What's Happening in the Texas Hill Country
Feb 23, 2026
Texas Hill Country Live Music — Venues, Dance Halls & Music Scene Guide
9 videos · A video guide to live music across the Texas Hill Country, from historic dance halls to hidden speakeasies.
The Texas Hill Country stretches across a wide swath of central Texas, and its live music scene runs deep. From the iconic Gruene Hall — Texas's oldest continuously operating dance hall, built in 1878 — to tucked-away listening rooms and riverside bars, the region offers a density of live music that rewards exploration. Towns like New Braunfels, Gruene, Seidel (Sisterdale-area Segnin), Spring Branch, Bulverde, and San Marcos each contribute their own character, whether it's a weekday songwriter circle or a packed Saturday night dance.
The videos on this page document the Hill Country music scene across dozens of venues and performers. You'll find coverage of well-known spots like Gruene Hall, the Redbird Listening Room, and Riley's Tavern, alongside newer additions like Cowboys and Cadillacs, Stable Hall in San Antonio's Pearl District, and Goodwin's Speakeasy hidden beneath the streets of Gruene. The guides cover everything from rooftop bars and wineries to pizza joints and distilleries that host regular live music. Artists featured range from touring Texas songwriters like Slaid Cleaves, Jack Ingram, and Radney Foster to local acts playing weekly residencies.
Beyond ticketed shows, these videos map out the open mic circuit across New Braunfels and San Marcos, the Sunday picker circles, and the casual afternoon sets at places like Gruene Grove and Luckenbach, Texas. If you're planning a trip to the Hill Country or you live in the area and want to find new spots, the guides on this page give you a real sense of what each venue looks like, sounds like, and what kind of crowd to expect.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
What's Happening in the Texas Hill Country
In What's Happening in the Texas Hill Country, the tour begins at Luckenbach, Texas, the unincorporated town with a population of roughly three, where a picking circle runs most afternoons and multiple stages include a dance hall. The video covers Bridget London's Angels and Outlaw event — a tribute to Texas music figures Kent Finley, Billy Joe Shaver, Chris Wall, and Tommy Alverson — featuring Jesse Adams performing. It then moves to New Braunfels to visit the Redbird Listening Room (where Jessie Garcia plays at a Thursday songwriter night), the Phoenix Saloon (known for its chili and chili powder history), Cowboys and Cadillacs (a new multi-level rooftop venue with David Adam Burns performing), Gruene Grove (with Wesley Puit playing), and on toward Gruene Hall.
New Braunfels top spots for live music (14 live music venues and bands)
New Braunfels top spots for live music covers 14 venues and artists in and around New Braunfels. It opens at Gruene Hall with Radney Foster performing, then visits Gruene Grove (with the Ryan Lawless Band), the Lone Star Float House on the Guadalupe River (featuring John Evans during the Sunday Serenade series), and Dry Comal Creek Vineyards (with Stella playing). The video also stops at Guadalupe Brewing (with Mason Norris), Double Dave's Pizza Works on Gabriel Place (where Monty Good holds a Thursday gig), Bootlegger's Pizza in downtown New Braunfels (with Luke Leverett), Tavern on Castell (with Brian Snipes), and the Poor House patio bar.
Where to see live music in The Texas Hill Country
Where to see live music in The Texas Hill Country features 14 venues spanning Segnin, Spring Branch, Bulverde, and New Braunfels. It starts at the Power Plant Texas Bar and Grill (also called Segnin Power Plant), a venue built at a historic 1890s dam site on the Guadalupe River, where the Resonator Nightmare Band plays. The tour continues to Bar Segnin (with Andrew Kites), Segnin Brewing Company (with Jeff Jacobs), Max's Roadhouse in Spring Branch (with the Russ Brown Band), Bourbon and Branch (with Wancsi), Sabolo Creek Vineyard in Bulverde, Rebecca Creek Distillery (with Tristan Frederick), and Stable Hall in San Antonio's Pearl District (with Ryder Grimes). It also covers Freiheit Country Store (with Rio Tripiano on a weekly gig) and the Redbird Listening Room.
Where to hear live music in the Texas Hill Country
Where to hear live music in the Texas Hill Country features 14 venues and highlights the range of the Gruene and New Braunfels scenes. At Gruene Hall, the video captures intimate front-area sets by songwriters like Austin Gilliam, Eric Middleton, and Grant Ewing, plus a big-stage show from Jack Ingram. It visits Gruene's Last Call (a cocktail lounge with speakeasy vibes and Steven V performing), Vino and Verde (with Cody Christian touring from Virginia), and the Faust Hotel (where Soul Ethos played the patio before a full renovation). Downtown stops include Water to Wine (with Ryan Snipes), the Poor House (with the A Right Band and the Kerosene Drifters), and Freiheit Country Store (with Scotty Alexander on fiddle).
Texas Hill Country: A Tour of Live Music Venues in Gruene, New Braunfels & More
Texas Hill Country: A Tour of Live Music Venues in Gruene, New Braunfels & More opens with a shout-out to Missoula Slim and the Redbird Listening Room, then tours 14 venues starting at Gruene Hall with Landry and Company and Larry Joe Taylor on the big stage. The video covers Gruene Grove (with the Ali Matice Band), Grapevine (with Matt Kirk and the Gooey Fairs playing outdoors under the trees), the Gruene Light Bar on the banks of the Guadalupe River (with Reckle Refuge), and Our Lady Bar and Grill (a less touristy local hangout with Sean Hart playing). It also mentions meeting Catherine and Tim Odom from the Gotta Love Texas Music podcast at Gruene Hall.
Where to listen to live music in the Texas Hill Country
Where to listen to live music in the Texas Hill Country covers 12 venues with a focus on New Braunfels and some Gruene and San Marcos spots. It starts at the Brauntex Theater, a former 1940s art deco movie palace in downtown New Braunfels, where Neil McCoy performed. At Gruene Hall, it features weeknight sets from The Billy Jeans, Brett Graham (who plays a four-hour set every Monday), and Slim Bob on a Fat Tuesday. The tour continues to Riley's Tavern (Texas's first post-Prohibition tavern, with the Joel Hoffman Band), Freiheit Country Store (with Dallas Burrow), The Silos at Freiheit (with Billy Snipes), and Iron Horse Bar and Grill (with Andy Solomon).
Where to go in New Braunfels for live music
Where to go in New Braunfels for live music opens at Gruene Hall during a Sunday Songwriter Shindig featuring William Beckman, John Baumann, Val McLatlin, Austin Meade, Marie Bagwell, Kevin Galloway, Taylor Ray, Mike Harmeyer, and Topo Chico Cowboy. It visits Gruene Cottages (with Max and Heather Stalling), Goodwin's Speakeasy (a hidden basement bar in Gruene where Bill Whitbeck — bass player for Robert Earl Keen — hosts Tuesday songwriter nights), the Redbird Listening Room (with Jason Eady), the Phoenix Saloon (where Jim Wesselick sings 'Cowboy Coffee' on open mic nights), and the Poor House.
Where to listen to live music in New Braunfels, Tx
Where to listen to live music in New Braunfels, Tx starts at the Redbird Listening Room, highlighting their Thursday songwriter night and a show by Slaid Cleaves with Scrappy Judd Nukem. At the Phoenix Saloon, the video discusses the building's history from 1871, its claim as the birthplace of chili powder, and features Tony Taylor playing at lunch plus a School of Rock performance. It also covers the Poor House (with the Ali Matice Band and Sean Hart), Moonshine and Ale (a piano bar in the tourist square), and Sidecar at Prince Solms Inn.
A tour of the Texas Hill Country music scene (the open mics of New Braunfels and San Marcos)
A tour of the Texas Hill Country music scene maps out the open mic circuit across New Braunfels and San Marcos, organized by day of the week. Sunday features a picker circle hosted by Kayla Jane at Riley's Tavern. Monday brings an open mic at Middleton Brewing in San Marcos, hosted by Tom Taylor in their listening room. Tuesday options include the Poor House open mic (hosted by JJ from the JJ Garrett Band), Shawn Patrick's on the San Marcos square (hosted by Kalani, with poets and comedians alongside musicians), and the Martindale River Cafe in Martindale (hosted by Sterling Finley).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest dance hall in Texas and where is it?
Gruene Hall, located in the village of Gruene near New Braunfels, is Texas's oldest continuously operating dance hall. It was built in 1878 and hosts live music seven days a week, from intimate songwriter sets in the front area to big-stage shows featuring artists like Jack Ingram, Larry Joe Taylor, and Radney Foster.
Where can I find open mics in New Braunfels and San Marcos?
The open mic scene rotates throughout the week. On Sundays, Riley's Tavern hosts a picker circle with Kayla Jane. Mondays, Middleton Brewing in San Marcos runs an open mic hosted by Tom Taylor in their listening room. Tuesdays, the Poor House in New Braunfels has an open mic (hosted by JJ from the JJ Garrett Band), and Shawn Patrick's on the San Marcos square hosts one with Kalani. The Martindale River Cafe in Martindale also runs a Tuesday open mic hosted by Sterling Finley.
What is the Redbird Listening Room in New Braunfels?
The Redbird Listening Room is a venue in New Braunfels focused on supporting songwriters. They host ticketed shows with assigned seating and attentive audiences, featuring artists like Slaid Cleaves, Jason Eady, and Missoula Slim. Every Thursday they hold a songwriter night where performers can sign up and play a few songs for a supportive crowd that includes both other musicians and dedicated listeners.
Is there a speakeasy in Gruene, Texas?
Yes. Goodwin's Speakeasy is a hidden bar in Gruene that you access by going down steps through a door that looks like you're not supposed to enter. They serve specialty cocktails including old fashioneds made with egg. On Tuesday nights, they host a songwriter night that has been hosted by Bill Whitbeck, the bass player for Robert Earl Keen.
What live music venues are in downtown New Braunfels?
Downtown New Braunfels has a walkable cluster of live music spots. The Phoenix Saloon is an 1871 building known for chili and regular live music. The Poor House is a patio bar with music seven nights a week. The Brauntex Theater is a 1940s art deco former movie palace hosting bigger acts like Neil McCoy. Cowboys and Cadillacs is a newer multi-level rooftop venue. Bootlegger's Pizza, Tavern on Castell, Moonshine and Ale (a piano bar), Water to Wine, and Sidecar at Prince Solms Inn all feature live music as well.
What is there to do in Luckenbach, Texas for live music?
Luckenbach, Texas is an unincorporated town in the Hill Country with a population of approximately three people. It has a picking circle going most afternoons and multiple stages including a dance hall. It also hosts special events like Bridget London's Angels and Outlaw tribute, which honored Texas music figures Kent Finley, Billy Joe Shaver, Chris Wall, and Tommy Alverson.
What live music venues are in Gruene besides Gruene Hall?
Beyond Gruene Hall, the village of Gruene has several other spots. Gruene Grove is a family-friendly outdoor space with brats, drinks, and daily live music. Grapevine has an outdoor area with tables and a stage under the trees. Gruene Light Bar sits on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Our Lady Bar and Grill draws a more local crowd. Gruene's Last Call is a cocktail lounge with speakeasy vibes, and Vino and Verde offers wine, craft cocktails, and live music. Gruene Cottages hosts intimate bring-your-own-beer shows, and Goodwin's Speakeasy is a hidden basement bar with songwriter nights.