Category Archives: Austin Live Music

Where Local Austin Music Can Be Heard and Enjoyed

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Austin is one of the music hotbeds in the US. Aside from their impressive educational system and massive proliferation of technological industries, the local music scene is something that any Austinite is really proud of. And since they have been deemed the Live Music Capital of the World, the city is living up to its reputation by showcasing local Austin music in various venues. If you want to hear, enjoy and immerse yourself in the wonders of local music, below are places where you should go to.

Certainly, by going to bars and restaurants located in Austin city, you will be able to expose yourself to the live music wonders that only Austin, Texas can offer. The concentration of music performances and events in this city is situated in the downtown area particularly on the famous Sixth Street. Apart from Sixth Street, there is also the Warehouse District, the Red River and a host of small avenues where street side musical acts can be heard and observed.

Aside from the usual places, you can chance upon live music performances in the most unexpected zones. One of these is the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, wherein a stage was set in the terminal building for passengers to hear local music being played. Grocery stores, jogging areas and even racing circuits have offerings of live bands, musical shows and troubadour performances, too.

Finally, local music can also be heard on the telephone network. Music on Hold is possible through the efforts of Austin’s Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office. In Music on Hold, you can hear songs of Austin’s local talents being played whenever you are put on hold on the telephone system

How Austin Became the Live Music Capital of the World

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Music is one of the driving forces that propel the economy of the city of Austin. Annually, millions of dollars are earned from the countless music-related events held within the city. But, the question is: how did Austin earned the title of being “The Live Music Capital of the World”?

The musical heritage of this city dates back since the 1930s and the 1940s with the opening of music venues such as the Threadgill’s and the Victory Grill. Both venues hosted music greats with Janis Joplin performing at the Threadgill’s and legends B.B. King and Tina Turner performing at the Victory Grill. Since then the music scene in Austin area flourished with the opening of Vulcan Gas Company- Austin’s flagship rock music venue in the ‘60s, the birth of the Armadillo World Headquarters in the 70’s and the conception of Waterloo Records in the ‘80s. Through the years, these companies made Austin a big name in the music industry and made it an important stop for any musician, singer or band.

It was around 1990’s when the thought of promoting the local music in the city came into light. Lilian Standfield, a blues musician, saw the need to promote the city’s music via the use of a slogan. She proposed the idea of making Austin the “Music Capital of the USA” to the Music Commission. It was then that the city government conducted a research and found out that there were so many live music venues per capita in Austin as compared to other well-known music places like Nashville, Memphis and New York. The slogan “Live Music Capital of the Universe” was also considered but general consensus vetoed on making Austin the “Live Music Capital of the World”. This Council Resolution was passed on August 29, 1991 and ever since the city bore the famous slogan.

Austin City Offers Live Music in the Most Unexpected Places

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Live music is a very big thing in Austin. It is for this reason the city deserved the slogan “Live Music Capital of the World”. If you think that you’ll only hear live music straight from the usual venues like bars and restaurants, well, you’ll be surprised you’ll encounter live music performances in the most unlikely places. Austin is very supportive of their local music and talents that you’ll get to hear them in the grocery places, in the road races, in the jogging circuits, in the airport and even in the city council meeting.

Grocery places like Whole Foods Market and Central Market feature live music performances in their premises. Central Market has regular three times a week live music shows while Whole Foods hosts “Music in the Market” every Thursday night during the spring season.

Road races and jogging circuits in Austin is always fun and lively with live music being provided by local bands and artists. The Austin Marathon held every February showcases more than 30 bands along the racing route while the Capitol 10K, a running event held in April, features a performing band in every mile marker. Those jogging in the Austin’s Lady Bird Lake will often be greeted by music from troubadours singing most mornings at the Lou Neff Point bank.

People who just flew in to Austin are given the live music welcome with the Music in the Air performances done at the airport. Visitors and returning Austinites are greeted by Austin’s local musicians who perform live on the Stage at the airport’s terminal. This program is held eleven times a week and is sponsored by Austin’s Department of Aviation.

Finally, live music is also offered in the city council meeting. Regular sessions of the council start with live music performances at around 5:30pm.