Last month, R.E.M. - which is singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist Mike Mills - revealed details of their upcoming new album, Accelerate, due on Warner Bros. Records on April 1. The album is the band's 14th studio release and was recorded in Vancouver, Canada, Dublin, Ireland and Athens, Georgia last spring with Grammy Award-winning producer Jacknife Lee, who is noted for his work with U2 (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), as well as Snow Patrol, Bloc Party and Kasabian.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS producer Terry Lickona sees the upcoming R.E.M. concert event as a natural fit for the show. "It feels like this show has been a long time in the making," he said. "We've been talking with R.E.M. for quite awhile about this, and we're thrilled to see it coming together for our first taping of the new season. That they've picked our stage to showcase their first new CD in four years means a lot to everyone at AUSTIN CITY LIMITS. Having this great American rock band as our guest is, in many ways, the embodiment of our show. We can hardly wait!"

For more information about R.E.M. and their forthcoming album, stay tuned to the band's official website remhq.com.