Iconic Austin

Contributed by John Morthland

Local Tips and Picks

Take in the posters and photos that provide a mini-history of Austin music that grace the walls of Threadgill's restaurant.

If you're a live music fanatic, check out one of Austin's many music festivals: Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Pachanga Latino Music Festival, Urban Music Festival and Fun, Fun, Fun Fest.

For quintessential live music experiences, swing by the Continental Club, where retro and roots music rule or see some up-and-comers at the legendary Antone's.

Any true fan should stop and pay homage to an Austin music legend by taking a picture next to the bronze Stevie Ray Vaughan statue at Auditorium Shores.

First-time visitors might be surprised to find themselves being entertained with live music as they walk through the terminal at Austin's airport after deplaning. But they shouldn't be. Live music, and music in many other forms, is everywhere in Austin.

Musicians play in everything from grocery stores (Central Market, Whole Foods) to city council meetings. They play outdoors at the Blues on the Green series and at festivals: Austin City Limits and South by Southwest you've likely heard of, but there's also Pachanga Latino Music Festival, Urban Music Festival, Fun, Fun, Fun Fest, Chaos in Tejas and many more worth checking out. Mostly, you'll find Austin musicians at clubs, coffeehouses, bars, taquerias, auditoriums and concert halls - and with nearly 200 live music venues, it can be intimidating knowing where to start.

There are rooms and artists that provide quintessential Austin music experiences. Check out honky tonker Dale Watson or twangy guitarist Redd Volkaert at the Continental Club, where retro and roots music rules. Blues more your style? Don't miss veterans Jimmie Vaughan or Marcia Ball, or up-and-comers Gary C. Clark and Carolyn Wonderland at legendary Antone's. The country two-steppers at the Broken Spoke put on such a great show it hardly matters who's playing, but you can't go wrong with favorites like Alvin Crow or Jesse Dayton. For acoustic singer-songwriters, tune in to Eliza Gilkyson or Jimmie Dale Gilmore at the Cactus Club. For jazz, the Elephant Room is your best bet - where you'll find Elias Haslanger blowing sax or Kat Edmondson scat-singing. There are whole districts of clubs around downtown--some (Red River, where contemporary rockers play original material) presenting stylistically similar music in each room; others (Warehouse District), more eclectic.

And when it's time to give the ears a rest, you can still immerse yourself in Austin's music scene. Visit Waterloo Records, one of the last comprehensive, independent record stores left in the nation. Check out the commemorative discs honoring those in the Austin Music Memorial in the Long Center for the Performing Arts City Terrace overlooking Lady Bird Lake. Drop into the historic Victory Grill, a stop on the rhythm and blues Chitlin Circuit of the postwar years. Get your picture taken next to the bronze Stevie Ray Vaughan statue at Auditorium Shores. Or take in the posters and photos that provide a mini-history of Austin music that graces the walls of Threadgill's restaurant. In Austin, it's a history that's added to nearly every day.