The video at the top of this page breaks down the world of two stepping in Austin honky tonks — where to go, which bands draw the dancers out, and what this particular style of dancing actually is. It goes by a lot of names: Austin swing, Texas two-step, Hill Country swing, Hill Country two-step. The labels vary depending on who you ask, but the scene itself is real and active. The tricky part is that a lot of it runs on word of mouth — dancers privately message each other about where they're headed on a given night, and the information isn't always easy to find online. One solid resource is Double or Nothing Two-Step, an Instagram account that posts dancing opportunities nightly and also offers lessons.
Where Are the Best Honky Tonks for Two-Stepping in Austin?
The dancers in Austin tend to follow specific bands to specific venues on specific nights. Here are the spots covered in the video, along with what makes each one worth checking out:
- Sagebrush — A favorite for dancing because there's plenty of floor space even when a big crowd shows up, plus room to hang outside and take a break. The music programming is consistently strong whether or not the dance crowd turns out. The venue has license plates on the roof above the side stage that came from the old Austin Outpost, where Blaze Foley recorded his live album.
- ABGB — Sunday afternoons from 4:00 to 7:00 are the known time for dancers here. The crowd skews a bit older and the vibe is relaxed. Guitar Grady was playing the day David Bridwell visited.
- Don's Depot — A Wednesday night spot where Frank Cavit and The Honky Tonk Doctors play. It was a genuinely great time, though you might want to round up some dancers ahead of time to make sure the floor gets moving.
- Little Longhorn Saloon — Small dance floor, but that can work in your favor when the crowd is thin. Tuesday is the day to go — they offer lessons, and the house band is Finger Pistol. Johnny McCall's Rugged Gents are also worth catching here.
- White Horse — Tuesday is a popular night here too. Devin Jake plays regularly, and Blake Whitmire is one of the names that will reliably pull a big crowd of dancers out.
Bands That Draw the Dancers
If you want to find a packed dance floor on any given night, follow the bands. The Mellows have a unique sound and are one of the most entertaining acts in the scene. Blake Whitmire is a major draw — when he's on the calendar, dancers show up. Other names the two-step crowd gravitates toward include Aaron McDonal and the Neon Eagles and Armadillo Road. Knowing these names and checking venue calendars is really the key to finding the right night.
Tips for Finding the Austin Dance Scene
The biggest thing to understand is that this scene isn't really about picking a venue and hoping for the best. It's about knowing which bands are playing where, and showing up on the right night. Check the Double or Nothing Two-Step Instagram for nightly updates. Look at the calendars for Sagebrush and White Horse in particular. And if you're brand new to it, Tuesday nights offer the most structured entry point — both Little Longhorn and White Horse have dancing that night, and lessons are available.