The video above takes you on a real tour of honky tonk dancing in Austin, Texas, moving through eight different venues and featuring at least 15 artists along the way. Rather than sticking to one spot at a time, this one jumps around to give you a full picture of what the country music bar and dance scene actually looks like across several Austin neighborhoods — from South Congress to East 6th Street, on weeknights, Sunday afternoons, and even Halloween.
The video kicks off with Theo Lawrence, a French artist who made a brief visit to Austin, won everybody over, and eventually found his way back more permanently. From there, it moves through Sunday afternoon hangs, Monday night regulars, and packed Saturday nights at some of Austin's most well-known live music spots.
Where Can You Go Honky Tonk Dancing in Austin?
Based on what the video covers, here are the Austin venues featured, all of which regularly host live music with room to dance:
- Joe's Coffee (South Congress) — A Sunday afternoon spot where you can grab coffee and a pastry while catching talented artists like Jenny Miori and Georgia Parker performing with Joe's House Band during their sinners brunch
- ABGB — A brewery and restaurant with good food and a comfortable amount of space, though it fills up fast for popular acts like Devon Jake
- Sagebrush — A go-to dancing spot south of the main South Congress strip, featuring bands like Libby and the Loveless, Welden Henson, and Bob Apple
- Sea Boys — Self-described as the swankiest club in South Congress, where you can catch Mike and the Burnalls regularly and sometimes find Jimmy Vaughan playing
- Highball — A venue with plenty of floor space and a popular weekly Motown Monday night featuring dressed-up performers doing R&B and blues hits
- Continental Club (South Congress) — A staple venue hosting regulars like Dale Watson on Monday nights, plus acts like The Mellows and Gus Clark and the Least of His Problems
- The White Horse (East Austin) — Located in the East 6th Street area, this place gets packed on weekends and draws serious energy, especially on nights like Halloween when the costumes come out
- Sam's Town Point — Mentioned as one of the spots where Theo Lawrence has been performing around town
What Night Should You Go Out Dancing in Austin?
It depends on what you're looking for. Sundays are surprisingly stacked — you can start at Joe's Coffee in the afternoon, catch a show at ABGB, head to Sagebrush in the evening, and end up at Sea Boys or the White Horse late. Mondays have their own thing going with Dale Watson at the Continental Club and Motown Monday at Highball. Fridays and Saturdays at the White Horse are the rowdiest, with the biggest crowds and the most energy on the dance floor. There's really something happening every night of the week if you know where to look.