Live Music Venues in Austin, TX

04 Center is a 350-capacity all-ages listening room in Austin built inside a converted 1960s A-frame church, giving it an architectural character unlike most venues in a city full of live music rooms. The intimate setup and attentive audience make it a genuine listening room rather than a bar with a stage. A strong fit for artists who want an audience that is actually there for the music.

29th Street Ballroom is a 350-capacity all-ages bar and music venue in Austin, formerly known as Spiderhouse Ballroom, with a no-frills approach to live music and a loyal local following. Cold drinks, food, and loud music in a room that can handle shows any night of the week. The full house sound system is provided for all performers.

3TEN ACL Live is a 350-capacity all-ages state-of-the-art showcase room in downtown Austin, operating next door to ACL Live and carrying the same production standards at a more intimate scale. The room is designed for developing and touring acts that need a professional room without the pressure of filling a 2,000-seat theater. They book two to eight months out, which is a wide window that rewards early outreach.

Anderson Mill Pub is a 400-capacity 21+ bar in Austin, formerly known as Starland Live, running most shows on Saturday nights with an open jam on Wednesdays and open mic comedy on other nights. The room has a house sound system in place. A solid northwest Austin weekend room for cover and original acts alike.

Antone's Nightclub is a 700-capacity 21+ Austin institution established in 1975 by the late Clifford Antone, widely credited as one of the founding rooms of the Austin blues and roots music scene. Located in downtown Austin, the room has hosted decades of legendary performances and remains one of the most respected blues venues in the country. This is a room with a serious history that expects acts to bring something real.

Armadillo Den is a 1500-capacity all-ages bar and hangout space in Austin designed around the idea that any mood or need can be met under one roof. The large capacity and flexible programming make it one of the bigger bar rooms on the Austin circuit for acts with real draw.

Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden is an all-ages bar and restaurant in the heart of downtown Austin with over 200 beers on tap, 20-plus homemade sausages, an off-leash dog park, and a dedicated live music stage. Local and touring acts are both welcome. The outdoor stage and central Rainey Street location give acts a built-in foot traffic audience on weekends.

Boomerz is a 270-capacity 21+ neighborhood bar in Austin running free live music mostly on Saturday nights with some flexibility in the schedule. Pay is ten percent of bar sales in increments of fifty dollars, with a minimum guarantee.

Buzz Mill is an all-ages Austin bar and coffee shop open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, serving locally roasted coffee, craft beer, and creative cocktails around the clock. Music open mic runs Monday nights, comedy on other nights, and live music fills the rest of the calendar. A genuinely eclectic room that never closes.

C-Boy's Heart and Soul is a 21+ lounge in Austin presenting live music seven days a week, introduced by Continental Club owner Steve Wertheimer as a dedicated soul and blues room. The programming leans hard into soul, R&B, and blues, and the Continental Club pedigree means the room takes music seriously.

Carousel Lounge is a 119-capacity 21+ Austin bar running most shows Wednesday through Saturday nights. The room has a loyal local following and a slightly eccentric, beloved character in the Austin bar scene.

Celis Brewery is a 121-capacity all-ages Belgian-style craft brewery in Austin founded by Christine Celis, continuing the tradition of her father Pierre Celis who invented the modern witbier. Live music pay is typically a percentage of sales, which means your ability to drive traffic directly affects your take.

Central Machine Works is a 1000-capacity all-ages East Austin brewery and event hall hosting live music on Saturday and Sunday nights. Currently booking local acts only. The large capacity and brewery setting make it a significant room for established Austin acts.

Cheer Up Charlies is a 100-capacity 21+ queer and LGBTQ-welcoming bar and venue in East Austin with a deliberately ambiguous and shifting character that resists easy categorization. Shows can be held any night of the week.

Cherrywood Coffeehouse is a 200-capacity all-ages Austin coffeehouse with live music running most Thursday through Sunday nights and comedy on Tuesdays. Sunday afternoons are also a programming option. A relaxed, community-oriented room that suits a wide range of acoustic and light rock acts.

Chess Club is a 100-capacity 21+ full bar in Austin with an outdoor patio and no chess boards, as they are quick to clarify. Most shows run Wednesday through Sunday nights with some flexibility. A good mid-size East Austin bar booking for original and cover acts.

Come and Take It Live is a 500-capacity 21+ genre-neutral venue in Austin showcasing music, art, and film from around the world. Shows can run any night of the week. The explicitly genre-neutral positioning means the room is genuinely open to a wide range of acts.

Culinary Dropout in Austin is a 300-capacity all-ages gastropub running live music Thursday through Saturday nights and Sunday brunch. The room primarily books cover bands.

Dainty Dillo is an all-ages bar and outdoor stage in southeast Austin sitting on the banks of the Colorado River, with seven fire pits, thirteen taps, and a stage built for live music. The riverside setting and casual neighborhood character make it a laid-back alternative to the crowded East Sixth corridor.

Donn's Depot is a 200-capacity 21+ Austin bar built inside an actual train depot car, running live music six nights a week, Monday through Saturday. Mondays through Fridays are reserved for regular performers, with Saturdays open to new bookings. The room programs local acts only.

Drinks Backyard is a 350-capacity 21+ neighborhood hangout in southeast Austin running shows on Friday and Saturday nights. The room has a full stage, sound, and lighting system provided for all performers. The cocktails, local drafts, BBQ, and coffee setup gives the room an all-day character that carries into the evening shows.

Elysium is a 500-capacity 21+ alternative nightclub in Austin that has been anchoring the city's goth, industrial, and alt scene since 2001. Most shows land on Friday and Saturday nights.

Firehouse Lounge is a 160-capacity 21+ cocktail bar, music venue, and hostel in downtown Austin, a combination that gives it a built-in transient audience of travelers alongside local regulars. Most one-off shows take place on weekends.

Flamingo Cantina is a 299-capacity 21+ Austin institution running since 1991, known for a music tradition that has made it a favorite room for a generation of Austin acts. The room has a genuine live music culture and a loyal crowd that returns week after week.

Friendly Rio Market is a 30-capacity all-ages convenience store and music venue in Austin running shows on Friday and Saturday nights. The room is the smallest on this list, but a dedicated following and a calendar that fills months in advance tells you everything about its character. The venue provides a sound system.

Friends Bar is a 251-capacity 21+ Austin bar running two to three shows per day, seven days a week, with Sunday through Thursday reserved for residencies and Sundays also hosting a blues jam. The volume of programming means relationships with regular performers matter more than one-off pitches. Local acts only. The venue has a PA and mixer but performers must supply their own mics, mic stands, and cables.

Geraldine's is a 240-capacity all-ages American restaurant on Rainey Street in Austin with a signature sound stage and a rooftop bar. The full house sound system is provided. Rainey Street has strong foot traffic on weekends, which gives acts a built-in walk-in audience alongside booked guests. The room programs local acts only.

Guero's Taco Bar is a 100-capacity all-ages funky Mexican restaurant that has been part of the Austin scene for over 30 years, with live music in the Oak Garden on Wednesday nights. Texas Radio Live programs Wednesday nights and music must be family-friendly. The venue provides a stage.

Hotel Vegas is a 175-capacity all-ages bar in the East Sixth Street arts and entertainment district in Austin, sitting at the eastern end of the Sahara Lounge block. The room suits original and indie acts and has a reputation as a genuine music bar in one of Austin's most active corridors.

Kick Butt Coffee is a 189-capacity all-ages coffeehouse and live music cocktail bar in Austin running up to six nights of live music a week. The venue has a house sound system though performers often bring their own. A genuinely eclectic Austin room with a strong reputation for supporting a wide range of acts.

Lambert's Downtown Barbecue is a 190-capacity 21+ Austin institution in the carefully restored Historic Schneider Brothers Building, serving inventive BBQ and modern Texas cuisine alongside live music. The room has a full sound system and suits acts that can work a dinner crowd in a well-regarded restaurant setting.

Little Woodrow's Southpark Meadows is a 21+ neighborhood bar and grill in south Austin built for the sports-watching, beer-drinking crowd, with live music on select evenings. The outdoor setup and suburban south Austin location suit acoustic and cover acts that can work a casual bar environment.

Maggie Mae's on Sixth Street is a 1,000-capacity 21+ Austin bar that claims the title of oldest bar on Sixth Street, running live music Monday through Saturday nights across three stages. The multi-stage setup and Sixth Street location give acts exposure to one of the highest foot-traffic entertainment corridors in the country.

Mala Santa is a 21+ Mexican-owned nightclub and live music venue in Southeast Austin created by the team behind Mala Vida. Shows run on Friday and Saturday nights. The venue has a stage with sound and lighting systems provided. The Latin nightclub character gives it a distinct identity in the Austin market.

Meanwhile Brewing Company is an all-ages craft brewery in Southeast Austin running free live music on Thursdays and Sundays. The brewery has a stage and a relaxed taproom atmosphere that suits a wide range of acoustic and light roots acts.

Mohawk Austin is a 900-capacity all-ages venue with both an outside stage and an inside stage, booking original music seven days a week, 365 days a year. The outside stage has a midnight curfew. The room books national, regional, and local acts and is one of Austin's premier mid-size music venues.

MonkeyWrench Books is a 70-capacity all-ages volunteer-run collectively operated bookstore and social space in Austin with a political and community-oriented character. The venue hosts live performances alongside its role as an activist bookstore. Performers must supply their own sound system.

Monks Jazz Club in Austin began as a pop-up listening room in 2016 and has evolved into a state-of-the-art audio and video recording studio and performance space. The room is built for sound quality above all else and programs jazz and acoustic music with a recording-session level of care.

Moontower Saloon is a 500-capacity 21+ Austin bar running live music Thursday through Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons from 3 to 6 PM, with Sundays reserved for acoustic programming. The large setup and Slaughter Lane location make it a popular south Austin destination for weekend live music.

Mozart's Coffee is a 300-capacity all-ages specialty coffee shop in Austin running live music Thursday through Sunday from January through October. November and December are reserved for a light display. The Lake Austin waterfront setting and coffee shop atmosphere suit acoustic and singer-songwriter acts.

NeWorlDeli is a 50-capacity all-ages deli and music venue in Austin running live music Monday through Saturday nights, occasionally on Sundays, with open mic on Mondays and a Beatles tribute on Tuesdays. The combination of food and live music six nights a week makes it one of the most active small rooms in the city.

Nica on 4th is a 100-capacity 21+ craft cocktail bar in Austin paying homage to jazz patron Pannonica de Koenigswarter with timeless music, elegant design, and a serious cocktail program. The room is purpose-built for jazz and fits the rare Austin venue that prioritizes ambiance over volume.

Opa! Coffee and Wine Bar is a 75-capacity all-ages coffee and wine spot on South Lamar in Austin, running live music seven nights a week with Wednesdays reserved for open mic. The intimate size and consistent programming schedule make it one of the more reliable small-room bookings on the South Austin strip.

Parker Jazz Club is a 100-capacity 21+ dedicated jazz club in Austin founded by local jazz musician Kris Kimura, with stellar sound, a proper stage, and table service designed to complement the music. One of the few rooms in Austin built specifically and exclusively for jazz.

Parlor and Yard is a 21+ throwback sports concept bar in Austin with 17 TVs, a 15-foot jumbotron, comfortable furniture, a turfed yard with yard games, and a live music program. The sports bar setup suits cover and pop acts that can work a crowd there as much for the screens as the stage.

Plaza Colombian Coffee is a 250-capacity all-ages Austin coffee and cultural experience. The venue is temporarily closed for remodeling and rebranding.

Radio Coffee and Beer is a 100-capacity all-ages Austin coffee shop and beer garden under majestic live oak trees, pairing specialty espresso, craft beer, and food trailers with live music on Thursday and Friday nights. The outdoor character and central Austin location give it a community gathering feel that suits a wide range of acts.

Radio/East is an all-ages outdoor music venue in Southeast Austin, an extension of the Radio Coffee and Beer brand, with most shows landing on Thursday through Saturday nights. The outdoor stage and East Austin location suit a wide range of original and roots acts.

Rustic Tap Beer Garden is a 500-capacity 21+ live music bar and beer garden in Austin, an extension of the city's oldest family-owned restaurant. Cover acts only. The outdoor beer garden setup and Austin location suit high-energy cover bands with a weekend bar crowd.

SXSW is an all-ages annual music, film, and technology conference and festival in Austin held each March. It is one of the largest music discovery events in the world, drawing industry professionals, artists, and audiences from across the globe. Official showcase submissions open in late June and close in late November.

Sagebrush is a 300-capacity 21+ Austin venue running live music seven nights a week with three two-hour sets from 7 PM to 1 AM. Sunday through Thursday shows are 21+ and Friday and Saturday nights are 18+. A high-volume music room with consistent nightly programming across a wide range of acts.

Sahara Lounge is a 100-capacity 21+ Austin bar in the historic TC's Lounge building on East Sixth Street, preserving the building's character while running a rich and eclectic live music program. The East Sixth Street location puts it at the quieter, more neighborhood-oriented end of Austin's most active music corridor.

San Jac Saloon is a 21+ Sixth Street bar in Austin running live country music from open to close across two venues: the main stage reserved for full bands and the upstairs Jack's Bar reserved for solo and acoustic acts. One of the few bars on Sixth Street dedicated exclusively to country music.

Shenanigans is a 299-capacity 21+ neighborhood bar in north Austin, affiliated with another location, hosting live music on occasional Friday nights. The room primarily books cover bands and performers must bring their own PA and mics.

Soundspace at Captain Quack's is a 120-capacity all-ages hybrid coffeehouse, bakery, and music venue in Austin with a house sound system. The coffeehouse and bakery character create a relaxed listening environment that suits acoustic and singer-songwriter acts.

Spinners is a 300-capacity 21+ Austin bar hosting live music on Thursday nights and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. The venue has a house sound system provided for performers. A mid-week room in an Austin market full of competition.

St. Edward's University is an all-ages Catholic liberal arts university campus in Austin with multiple performance spaces and a student involvement program.

St. Elmo Brewing Company is an all-ages craft brewery in Austin hosting bluegrass every Thursday night alongside other genres on Fridays and Saturdays. The taproom and outdoor space give it a relaxed community character that suits acoustic and roots acts.

Stubb's Bar-B-Q is a 1,800-capacity all-ages Austin icon with two stages: an outdoor amphitheater and an indoor room, capable of hosting shows any night of the week. The outdoor stage is one of the most photographed live music venues in the country. No unsolicited booking inquiries are accepted.

SWRFA is an all-ages Southwest Regional Folk Alliance conference held in late September, connecting folk, roots, and Americana artists and industry professionals across the region. Official showcase submissions open on June 1st and close on June 30th.

The 13th Floor is a 21+ neighborhood rock and roll bar in Austin, formerly The Green Jay, running regular live music on a consistent weekly schedule. The room has a genuine neighborhood bar character and suits original and cover acts that connect with an Austin bar crowd.

The ABGB is a 299-capacity 21+ Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company venue pairing its house-brewed beers with a restaurant, creative community spaces, and live music. The room has a full PA provided for performers and is one of the more respected original music venues in South Austin.

The Blind Pig Pub is a 700-capacity 21+ landmark on Sixth Street in Austin with over a decade of history as one of the most recognizable bars in the city. The room has a house sound system and runs live music on a consistent schedule. The Sixth Street location gives acts foot-traffic walk-up exposure on top of any booked audience.

The Broken Spoke is a 650-capacity all-ages Austin dancehall institution running live music Tuesday through Saturday nights, two sets per night. Wednesday and Thursday sets from 6 to 8 PM are pay-what-you-want for tips. Performers must bring their own PA and mics. One of the most historically significant live music venues in Texas.

The Continental Club in Austin is a 200-capacity 21+ Texas institution established in 1955 and widely considered the most important live music room in a city built on live music. The full house sound system is provided. Getting booked here carries real weight in the Austin music community.

The Elephant Room is a 30-capacity 21+ Austin jazz club running two bands per day for over 20 years, with Wynton Marsalis naming it a personal favorite. The room is as small and pure a jazz listening experience as exists in Austin.

The Far Out Lounge and Stage is a 2,000-capacity all-ages South Austin venue that opened in 2019, serving cold drinks, good food, and live music on Friday and Saturday nights with Thursday shows also common. The large outdoor capacity and South Menchaca location have established it as one of the go-to big outdoor music experiences in Austin.

The Hole in the Wall is a 375-capacity 21+ Austin bar with two stages and live music seven nights a week. Cover charges apply only on weekends. The dual stage setup and consistent nightly programming make it a reliable room for acts at any career stage looking for an Austin booking.

The Little Darlin' is an all-ages South Austin cocktail bar and live music venue established in 2016, serving local beers and cocktails alongside primarily regular local acts. Mike cycles through a roster of artists and puts new inquiries on hold until he has evaluated them properly.

The Little Longhorn Saloon is a 68-capacity 18+ Austin honky tonk beer joint running live music up to six nights a week, Tuesday through Sunday. Those under 18 can attend with a parent or guardian. The house sound system is provided. A genuine small honky tonk with a loyal local following.

The Mill Bar and Grill is a 21+ Austin bar with a covered patio, nightly entertainment, and a full menu, running live music on a consistent schedule with a house stage and sound system provided for performers.

The Pershing is a 400-capacity 21+ Austin private club with an internal venue called Pershing Hall that hosts shows Wednesday through Saturday nights. The private club context means the audience is a member base with consistent habits and a genuine investment in the programming.

The Raven Room is a 300-capacity 21+ concert venue inside the new Crow Bar in Austin, next to Callahan's, with an old school concert venue feel and a house sound system provided for all performers.

The Saxon Pub is a 168-capacity 21+ Austin institution running live music seven nights a week on South Lamar, one of the most reliable and beloved rooms in the city for both artists and audiences. The house sound system is provided. If you have played Austin for more than a season and have not played the Saxon, it belongs on your list.

The Scoot Inn is a 1,050-capacity 21+ Austin outdoor music venue with a history stretching back to 1871, making it one of the oldest continuously operating bars in a city built on live music. The outdoor stage, string lights, and cold drinks have made it a beloved part of the East Austin landscape, and the room has hosted acts at every level of the music world.

The Swan Dive is a 250-capacity 21+ downtown Austin bar with cool cocktails, a hip vibe, and most shows running Thursday through Saturday nights with Thursdays reserved for open mic. The venue provides a full house sound system for performers and prefers bookings made four to six weeks in advance.

The Volstead is a 100-capacity 21+ Austin cocktail lounge and east side dive bar hybrid that serves up classic vintage drinks alongside live music, with most shows running on weekend nights. The room has a warm and unpretentious personality that makes artists and audiences feel genuinely at ease from the moment they walk in.

The Water Tank Bar and Grill is a 100-capacity 21+ northwest Austin original since 1992, offering daily specials, karaoke, and live music in a neighborhood setting that has kept regulars coming back for decades. The venue provides a stage and sound system for performers. Mics must be supplied by the performer.

The White Horse is a 299-capacity 21+ Austin East Side honky tonk with live music seven days a week, two pool tables, an outdoor patio and smoking area, and a full-service bar that has become one of the most beloved neighborhood bars in a city full of them. The room has a warm, unpretentious energy and a crowd that genuinely loves music, which makes it one of the best places in Austin to build a following night after night.

The Wyldwood is an all-ages DIY house venue in Austin hosting live music outside on weekend nights during the warmer months, a genuine underground room for acts that thrive in intimate and community-built settings. Before reaching out, read about the venue on their website to make sure your act is the right fit for the space.

Tweedy's Bar and Patio is a 200-capacity all-ages Austin bar open daily from 3 PM with a relaxed patio and a live music program that runs on an occasional schedule. The house sound system is provided for performers and the neighborhood character of the room creates an inviting low-key setting well suited to acts looking for an Austin residency or casual one-off show.

Twin Creeks Icehouse sits on Cypress Creek off FM 2769 between Lake Travis and RR 620, and regulars rightly call it the best hidden bar in Austin. The creek-side setting, cold beer, and relaxed outdoor character give it an unhurried atmosphere that is genuinely hard to replicate in a city that keeps getting busier. Most shows happen on Wednesday nights with open mic on Sundays, and the room only works with self-managed artists rather than booking agent submissions. Tom has been the soul of this place for years.

VINYL Beauty Bar is a 100-capacity all-ages East Austin beauty salon and community gathering space that programs live music events alongside its hair and beauty services, reflecting the culturally diverse and creative character of the neighborhood it calls home. The room has a genuinely distinctive identity that suits acts comfortable with an unconventional performance setting.

Valhalla is a 21+ downtown Austin neighborhood bar with great food, pinball, pool, shuffleboard, and skeeball alongside a live music program that brings local and touring acts to one of the better small bars on the east side. The room has a genuinely laid-back character that makes both artists and audiences comfortable.

Vulcan Gas Company is a 658-capacity all-ages Austin music venue with state-of-the-art sound and lighting that takes its name from the legendary Austin venue of the 1960s, honoring that legacy by building a world-class room designed to present today's most cutting-edge music at its best. The room is one of the newer high-quality venues in a city that takes its music infrastructure seriously.

Waterloo Records is Austin's beloved independent record store, a North Loop institution where the relationship between recorded music and live performance has been honored for decades. In-store performances typically begin at 5 PM, all bands must handle their own promotion, and the store books at least a month ahead. Being on the Waterloo stage is a genuine Austin credential.