Americana Venues in Austin, TX

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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.