9 Places in Austin That Make You Feel Like a Musician

If you’re visiting the Live Music Capital of the World®, you’re going to see some live music. In Austin, music is everywhere—from classic jazz clubs to barbecue spots with top-tier live bands, to venues where you might catch the next big act. (Of course, they’ve got their share of honky tonks too.) If you’ve ever wanted to see Austin through the eyes of a musician, we’ve got just the itinerary for you.

1. ACL live at The Moody Theater

Walk down Second Street—also known as Willie Nelson Boulevard—and you’ll find a photo of country legend Willie himself welcoming you to ACL Live at The Moody Theater, a venue that hosts both touring acts and the tapings of Austin City Limits Live, the beloved local television show now in its 50th year (Willie was the TV show’s first guest, hence his prominent placement in front of the theater). The storied PBS show began taping here when the venue was built in 2011, which means that this stage has seen some of music’s greatest legends. But throughout the year, you can also find a wide range of top-tier touring acts gracing the stage, from Harry Styles to Iron and Wine.

2. Empire Control Room & Garage

This is a decidedly modern indie venue on the Austin scene, a place to catch both DJs and up-and-coming local acts, and a place to enjoy a good party. Like many of the venues on this list, Empire boasts more than one stage, meaning you can always find an array of energies here: the Control Room is a smaller indoor space, where you’ll have more of an intimate experience; outside is the Garage, where larger crowds will rage with larger bands. Empire is known for its all-out visuals and light shows that accompany many of the acts, so get ready to have your mind blown.

3. Antone’s Nightclub

At Antone’s, the blues welcome you from the door—above the marquee is a classic neon sign, with the club’s name in fluorescent blue. The club is in a different location from its original 1975 home, but it has maintained its reputation as a classic Austin venue offering regular blues and roots shows on the stage that once welcomed greats like B. B. King, Eric Clapton, and Ray Charles. Each spring it hosts performances for Austin Blues Fest, with headliners like Brittany Howard and Buddy Guy.

4. Stubb’s BBQ

Austin might be the only city with a world-famous barbecue restaurant that hosts Gospel Brunch on Sundays. Stubb’s BBQ is just as renowned for brisket as it is for the live music sets that fill its weekly calendar with some of the best bands around. The indoor stage is home to intimate performances, complete with all-you-can-eat Southern breakfast and smoked meats, where you can get up close and personal with the musicians in a laid-back setting. Outside is the Waller Creek Amphitheater, a larger stage for headlining acts. In between sets, enjoy a plate of brisket nachos or a snack of fried okra.

5. The Elephant Room

If you want to hear some great jazz, The Elephant Room is your spot. Walk down into the low light of this basement-level space, and you’ll likely feel like you’ve time traveled back a few decades. Here the vibe is cozy, the drinks are strong (and well-shaken), and jazz is playing every night. The room is a long, cellar-style space, so get there early if you want a seat up front and close to the musicians, or hang back if you’re looking to relax and catch up with friends.

6. Continental Club

Maybe Austin’s most storied venue, the Continental Club has been open since 1955, and seen acts like Robert Plant, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and The Replacements. The Continental Club has lived many lives. It was originally a BYOB supper club before becoming Austin’s first burlesque club, then turned into a blue-collar watering hole that opened at 7AM. In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, it developed a reputation as a great live music venue, which it has maintained ever since. The 200-person capacity room and small stage make for intimate shows, ranging from punk to blues to Americana. While you’ll find plenty of visitors here, the club has enough personality to never turn into something hokey. Bring your dancing shoes—the dance floor can heat up on certain nights—and keep an eye out for the occasional free happy hour show.

7. Broken Spoke

While Austin has its own unique, well-honed musical identity, its residents are not above a little two-stepping. If you want to put on your boots and dance to some live country music, head on down to the Broken Spoke, a honky tonk on South Lamar with a fittingly retro exterior and plenty of boot-scootin inside. It bills itself as the “last of the true Texas dance halls,” and keeps that tradition alive by hosting regular dance lessons on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Throughout the week they host live music both in their dance hall and their restaurant, where you can fuel up for a night of two-stepping with appropriately-sized chicken fried steaks.

8. C-Boy’s Heart & Soul

C-Boy’s is a sister venue to the Continental Club—they share an owner—and a beloved hangout for local musicians. You’ll often find ascendant acts performing on the stage here, with their peers looking on. The two-story “juke joint” offers classic soul and R&B onstage on the first floor, whose bar is home to an alluring heart-shaped mirror that’ll make you feel like you might be in a starlet’s dressing room. Outside is a patio with a vintage shuffleboard setup, and upstairs is a red light-tinged cocktail lounge called “The Jade Room,” modeled after 1950s GI bars in Japan. Out on the street, you’ll often find a local food cart parked to keep your night going with a quick and delicious meal. The bar is named for Louis Charles “C-Boy” Parks, longtime manager of the former Rome Inn club where owner Steve Wertheimer worked as a college student.

9. The White Horse

This East Austin Honky Tonk will have you two-stepping whether you’re an old pro or a newcomer. The place is beloved by locals, who pack the floor nightly to dance to live music. If you want to brush up on your moves, The White Horse hosts two-step lessons Thursday through Saturday nights. By the time the dance floor fills up with regulars, you’ll be ready to go toe-to-toe with them. And when you need a break, there are pool tables, a photo booth, and a patio to keep you busy—plus unlimited free popcorn, and (not free) whiskey on tap. Onstage you’ll find a rotating cast of country acts, many of them local Austin favorites. Just be sure to wear your boots.