The video above takes you on a walking tour of downtown Austin during South by Southwest, covering a solid few hours on foot across four distinct neighborhoods. It's a real look at what the streets feel like on a busy Saturday afternoon during SXSW — overcast skies, crowds with badges, and live music pouring out of just about every door. If you've ever wondered what downtown Austin actually looks like when South by is in full swing, this is a good place to start.
What Are the Best Areas for Live Music in Downtown Austin During SXSW?
The walk covers four major zones, and each one has its own feel. Dirty 6th Street is the rowdiest — it has a reputation for being a bit chaotic, and during SXSW that energy gets amplified with badge holders mixing in alongside the usual crowd. Rainey Street is known for its bungalow bars tucked between high-rises, though on this particular afternoon it was quieter than expected for live music. The Red River District turned out to be where it was really happening — a dense cluster of legit music venues right off 6th Street, all running shows simultaneously. And West 6th Street offered a slightly more relaxed, college-friendly scene with a handful of spots hosting bands.
Live Music Venues Spotted During the Walk
Here's every spot where live music was found during this downtown Austin walkthrough — fourteen venues total across four neighborhoods:
- Friends Bar — a Dirty 6th Street bar with live music going inside during the afternoon
- San Jac Saloon — a popular Dirty 6th spot that had music kicking off early in the day
- Tipsy Alchemist — the one Rainey Street spot with live music going on this particular afternoon
- Chess Club — a Red River District venue and the first stop where music was heard in that area
- Empire Control Room — a well-known mid-size venue with a big fenced-off outdoor area pumping out loud live sets
- 13th Floor — a Red River District bar with a solid reputation that was hosting live music
- Stubb's BBQ — a major Austin concert venue that was setting up for big acts with lines forming outside
- Mohawk — a popular venue with both an indoor stage and a large outdoor stage with tiered seating that was filling up fast
- Cheer Up Charlies — right next to Mohawk, fenced off and ready for a full day of shows
- Valhalla — tucked next to Cheer Up Charlies with live music clearly audible from the street
- Parlor & Yard — a West 6th spot with live music going on during the afternoon
- Dogwood — visible from the street on West 6th with a band playing in the distance
- Irene's — just off the corner on West 6th, hosting live music as well
David Bridwell's Gig at Brentwood Social House
After spending the afternoon walking downtown, David Bridwell headed north of the river to play his own gig at Brentwood Social House, a coffee shop in North Austin. It's a different world from the packed bars on Red River — a quieter, more intimate setting where you can actually hear the music and connect with the people in the room. The video wraps up with a few songs from that set, and it's a nice contrast to the sensory overload of SXSW downtown. Sometimes the best live music moments happen in the smallest rooms.