The video above walks you through 14 bars and music venues across different neighborhoods, giving you a real feel for the live music scene in Austin. David Bridwell covers a lot of ground here — from East Austin to South Congress, from jazz brunches to honky tonk dance floors — and the result is a solid overview of what a few days of bar-hopping in Austin actually looks like. It's not just the big-name spots either. There are breweries, a whiskey distillery, a record store, and a Cajun cafe mixed in, which says a lot about how music shows up in unexpected corners of this city.
What are the best areas for live music in Austin?
Austin's live music is spread across several distinct neighborhoods, and the video hits most of them. East Austin along César Chávez Street is home to newer venues with independent bookings. The Rainy Street area is a popular strip packed with bars and outdoor stages. Near the UT Austin campus, you'll find historic spots that have been around for decades. And South Austin — especially along South Congress — has a dense cluster of venues, breweries, and dance halls. There's no single "best" block. The real move is to pick a neighborhood and walk it.
14 Austin Venues Featured in the Video
- Coral Snake — East Austin cocktail bar and music venue featuring indie and underground acts most nights of the week
- High Hat Public House — A neighborhood jazz bar on East 6th with upscale food and daytime music, including a Sunday Jazz Brunch
- Central Machine Works — A brewery inside a former metal fabrication warehouse with a huge outdoor area and live stage
- Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden — Rainy Street spot with a stage, daytime live music, and a big sausage menu
- Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches — North Austin hangout with coffee, beer, kolaches, and regular live music like the golden hour jazz jam
- Cactus Cafe — Intimate listening room and bar inside the UT Student Union, open since 1979, known for songwriter nights hosted by Jake Farr
- Scholz Garten — One of the oldest spots in Austin, dating back to 1866, with political history and outdoor live music near the Capitol
- Continental Gallery — The upstairs room above the famous Continental Club on South Congress, great for catching late-night sets
- Sagebrush — South Austin venue with a big dance floor and stage plus a smaller indoor room for more intimate shows
- Still Austin Whiskey Co. — A grain-to-glass distillery in South Austin's brewery district that hosts live music on its grounds
- Independence Brewing — South Austin brewery with outdoor live music, self-described as brewed by independent thinkers and drinkers
- Giddy Ups — Classic country dive bar with live music most nights; on Tuesdays you can catch W.C. Clark, the Godfather of the Austin blues scene
- End of an Ear Records — A record store that hosts release parties and in-store performances
- Evangeline Cafe — Cajun restaurant with a Hank Williams Sr.–inspired menu and live music multiple nights a week, home stage of the Austin Cajun Aces
Artists and Performers Worth Knowing
The video captures performances from a wide range of musicians. Faith Kelly and Kwin Moon played at Coral Snake. Grant Tule led the Sunday jazz brunch at High Hat. Buenos Diaz performed outside at Central Machine Works. Donovan Keith played at Banger's. At Cactus Cafe, Marina Rocks stole the show during open mic night. Croy and the Boys drew a big crowd at Scholz Garten. Over at Continental Gallery, Michael Hale Organ Trio kept the party going on a Monday night after a Dale Watson set downstairs. Allgrass brought serious bluegrass chops to Sagebrush, and the Ben Balmer Band played at Independence Brewing. Dorothy's performed at End of an Ear. That's a lot of live music in one city, and none of it required a ticket to a major arena.