30pm
Masterpiece Theater: Downton Abbey (Season 1, Episode 1)
Aretha Franklin: Soul Rewind at 10pm

We hope you’ll tune in to KLRU for Viewer’s Choice Weekend – and call in or go online to make a gift of support. This will be the last week that many of the incredible thank you gifts will be available – including Andrea Bocelli tickets, Straight No Chaser tickets, seats on the KLRU Drink Up bus, and tickets to the KLRU Appraisal Fair – so be sure you make your gift soon!

Give a gift…Get an experience with KLRU

We are halfway towards of goal of $240,000! In 7 days, you’ve helped raise $122,630 and we sincerely appreciate the outpouring of generosity and commitment to the mission of KLRU-TV. If you’ve given your gift this pledge drive, thank you! If you’re still waiting, this might just be the time to act because we have some great ways to thank you this weekend!

  • Tonight, we’ll be live in the KLRU studios during the public affairs line up, with the PBS Newshour at 6pm, Washington Week at 7pm, and Need to Know at 7:30pm. To thank you for your gift at the $250 level, you’ll get two (2) tickets to the next three (3) Spark at the Moody speaker series events in 2012 which include the incredibly compelling and engaging topics of women in politics, citizenship, and children’s education. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for you to support quality public affairs and news programs and be a participant in our intriguing and dynamic speaker series!
  • This weekend is the premier presentation of Straight No Chaser: Songs of the Decade: Holiday Edition and if you make a gift of $250, you’ll receive two (2) tickets to their April 4, 2012 concert at the Long Center (you’ll also get the CD & DVD of their holiday performance!). We have the best seats in the house reserved for KLRU donors and tickets are limited, so make your donation today!
  • We still have seats left on the KLRU Drink Up tour, but they’re going fast! If you donate $150, you will receive two (2) tickets to the tour of local breweries and distilleries. This year, we’ll head out on a bus to Live Oak Brewery, Tito’s Vodka Distillery, Treaty Oak Rum Distillery, and BlackStar Brewery Co-op. We’ll tour the facilities, taste the product, and finish off the afternoon with food and drink at BlackStar.

We hope you’ll use these opportunities to support KLRU-TV and join in some of the fun and unique experiences we have to offer!

Thanks for your support and enjoy a great weekend of KLRU programming!

Get your tickets for the KLRU Drink Up! #whyKLRU

Thanks to everyone who has made a gift to KLRU during our drive so far! We’re at $107,000 as of this morning and getting closer to our goal of $240,000.  If you haven’t made your gift yet, then tonight is the night for you: we’ll be live in the studio with an encore presentation of Ken Burns’ Prohibition and we’ll be offering tickets to the first ever KLRU Drink Up, a tour of local distilleries and breweries for KLRU donors!

The tour is a great representation of what Austin has to offer! We’ll board a bus at KLRU then head out for tours (and tastings!) at Live Oak Brewery, Tito’s Vodka, Treaty Oak Rum, and wrap up the afternoon with food and drink at BlackStar Co-op – a great selection of local business, innovation, and delicious beverages. The Drink Up is Saturday, February 4.

For your gift of $150, you’ll receive two (2) tickets to the Drink Up (which includes the price of the tastings and food), plus the Prohibition DVD set and the book, Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent. The Drink Up would make a fantastic gift or a great outing for a group of friends – be sure to tune in tonight at 7pm for all the details.

Bonus: We’ll also have the Tipsy Texan, David Alan, live in the KLRU Studios tonight mixing up the best holiday cocktails and giving away tickets to tomorrow night’s Drink Local Austin event! Tell your friends and be sure to watch!

The Jacob and Terese Hershsey Foundation renewing support of Central Texas Gardener

The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation has just renewed its support of Central Texas Gardener (CTG), KLRU’s educational horticulture series, with a $3,000 grant.  We are delighted that they have chosen to continue partnering in informing our community how to be good stewards of our natural resources.

CTG brings viewers the latest information about gardening the Austin way:  creating gardens that are fun, beautiful, manageable, and kind to our environment and wildlife.  Central Texas Gardener champions the use of xeric and native plants, urging viewers to eliminate or reduce their use of harmful chemicals, and show them how to reduce the demand for our most precious resource:  water.

This gift will help us demonstrate viable alternatives to “chemically-dependent gardening” that help to transform attitudes and behaviors in Austin and beyond.  Thank you!