Live Music Austin — Venue Guides, Artist Spotlights & Where to Go Out
12 videos · Your guide to Austin's live music scene, from honky tonks to jazz clubs and everything in between.
Austin's reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World isn't just a slogan — it's a nightly reality across dozens of neighborhoods, from the Red River Cultural District to South Congress to East Sixth Street. Whether you're looking for a basement jazz club, a two-stepping honky tonk, a songwriter's listening room, or a free outdoor showcase during South by Southwest, Austin delivers more live music options on any given night than most cities manage in a month.
The videos on this page cover well over 100 different venues and locations across Austin, filmed during regular weeknights, lazy Sunday afternoons, major festival weeks, and everything in between. You'll find walkthroughs of iconic spots like Antone's, The Broken Spoke, The White Horse, and The Continental Club, alongside lesser-known neighborhood gems like Buddy's Place, Friendly Rio Market, and Sahara. The guides span honky tonks, dive bars, jazz clubs, coffee shops with stages, brewery patios, and large-format venues.
If you're planning a trip to Austin or just trying to figure out where to go tonight, the videos above give you a real look at what each place feels like — the size of the room, the crowd, the style of music, and the overall atmosphere. Several videos focus specifically on SXSW and how locals experience the festival through free events and day parties, while others focus on the everyday Austin music scene that runs year-round, seven nights a week.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
SXSW 2026: Live music around Austin | Best artists, venues, free events
In SXSW 2026: Live music around Austin, the video covers 11 different venues and 13 artists performing during South by Southwest, with a focus on free events that don't require a badge. Featured stops include Sagebrush with Shaky Graves playing, the Lonestar Roadhouse event at East End Ballroom with Rattlesnake Milk, South by San Jose at Hotel San Jose on South Congress with Joe Alice, the Yeti flagship with Joshua Ray Walker, Colton House with Scott Belaloo, Cosmic Pickle hosting Cosmic Fest with Dylan LeBlanc, and the Dainty Dillow hosting an Outlaw Pride label launch party with Lydia Loveless.
Concerts in Austin: 12 Live Music Venues in Austin, Texas
Concerts in Austin: 12 Live Music Venues in Austin, Texas walks through a dozen of the city's most notable music spots. The video opens at Antone's on a night when Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top was performing, then visits Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater during Robert Earl Keen's Lights Camera Christmas show. Other stops include the Elephant Room for live jazz with the Jitterbug Vipers, Waterloo Records with Kelly Willis, Austin Garden and Studio at In Cahoots on East Sixth Street, The White Horse with Kelley McWee, Buddy's Place in North Austin with Jeff Gallagher, and the Palmer Event Center during the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar.
SXSW Austin: Inside Austin's Best Live Music Venues and Iconic Places to Visit
SXSW Austin: Inside Austin's Best Live Music Venues and Iconic Places to Visit focuses on how a local experiences South by Southwest through free events across the city. Stops include the GSD&M Advertising Agency backyard for Bloody Mary morning with Larkin Poe, Hole-in-the-Wall near the UT campus for the Cosmic Americana Ice Cream Social with Frail Talk, Cherrywood Coffee House in the Cherry Hood neighborhood with Llaya Ford, Hotel Vegas on East Sixth with Little Hag, Blureyed Band, and Variety across multiple stages, Liberty bar with Dominic Delaney, The White Horse hosting the New West Records Showcase with Emily Nenni and The Deslondes, and Jo's Coffee on South Congress.
Austin Live Music Uncovered: 15 venues and artists
Austin Live Music Uncovered covers 15 venues featuring exclusively local Austin artists. The video starts at Antone's during a celebration of life for Michael Corcoran, featuring artists like The Wild Seeds and Jack Henry. It continues to Antone's Records on Guadalupe Street for a Stalefish album release, Friendly Rio Market hosting young bands in the middle of the grocery store, Kick Butt Coffee for the Fem Rock Showcase, Red Bud Ice House near Manor Road for a picker circle hosted by Sharita Perez, Sunny Backyard on East 7th Street with Black Da Vinci and Meta, Parker Jazz Club in the Warehouse District with Chris Kimura and the Parker House Band, and Lambert's for live music upstairs.
Places to visit in Austin: Exploring the Red River Cultural District for Live Music
Places to visit in Austin explores the Red River Cultural District during the Hot Summer Nights event, when all the venues along the strip offer free live music. The video covers 10 venues starting at the top of Red River Street with Mohawk, then moving to Cheer Up Charlies with Middle Sat Tre, Stubb's BBQ with Creek Bed Carter Hogan, Valhalla with Houses We Die In, The 13th Floor with The Daymares, Elysium with Monster Mash Up, Empire Control Room and Garage with Daniel Fears, Swan Dive with Robert Parker Jr., Flamingo Cantina with Llamativa, and Vaquero Taquero to close the night.
Austin SXSW Festival: Live Music & Day Parties Across the City
Austin SXSW Festival: Live Music & Day Parties Across the City features eight locations hosting day-long events during SXSW. The tour begins on South Congress at C-Boy's Heart & Soul for the SoCo Stomp with Ray Wylie Hubbard, then visits Fresa's for a South by SoCo event with Just Russ and the Rusty Buckets, Güero's for the Bubble Studios Showcase with Midnight Rubies, Hotel San Jose for South by San Jose with Sugar Daisy, ABGB with Anna Smirk, Captain Quackenbush's with Hey Cowboy, Radio Coffee South for the Kerrville Folk Festival Showcase with Sunny Fairley, Radio Coffee East with My Seon, Giddy Ups with Sharita Perez, and the Far Out Lounge with College of Hip Hop Knowledge and Olivia Kachet.
The live music scene in Austin, Texas (14 bars and venues)
The live music scene in Austin, Texas covers 14 bars and venues across multiple neighborhoods. East Austin stops include Coral Snake on Cesar Chavez with Faith Kelly and Kwin Moon, and High Hat Public House for the Sunday Jazz Brunch with Grant Itle. The video also visits Central Machine Works brewery with Buenos Diaz, Banger's Sausage House on Rainey Street with Donovan Keith, Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches in North Austin for the Golden Hour Jazz Jam, Cactus Cafe inside the UT Student Union for the songwriter's open mic hosted by Jake Farr with Marina Rocks, Scholz Garten (dating to 1866) with Croy and the Boys, and the Continental Gallery in South Austin.
Where to go in Austin for live music
Where to go in Austin for live music features 14 bars and venues visited during the day and at night. The video starts at Sagebrush on a night featuring Nikki Lane, then visits the Saxon Pub during the BMI Saxon Songwriter Series with six different songwriters, Mean Eyed Cat in the Clarksville neighborhood with Graham Wilkinson singing a Blaze Foley song, Nomad Bar in North Austin with F/asino playing jazz, the Vortex and Butterfly Bar with the Electric Church, King Bee on the East Side for Bluesday Tuesdays with Michael Broadneck, The Parlor in Hyde Park, and The Volstead inside Hotel Vegas for the Underground Voices open mic.
Where to see live music in Austin
Where to see live music in Austin covers 10 venues across the city. It starts at Mohawk in the Red River Cultural District, then visits Waterloo Records for a free in-store performance by Jamie Harris with Michael O'Connor, New World Deli for a Townes Van Zandt tribute with Chrissy and Whan, Kick Butt Coffee for the Fem Rock Showcase, Buzzmill in South Austin for open mic night, Radio Coffee and Beer during a packed Kerrville Folk Festival showcase with The Good Looks Band and Lay Line, Captain Quackenbush's Coffee House, the Far Out Lounge, and the Armadillo Den.
The Austin Music Scene (a tour of live music venues)
The Austin Music Scene tours 10 venues and captures the variety of Austin's music landscape. The video opens at Metcalf BBQ at Graceland during the 15th annual Gram Parsons Hootenanny hosted by Patterson Barrett, featuring Bill Hearne and Earl Poole Ball (also known as Mr. Honky Tonk Piano). Other stops include Sagebrush with Gabe Wooten, Heather Little, and the Magic Rockers of Texas, Little Darlin on a lazy Sunday with Restos, the Far Out Lounge for Sunday brunch with Wax Logic, Sahara for Africa Night Buffet with Afro Jazz and Brahmaya, El Mercado for Monday Night Supper Club with Michael O'Connor, Barbara Nesbitt, and Pat Byrne, and Radio Coffee and Beer.
Live music in Austin
Live music in Austin covers 12 places across the city for finding music. The tour kicks off at Saxon Pub on Lamar Street with Brian Pounds and Chris Beal, then visits the Continental Gallery for Church on Monday with Elias Haslinger and Dr. James Polk, C-Boy's Heart & Soul on South Congress with The Derailers, ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company) with Dallas Burrow, Giddy Ups with the Touchton Trio, Antone's with Emily Wolfe, the Elephant Room with the Mitch Watkins Trio, Hole-in-the-Wall near the UT campus, and Long Play Lounge in East Austin.
Live music Austin: Top Venues for Two-Step & Country Dancing in the Austin Music Scene
Live music Austin: Top Venues for Two-Step & Country Dancing focuses on Austin's country and dance-oriented venues. The video opens at The Broken Spoke, described as the last of the true Texas dance halls, with its museum full of memorabilia from George Strait, Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, and Jerry Jeff Walker, and features the Stateline Band performing. It then visits Donn's Depot on a Monday for Chris Gage's long-running residency (Gage played lead guitar with Jerry Jeff Walker), Texas Chili Parlor for the Mad Dog Margaritas referenced in the Guy Clark song, the Little Longhorn Saloon — the honkiest tonkiest beer joint in town and home of Chicken Shit Bingo — with the band Bakersfield Texas, and The Highball next to the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What venues are on Red River Street in Austin for live music?
The Red River Cultural District runs along Red River Street in downtown Austin and includes Mohawk (multi-level with indoor and outdoor stages), Cheer Up Charlies (gay nightclub with outdoor music and drag shows), Stubb's BBQ, Valhalla, The 13th Floor (a psychedelic rock-inspired bar), Elysium (Austin's goth club), Empire Control Room and Garage (three stages), Swan Dive, and Flamingo Cantina (open since 1991 with reggae, Latin, punk, ska, and more). During the Hot Summer Nights event, all of these venues offer free live music on the same night.
Where can I go two-stepping and country dancing in Austin?
The top spots for two-stepping and country dancing in Austin include The Broken Spoke, which calls itself the last of the true Texas dance halls and offers dance lessons before shows, The White Horse on East Sixth Street, regarded as the best honky tonk in East Austin with live music every night, Sagebrush, which has a large dance floor and a big stage, and the Little Longhorn Saloon, the self-described honkiest tonkiest beer joint in town. Donn's Depot also has dancing, especially on Monday nights during Chris Gage's long-running residency.
What free events happen during SXSW in Austin without a badge?
Many venues and businesses host free day parties and showcases during SXSW that don't require a badge. Based on the guides on this page, free events include the SoCo Stomp at C-Boy's Heart & Soul on South Congress, South by San Jose at Hotel San Jose, the Cosmic Fest at Cosmic Pickle, day parties at Colton House, the New West Records Showcase at The White Horse, the Hodge Podge Showcase at Captain Quackenbush's, showcases at Radio Coffee South and Radio Coffee East, and Bloody Mary Morning events at the GSD&M backyard in downtown Austin. Sagebrush, Hotel Vegas, and Liberty also host free shows during the festival.
What is Antone's in Austin and why is it famous?
Antone's is a historic blues club in downtown Austin that has been open for nearly 40 years. It's regarded as a playground for Stevie Ray Vaughan and has hosted legends like BB King and James Brown. The videos on this page show visits on multiple occasions, including a night when Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top performed, a celebration of life for music writer Michael Corcoran featuring artists like The Wild Seeds and Jack Henry, and a show by Austin-based artist Emily Wolfe. There's also Antone's Records on Guadalupe Street near the UT campus, which hosts album release shows.
Where can I find live jazz in Austin?
Austin has several dedicated jazz spots. The Elephant Room on Congress Avenue is an intimate underground jazz bar that's had cool jazz in the basement since 1991, featuring acts like the Jitterbug Vipers and the Mitch Watkins Trio. Parker Jazz Club in the Warehouse District is an intimate basement club run by award-winning jazz vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Kimura, who performs there with the Parker House Band. High Hat Public House on East Sixth Street offers a Sunday Jazz Brunch, and Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches in North Austin hosts the Golden Hour Jazz Jam.
What live music venues in Austin have music seven days a week?
Based on the videos on this page, the Saxon Pub on Lamar Street has live music seven nights a week, including early evening sets that work well if you get off work at five o'clock. The White Horse on East Sixth Street also has live music from multiple artists every night of the week. Antone's, The Elephant Room, and Sagebrush are also mentioned as having music most or all nights.
What are the best live music venues in South Austin?
South Austin has a deep concentration of live music spots. Key venues include The Continental Club and the Continental Gallery upstairs, C-Boy's Heart & Soul on South Congress (an offshoot of the Continental Club featuring classic soul and R&B), Saxon Pub on Lamar Street, The Broken Spoke, ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company), Little Darlin, the Far Out Lounge (with two stages and food trucks), Giddy Ups, The Highball next to the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, the Armadillo Den, Buzzmill, and Radio Coffee and Beer. The South Congress strip is also a hub during SXSW, with Hotel San Jose, Güero's, and Fresa's all hosting showcases.