The video above is a solid walkthrough of live music in Austin, featuring 12 different venues that David Bridwell visited in person. If you're trying to get a feel for what Austin's music scene actually looks and sounds like — from underground jazz bars to laid-back neighborhood spots — this is a good place to start. David hits venues across South Austin, downtown, East Austin, and even one out in Spicewood, giving you a real cross-section of what's out there.
Where Are the Best Places to Find Live Music in Austin?
David covers a wide range of spots in the video, each with its own personality. Here's the full list of venues he visited:
- Saxon Pub — An intimate venue on Lamar Street with music seven nights a week, great for catching early evening sets right after work. David saw Brian Pounds playing with Chris Beal when he stopped in.
- Continental Gallery — Connected to the well-known Continental Club, this smaller room often hosts James McMurtry. David caught Church on Monday with Elias Haslinger and Dr. James Polk.
- C-Boy's Heart & Soul — A South Congress spot that calls itself the swankiest club on the strip, known for classic soul and R&B. David went to see The Derailers.
- ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company) — A beer garden setting with live music. David saw Dallas Burrow performing.
- Giddy Ups — A laid-back South Austin hangout where the regulars all seem to know each other. David found the Touchton Trio playing on a weekday.
- Antone's Nightclub — A downtown institution known as the playground of Stevie Ray Vaughan, still going strong after 40-plus years. David saw Emily Wolfe there.
- The Elephant Room — An underground jazz bar in downtown Austin serving up cool jazz in the basement since 1991. David caught the Mitch Watkins Trio.
- Hole in the Wall — A divey spot next to the UT campus with a focus on songwriters. David went on a weekday night and saw EDHK perform to a quiet, attentive room.
- Long Play Lounge — An East Austin lounge where David saw Rent Party playing for swing dancers.
- Skylark Lounge — Calls itself Austin's best blues and soul live music venue. David saw Diesel Davis working the crowd.
- Carousel Lounge — A distinct spot with circus decor, including a carousel behind the bar and a pink elephant behind the stage. Round Rock Rick was playing when David visited.
- Poodie's Hilltop Roadhouse — Located out in Spicewood with deep ties to Willie Nelson, whose road manager Randall "Poodie" Locke owned the place. The motto "no bad days" comes from Poodie himself. David was there for the No Bad Days open mic.
What Part of Austin Has the Most Live Music?
Based on what David covers in the video, South Austin and the downtown area have the heaviest concentration of venues. Saxon Pub, C-Boy's, ABGB, Giddy Ups, and the Continental Gallery are all in or near South Austin, while Antone's and The Elephant Room are right downtown. East Austin adds spots like Long Play Lounge and Skylark Lounge into the mix. The variety across these neighborhoods is part of what makes Austin's music scene worth exploring on foot or with a short drive between stops.
David regularly posts videos about the Texas music scene on his YouTube channel, so if you want to dig deeper into Austin or see what other cities across the state have going on, check out his other content.