From Emily Starbuck Gerson, former About.com Guide
801 Red River St.
(512) 480-8341
Stubb's Bar-B-Q is one of the best-loved music venues in Austin. It is a delicious barbecue restaurant that features a small indoor music stage and a large outdoor stage. The outdoor stage is standing only, but the ground slopes downward toward the stage, giving those in the back a bit of a lift. They predominantly present indie and alternative rock, with past performances from Imogen Heap, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cake, and Ratatat. They showcase artists in other genres, such as The Indigo Girls and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. The crowds are great, though it can get really packed up front for some shows. Best of all, if you get hungry, you can just go inside and order some barbecue!
2. Antone's
213 W. 5th St.
(512) 320-8424
Antone's is another top-notch live music venue in Austin. It opened in 1975 as the first club on 6th Street, though it later moved to 5th Street. It began as a blues club and featured performances from B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, and other blues greats. It now also features country and rock music. It is open to all ages and claims to have helped launch the career of many local musicians. Many major acts have graced the stage since the blues era, such as Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, and Bono and The Edge (of U2). The venue is open and gives you enough room to breathe, and the crowds tend to be laid-back.
3. Emo's
(512) 477-3667
Emo’s is a small, downtown music venue with an outdoor stage and a smaller indoor stage. There is also an outdoor beer garden for those who don’t like to be in the middle of the crowd. Emo's primarily features alternative music, such as indie rock, hardcore, punk, alt-country and metal. You can find both small local acts and major national acts here. It is generally considered a hangout for the tattooed and pierced crowd, though the crowds depend greatly on which type of act is playing that night. Be warned that for some intense shows on the larger stage, mosh pits tend to form.
1315 S. Congress Ave.
(512) 441-0202
This music club has been a staple in Austin's music scene since 1957. It began as a hip, private supper club and grew into Austin's first burlesque club in the '60s. It continued to book great acts over the decades (including Stevie Ray Vaughan), and in the late '80s, the new owner designed the club to look like it did in the '50s. The Continental Club usually features swing, rockabilly, country, and retro roots music, but it attracts and welcomes all types. Many great local acts perform here.
214 E. 6th St.
(512) 479-0474
This hip music venue in downtown Austin features beautiful hardwood floors and a great selection of beer at the bar. It is a very clean and well-kept venue with fantastic acoustics and lighting. The Parish Room chooses to be non-genre specific, though many of the artists who play here can be classified as some form of rock (many indie rock).
6. Momo's
618 W. 6th St. #200
(512) 479-8848
Momo’s is an intimate lounge and music club in the West Sixth Street area and features live music every night. Depending on the night you go, you will hear anything from R&B to Western swing to folk to pop rock. It is on the second floor, above Katz’s Deli. Sit at the bar or in front by the stage, where you can be just feet from the local musicians. Or, sit out on the deck and have a drink while you enjoy the beautiful downtown skyline.
7. Lucky Lounge
209 W. 5th St.
(512) 479-7700
Located in the downtown Warehouse District, this '60s-inspired club has a very chic feel. There is a large variety of seating options; you can sit at the bar stools, or you can sit in the lounge chairs and seats right in front of the stage. You can stand in the general open area near the stage or you can take the stairs and sit in the loft area that overlooks the rest of the club below. The bar features a unique standing area slightly above and behind it, which provides a great view of the stage. There are also pool tables up front. This club features a huge variety of local music, and I have yet to see a band there that I don't like!
8. La Zona Rosa
612 W. 4th St.
(512) 472-2293
This downtown concert spot is one of the few live music venues in town that allows entry for all ages. It feels somewhat like a warehouse and features many local bands in addition to internationally known acts such as Franz Ferdinand, The Crystal Method, and The Black Eyed Peas. Expect to find everything from rock to jazz to Latin music. There is one small stage and then a larger stage for the big acts, in addition to a full bar.
23rd St. & Robert Dedman Dr.
(512) 471-1444
The Bass Concert Hall is on the University of Texas Campus and is its flagship arts performance venue. It is an enormous concert hall and features symphonies and dance performances, but it also presents concerts from major music acts such as James Taylor, Sigur Ros, Seal, and Bonnie Raitt. It operates like a traditional theater, so it is all seated and your ticket is for a specific seat.
10. Cactus Café
2247 Guadalupe St.
(512) 475-6515
This small and charming venue located in the University of Texas student union but is open to the pubic. Around since 1979, it features only acoustic music. There is also a full bar. Local, national, and international acts perform here. Some major names who have played here include Lucinda Williams, Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss, The Dixie Chicks, and Townes Van Zandt.
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