Best Live Music Venues in Austin
Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World — with 250+ venues hosting shows on any given night. From legendary honky-tonks to world-class amphitheaters, here's your complete venue guide.
Continental Club
South CongressLegendary dive bar with nightly live music since 1955
- Austin's most iconic music venue — the Continental is sacred ground
- Dale Watson residency — country royalty plays here regularly
- Happy Hour shows are free and often the best sets of the night
- Upstairs gallery hosts jazz, funk, and experimental acts
Stubbs BBQ
Red RiverLegendary outdoor amphitheater + indoor stage + world-class BBQ
- 2,100-capacity outdoor amphitheater under the Texas sky
- Sunday Gospel Brunch — all-you-can-eat BBQ and live gospel music
- Major touring acts — from Willie Nelson to Billie Eilish
- Indoor stage for intimate shows alongside the main amphitheater
Mohawk
Red RiverThree-stage Red River anchor with rooftop views
- Indoor stage, outdoor stage, and rooftop — three shows in one night
- Heart of the Red River Cultural District music scene
- Free parking lot shows on many weeknights
- Best lineup curation in Austin for indie and emerging acts
Antone's Nightclub
East 5th StreetAustin's "Home of the Blues" since 1975
- Founded by Clifford Antone — hosted Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, James Brown
- The spiritual home of Austin blues culture
- Intimate 300-cap room with perfect sight lines
- Still books the best blues, soul, and R&B acts in the country
The Broken Spoke
South LamarLast great Texas honky-tonk — sawdust floors since 1964
- Real-deal honky-tonk — Bob Wills, Willie Nelson, George Strait have all played here
- Free two-step dance lessons before the live band starts
- Chicken-fried steak dinners in the attached restaurant
- James White built it in 1964 and it hasn't changed since
C-Boy's Heart & Soul
South CongressIntimate South Congress joint specializing in blues and soul
- Soul Man Sam hosts a legendary soul revue on Tuesdays
- Adjacent to Continental Club — do both in one night
- Intimate room where you're 10 feet from the stage
- Best blues and soul programming in Austin after Antone's
The Parish
East 6th StreetUpstairs venue on 6th with the best sound in downtown
- Elevated stage with excellent acoustics and sight lines
- Perfect mid-size venue for emerging touring acts
- Upstairs location keeps out the Dirty Sixth bar-crawl crowd
- Regular DJ nights and electronic music events
Saxon Pub
South LamarThe songwriter's living room — Austin's best listening room
- The definitive Austin songwriter venue — intimate and respectful
- Songwriters' open mic and acoustic showcases nightly
- Bob Schneider's long-running residency
- No-nonsense listening room where the music comes first
ACL Live at The Moody Theater
West 2nd StreetHome of Austin City Limits TV — the iconic PBS taping venue
- Home of the longest-running music TV show in American history
- Free tapings of Austin City Limits — apply for tickets online
- Major concert venue for A-list touring acts
- State-of-the-art 2,750-seat theater with perfect acoustics
Music Neighborhoods
Red River Cultural District
The indie music epicenter. Mohawk, Stubbs, Chess Club, Empire, and Cheer Up Charlies within walking distance.
South Congress
Continental Club, C-Boy's, and the Saxon Pub — legendary stages with local character.
East 6th Street
The newer, cooler 6th — The Parish, Volstead, and craft cocktail bars with DJ nights.
Dirty Sixth
College bar chaos with free live music at 20+ venues nightly. Skip after midnight on weekends.