What's Happening in the Texas Hill Country
Feb 23, 2026
Explore Texas Music
Hundreds of videos featuring live music venues, artists, neighborhoods and nightlife across Texas
Texas has more live music happening on any given night than most people realize. From the Houston rodeo filling NRG Stadium to a picking circle with three people in the audience at Luckenbach, the range of what you can find is enormous. The videos on this page cover that full spectrum — city-by-city guides to the venues, bars, dance halls, honky tonks, and listening rooms where live music is actually happening, along with the artists who play them.
The videos walk through specific neighborhoods and streets in Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, New Braunfels, The Texas Hill Country and more. You'll see what the venues look like inside, hear the artists performing, and get a feel for the crowd and atmosphere at each spot. Whether it's two-stepping at White Horse in East Austin, catching blues at The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club in Houston, seeing a show at Billy Bob's in the Fort Worth Stockyards, or drinking wine at Gruene Grove near New Braunfels, these videos give you an honest look at what to expect.
If you're planning a trip or just trying to figure out where to go on a Friday night, the videos above cover well over 100 different venues and artists across more than 100 Texas cities. You'll find everything from major concert halls and rodeo stages to backyard bars, coffee shops with picker circles, and grocery stores where young bands set up and play for their friends.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
What's Happening in the Texas Hill Country
In What's Happening in the Texas Hill Country, the focus is on the people and places supporting live music across the Hill Country region. It starts at Luckenbach, the unincorporated town with a population of roughly three, where a picking circle happens almost every afternoon and Bridget London's Angels and Outlaw event paid tribute to Kent Finley, Billy Joe Shaver, Chris Wall, and Tommy Alverson with artists like Jesse Adams performing. The video then moves to New Braunfels to visit the Redbird Listening Room for songwriter nights featuring Jessie Garcia, the Phoenix Saloon with its famous chili, the new Cowboys and Cadillacs venue with David Adam Burns playing, Gruene Grove with Wesley Puit, and the historic Gruene Hall.
What's happening in Houston, Texas
What's happening in Houston, Texas covers 12 different spots across the city, starting with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where Scotty Alexander played the Miller Lite Ice House stage, John Finny played the Champion Wine Garden, the Powell Brothers were on the main stage, and Riley Green performed in NRG Stadium. The video visits Bar Bohem in the Montrose neighborhood for Havana Nights with La Tribu, The Flat for Friday noon jazz with the Houston Ensemble, Big Star Bar in the Heights with Engine Driver, Shady Acres with Huge Small World, Tehas Brewery in Sawyer Yards with Henry Luna, and Giant Texas Distillers in the East End.
What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas
What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas walks through the city's live music scene starting at Billy Bob's, the world's largest honky tonk, where Ned LeDoux was performing. The video covers Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon in the Stockyards where Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition keep the western swing tradition alive, Filthy McNasty's Saloon with the Squeezebox Bandits, and Tannahill's on Mule Alley where JJ Grey and Mofro played. It also visits the Distribution Bar in South Main Village for their Monday night open jazz jam and Boiled Owl in the Magnolia Village neighborhood.
Where to hear live music in Fort Worth, Texas
Where to hear live music in Fort Worth, Texas features 10 venues starting with Magnolia Motor Lounge, where Spencer Wood celebrated his first album release. The video covers Tulips with Claire Hinkle and her band, Bearded Lady in South Main Village with Gabby Hinton, the grand opening of Our Tap House with the Squeezebox Bandits, and Cicada hosting their Save the Cicada event with a band called Darstar. Other stops include Boiled Owl for local late-night music, McFly for their open mic nights, and the Magnolia Village area.
New Braunfels Live Music Scene: Top spots for Texas nightlife
New Braunfels Live Music Scene covers 14 different venues and events in the New Braunfels area. It starts with Wurstfest, the annual festival celebrating German culture at Landa Park with performances by Alex Meyer at the Grosse Zelt stage and Squeezebox with Molly B at Wurst Hall. The video covers the Songwriters Harvest event featuring Jacob Augustine, Mountain Breeze Campground along the Guadalupe River hosting the In a Jam Down by the River event with Dustin Brown and Landon Hoffman, and the historic Gruene Hall where Gary P. Nunn played. It also visits Winery on the Gruene and multiple downtown New Braunfels spots.
Houston Nightlife: 11 Live Music Venues and Artists
Houston Nightlife features 11 venues starting with Bayou Music Center in the Theater District where Marcus King performed, and the House of Blues where Nikki Lane and Orville Peck played the main room. The video covers MKT Bar inside Phoenicia Specialty Foods for Sunday brunch with swing music, the Continental Club in the Mid-Main area with Houston's own Repeat Offenders, Axelrad hosting Wonky Tonk with Ralphie and the RC's, and Anderson Fair — one of the oldest folk and acoustic venues in continuous operation in the US since the 1960s — where Amanda Pascali performed. Dan Electro's is also featured for local and touring artists.
Honky Tonk Country Dancing and Two-Stepping in Austin Texas
Honky Tonk Country Dancing and Two-Stepping in Austin Texas gives a look at the two-stepping and dancing scene across Austin venues. It features Sagebrush in the South Congress area packed with dancers while Emily Nenni played, White Horse in East Austin with Mayeux and Broussard and Croy and the Boys, ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company) with Rosie and the Ramblers, and Highball on South Lamar with Johnny McGowan's Rugged Gents. The video also visits Jo's Coffee on South Congress for afternoon dancing with Tina Rose, C-Boy's Heart & Soul with 8½ Souvenirs, and Copeland Dance Hall in the small town of Copeland where All Hat No Cadillac played.
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife: Stockyards, Bars, and Live Music Hotspots
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife covers 12 locations starting at Tannahill's on Mule Alley in the Stockyards where Dylan Gossett drew a large crowd. The video visits Billy Bob's with Wilder Blue, the Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the Stockyards hill with Billy Joe Jones, and Saddle Rock Wine and Beer in a renovated 1800s home with Songbird Jones. Downtown, it covers Sundance Square with the Sundance Square Big Band, Flying Saucer with The Matthew Show, and Tulips in the South Main neighborhood. The video also features Scat Jazz Lounge and Bankhead Brewing Company near the Cultural District.
Austin Live Music Uncovered: 15 venues and artists
Austin Live Music Uncovered features 15 venues and all local Austin artists. It starts at Antone's in downtown Austin during a celebration of life for Michael Corcoran, with artists like The Wild Seeds and his son Jack Henry performing. The video visits Antone's Records on Guadalupe Street near the UT campus for an album release by Stalefish, Friendly Rio Market where young bands play inside the grocery store, and Kick Butt Coffee for the Fem Rock showcase. Other stops include Red Bud Isle House with a Monday picker circle hosted by Sharita Perez, Sunny's Backyard on East 7th with Black Da Vinci and Meta, Parker Jazz Club in the Warehouse District with Chris Kimura and the Parker House Band, and Lambert's for upstairs live music.
New Braunfels top spots for live music (14 live music venues and bands)
New Braunfels top spots for live music covers 14 venues and artists in the area, starting with Gruene Hall, which dates back to 1878 as Texas's oldest continually running dance hall, where Radney Foster performed. The video visits Gruene Grove with the Ryan Lawless Band, Lone Star Float House along the Guadalupe River with John Evans playing their Sunday Serenade series, and Dry Comal Creek Vineyards with Stella. It also covers Guadalupe Brewing with Mason Norris, Double Dave's Pizza Works on Gabriel Place where Monty Good has a Thursday gig, Bootlegger's Pizza in downtown New Braunfels with Luke Leverett, Tavern on Castell with Brian Snipes, and The Poorhouse patio bar.
Houston's Top Bars and Nightlife Spots: 14 Live Music Venues and Artists
Houston's Top Bars and Nightlife Spots features 14 venues across the city. It starts at Heights Theater on 19th Street in a restored early 1900s movie theater where Alejandro Escovedo performed. The video covers Dan Electro's with Howard and the Nosebeds playing psych rock, The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club with Evelyn Rubio performing blues, and Under the Volcano — Houston's first craft cocktail bar — where the Hickoids celebrated 40 years together. Other stops include The White Swan in the historic East Side going back to 1937, The Gypsy Poet near Midtown with Wednesday rehearsal sessions, and The Deuce (Marfreless 2) with their Live at the Deuce series.
Fort Worth Nightlife: Live music from the Stockyards to Sundance Square downtown
Fort Worth Nightlife covers 12 venues from the Stockyards to downtown and beyond. It starts at Billy Bob's with a front-row experience seeing Jon Wolfe, then visits the Rhinestone Saloon in the Stockyards with David Adam Burns at their 10 PM weekend shows. Downtown, it covers Sundance Square during the Main Street Fort Worth Art Festival with Summer Dean and Matt Hillyer, and Scat Jazz Lounge — a speakeasy-style subterranean space recognized for live jazz from local and national talent with their Black Dog Jam on Sundays. The video also visits Bankhead Brewing Company near the Cultural District with Larry Laminin and Birdie's Social Club with Breezy Branche.
Places to visit in Austin: Exploring the Red River Cultural District for Live Music
Places to visit in Austin explores 10 live music venues along the Red River Cultural District during the Hot Summer Nights event when all venues on the strip offer free live music. Starting at Mohawk with And So I Watch You From Afar on the outdoor stage, the video visits Cheer Up Charlies with Middle Sat Tre, Stubb's BBQ with Creekbed Carter Hogan, Valhalla with Houses We Die In, The 13th Floor with The Daymares, Elysium for goth and industrial music with Monster Mash, Empire Control Room and Garage with Daniel Fears, Swan Dive with Robert Parker Jr., and Flamingo Cantina on Sixth Street with Llamativa.
Where to go in Austin for live music and honky tonk dancing
Where to go in Austin for live music and honky tonk dancing features eight venues focused on the country two-step dancing scene. It starts at White Horse on East 6th Street with Georgia Parker and Johnny McGowan's Rugged Gents, then visits Coral Snake in East Austin for Thursday two-step and Friday swing dancing with Rent Party playing jazz. The video covers Little Longhorn Saloon on Burnet Road known for chicken shit bingo with Finger Pistol playing, Donn's Depot piano bar in an old rail car with Frank Cavitt and the Honky Tonk Doctors on Wednesdays, ABGB with Warren Hood, the Continental Club on South Congress with Theo Lawrence, Sagebrush with Melissa Carper, and Mercer Dance Hall in Dripping Springs with The Merals.
Where to see live music in The Texas Hill Country
Where to see live music in The Texas Hill Country covers 14 venues across Sisterdale, Spring Branch, Bulverde, New Braunfels, and near San Antonio. It starts at the Power Plant Texas Bar and Grill in Sisterdale (also known as Sisterdale Power Plant), a historic site from the 1890s on the Guadalupe River, with the Resonator Nightmare band. The video visits Bar Sisterdale with Andrew Kites, Sisterdale Brewing Company with Jeff Jacobs, Max's Roadhouse in Spring Branch with the Russ Brown Band, Bourbon and Branch with Wanesi, Sabinal Creek Vineyard in Bulverde, Rebecca Creek Distillery with Tristan Frederick, and Stable Hall in San Antonio's Pearl District with Ryder Grimes. It also covers Fry Heights in New Braunfels with Rio Tripiano and the Redbird Listening Room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best honky tonks for two-stepping in Austin, Texas?
The top honky tonks for two-stepping in Austin include White Horse in East Austin with live music seven nights a week, Sagebrush in the South Congress area which also has music every night on multiple stages, Little Longhorn Saloon on Burnet Road with its classic honky tonk vibe, and Donn's Depot, a piano bar in an old rail car where Wednesday nights are especially popular for dancing with Frank Cavitt and the Honky Tonk Doctors. ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company) also draws dancers on Sundays and Wednesdays.
What venues are in the Red River Cultural District in Austin?
The Red River Cultural District includes Mohawk (a multi-level venue with indoor and outdoor stages), Cheer Up Charlies (a gay nightclub with outdoor music and drag shows), Stubb's BBQ, Valhalla, The 13th Floor (a rock and roll bar inspired by Austin's psychedelic music history), Elysium (Austin's goth club), Empire Control Room and Garage (with three stages), Swan Dive, and Flamingo Cantina down on Sixth Street. During the Hot Summer Nights event, all of these venues offer free live music on the same night.
What is there to do at Billy Bob's in the Fort Worth Stockyards?
Billy Bob's is billed as the world's largest honky tonk and is open daily. Inside you'll find merchandise for sale, barbecue, pizza, pool tables, plenty of bar space, and a live bull riding arena. They have two stages — one in front of a large dance floor and a second for bigger ticketed acts. Artists featured in the videos above include Ned LeDoux, Wilder Blue, and Jon Wolfe. They charge admission just to walk in during the day, and they host major country and classic rock acts regularly.
Where can you find live music in downtown New Braunfels?
Downtown New Braunfels has several live music spots within walking distance. The Phoenix Saloon is known for its chili and features a lively nightlife scene. Cowboys and Cadillacs is a newer multi-level venue with rooftop seating. Bootlegger's Pizza has outdoor music, Tavern on Castell is a newer spot for upscale cocktails with live music inside, and The Poorhouse is a patio bar with regular live music. Just outside downtown, the Redbird Listening Room supports songwriters with ticketed shows and weekly songwriter nights.
What is the oldest dance hall in Texas and where is it?
Gruene Hall, located in the Gruene district of New Braunfels, dates back to 1878 and calls itself Texas's oldest continually running dance hall. It's featured in multiple videos on this page, showing performances by classic Texas artists including Gary P. Nunn and Radney Foster. Gruene is a walkable historic area right next to New Braunfels with several other live music spots nearby including Gruene Grove and Winery on the Gruene.
What are the best live music neighborhoods in Houston?
Houston's live music is spread across several neighborhoods. The Heights area has Heights Theater on 19th Street and Big Star Bar. Montrose features Bar Bohem, The Flat, and Anderson Fair — one of the oldest folk venues in the US. The Mid-Main area has the Continental Club. Downtown includes Bayou Music Center in the Theater District and House of Blues. The East End has Giant Texas Distillers and The White Swan. Midtown has The Gypsy Poet. Each neighborhood has its own character and style of music.
Where can you find live jazz in Fort Worth?
Scat Jazz Lounge is Fort Worth's top jazz destination, a speakeasy-style club in a subterranean space downtown near Sundance Square featuring local and national jazz talent. Their Black Dog Jam on Sundays is a regular event. The Distribution Bar in the South Main Village neighborhood hosts a Monday night open jazz jam. Sundance Square itself also features the Sundance Square Big Band on the plaza during their Wednesday through Sunday evening music programming.