Description:
There's a reason Austin has been labeled the Live Music Capital of the World and the hundreds of live music venues has a lot to do with it. On any given night, musicians of all kinds take stages across the city--from coffee shops and cafes to nightclubs and concert halls. Steeped in blues, rock and country, Austin also welcomes punk, ska, rockabilly, electronica, hip-hop, acoustic--virtually any genre of music can be found. For a true taste of both local talent and touring acts, check out one of this town's Top 10 music venues.
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Antone's
Contact:
- +512 320 8424
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Location:
- 213 West Fifth Street
- Austin,TX78701
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Description:
Although Willie Nelson and crossover country-and-western bands such as the Austin Lounge Lizards have been known to turn up at Clifford Antone's place, the club owner's name has always been synonymous with the blues. Stevie Ray Vaughan used to be a regular, and when such major blues artists as Buddy Guy, Etta James, or Edgar Winter venture down this way, you can be sure they'll either be playing Antone's or stopping by for a surprise set. Clifford Antone died recently, and the response by the blues community was a large outpouring of performances to honor the man. Look for the club to continue the same trajectory set out by its former owner.
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Stubb's Barbecue
Contact:
- 512 480 8341
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Location:
- 801 Red River Street
- Austin,TX78701
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Description:
Within the rough limestone walls of a renovated historic building you'll find great barbecue and country Texas fare and three friendly bars -- plus terrific music, ranging from singer-songwriter solos to hip-hop open mics to all-out country jams. Out back, the Waller Amphitheater hosts some of the bigger acts that come to Austin.
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Parish Room (The)
Contact:
- 512 479 0474
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Location:
- 214 East 6th Street
- (Upstairs)
- Austin,TX78701
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Description:
This is an intimate venue for those with sophisticated taste. From jazz to house, from acid rock to rap, from shoe-gaze to dub, the place runs the musical gamut. Touring acts such as Smog, Guided By Voices, Autechre and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have graced the stage. Texas artists Sub Oslo, Lift To Experience, Explosions in the Sky, the Swells and more have also played here.
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Broken Spoke
Contact:
- 512-442-6189
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Location:
- 3201 South Lamar Boulevard
- Austin,TX78704
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Description:
The most reliable indicator of a high-quality dance hall in Texas is the presence of old people, particularly old people who skillfully dance and spin and seem unaware of anyone other than their partner. On some nights, the Broken Spoke is bursting with lively seniors who dance circles around the novices. Most of the time, there's a mix of young and old, cowboys and hipsters, locals and tourists. The massive wooden dance floor splits the room in two, with seating areas on either side. The bands, whether they're young or old, play mostly traditional country music. Because that's the kind of music owner James White likes, he's been doing things this way since 1964, and he has no intention of changing. Another fan of traditional country music, a certain red-headed stranger, has been known to hang out here when he's not touring.
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Emo's
Contact:
- +1 512 477 3667
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Location:
- 603 Red River Street
- Austin,TX78701
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Description:
This live venue provides music on the cutting-edge. Its main entrance is just off of 6th Street, attracting alternative and mainstream patrons looking for local and national acts. You are always greeted with a cold beer at the bar. The front room holds the pool tables, pinball machines and a small indoor stage, while out back the larger bands play on a partially covered outdoor stage. In between the stages lies a courtyard with picnic tables for lounging.
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Elephant Room
Contact:
- 512-473-2279
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Location:
- 315 Congress Avenue
- Austin,TX78701
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Description:
This basement bar is unpretentious yet unmistakably cool, offering live jazz seven nights a week. And there's usually no cover on weekdays. Michael Mordecai's Monday night Jazz Jam is a must-see; you never know who might show up. The Jazz Pharaohs play every Wednesday night; band member Stanley Smith can make the clarinet sound like a soulful saxophone. Touring acts from all over the U.S. also play regularly. Jazz superstar Wynton Marsalis has performed at the Elephant Room several times over the years.
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Continental Club
Contact:
- 512-441-2444
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Location:
- 1315 South Congress Avenue
- Austin,TX78704
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Description:
The Continental Club started out as a swanky dinner club in the 1950s, and it went through a series of ups and downs before emerging as South Congress' premier live music venue. When Steve Wertheimer bought the bar in 1987, the area around the bar was run-down and frequented by prostitutes. As the club developed a loyal following, with acts ranging from roots rock to country, other businesses, including antique shops, restaurants and clothing boutiques, popped up around it. The front area, where the band plays, is long and narrow, with only a smattering of tables and chairs; arrive early if you want a seat. Sitting at the small bar will give you an excellent sampling of Austin culture; bikers, bakers and lawyers drink together and bond over music. In a business where bartenders come and go daily, a few of the Continental Club's friendly, if a little edgy, servers have worked here for 20 years. Some of the popular acts include James McMurtry (son of novelist Larry McMurtry), Jon Dee Graham and Toni Price, whose Tuesday night happy hour show draws legions of slightly obsessive fans.
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Cactus Cafe
Contact:
- 512 475 6515
- visit website
Location:
- 24th Street & Guadalupe in Texas Union
- University of Texas at Austin
- Austin,TX78705
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Description:
A small, dark cavern with great acoustics and a fully stocked bar, UT's Cactus Cafe is home-away-from-home for a lot of singer-songwriters. There's a crowd of regulars who come here to see the likes of solo artists such as Alison Krauss and Suzanne Vega, along with well-known acoustic combos. The adjacent Texas Union Ballroom (tel. 512/475-6645) draws larger crowds with such big names as the Dixie Chicks.
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Zona Rosa (La)
Contact:
- 512 263 4146
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Location:
- 612 West 4th Street
- Austin,TX78701
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Description:
This is one of the most popular music venues in the city. With every genre from western to alternative rock played under the arched, open-air roof, you are bound to find a show to suit your particular music taste. Some acts to grace this stage includes Flaming Lips, Primal Scream, Guided By Voices, Mogwai, Bardo Pond and Stereolab. The space is large enough to hold a good-sized crowd and often fills to capacity for touring shows. The venue is located close to downtown, anchoring the new Warehouse entertainment District.
- Destination(s): Austin
- Type: Best of...,Cool and Hip
- 1 DAY
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