The video above takes you on a tour of honky tonk country dancing across Austin, Texas, hitting several venues where two-stepping is alive and well on any given night of the week. If you've been curious about what the Austin dancing scene actually looks like — the bands, the crowds, the floors — this is a solid overview covering everything from packed Saturday nights to laid-back afternoon sets at a coffee shop.
Where Can You Go Two-Stepping and Country Dancing in Austin?
Austin has a real spread of places where you can catch live country music and get out on the dance floor. Here are the spots featured in the video:
- Sagebrush — A popular live music venue in the South Congress area with a small stage up front and a big stage in the back, featuring multiple bands every night. It was packed on the night shown in the video with Emily Nenney playing after coming out from Nashville.
- The White Horse — A classic honky tonk in East Austin and a local favorite for two-step dancing, with live music every day and multiple bands each night. The video captures sets by Mayu and Brassard as well as Croy and the Boys.
- ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company) — A warehouse-style beer garden known for micro brews, pizza, and sandwiches, with a more mellow vibe. Rosie and the Ramblers were playing on the stage here.
- Highball — Located next to the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, this spot has a big stage, a big dance floor, craft beer, and cocktails. The video features Johnny Macaw's Rugged Gents performing.
- Jo's Coffee — An iconic South Congress coffee shop known for coffee, pastries, and breakfast tacos. The video shows afternoon dancing with Tina Rose and Jo's house band playing.
- C-Boy's Heart & Soul — A neighborhood juke joint further south on South Congress featuring classic soul and R&B. Eight and 1/2 Souvenirs, a real Austin band that played around the city over 20 years ago, have reunited for a Tuesday happy hour residency here.
- Copeland Dance Hall — A short drive outside Austin in the small town of Copeland, this dance hall is in a building dating back to 1904 that served as a drug company, then a grocery and tavern before becoming a dance hall. Locals come out on Friday and Saturday nights, and the video catches All Hat No Cadillac performing.
More Than Just Honky Tonks
One thing this video from David Bridwell makes clear is that the Austin two-stepping scene goes beyond traditional honky tonks. You've got afternoon dancing at a coffee shop, soul music at a juke joint, and a historic small-town dance hall just outside the city. The common thread is live music and people who actually want to dance. Whether it's a weeknight happy hour at C-Boy's or a packed Saturday at Sagebrush, there's something going on almost every night if you know where to look. If you're planning a trip or just trying to figure out where to go this weekend, these spots are a good place to start.