Austin Insider Blog

This blog, written and curated by Visit Austin staff, shares the things that visitors love and locals can't get enough of.

ACL Music Festival Survival Guide

Everything You Need to Know Before Attending ACL Festival October is one of Austin’s busiest months of the year with multiple annual music festivals and large events happening. Of them all, one of the most popular is Austin City Limits Festival which derives its name from the longest running music…

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Honky Tonks and Country Bars in Austin

Although Austin doesn't show off its cowboy culture as much as other Texas cities, it does have its fair share of honky tonks and country bars. Honky tonkin’—like the Hank Williams song—is a lively Texas tradition that likely originated as a form of entertainment at rural juke joints. Williams…

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Guide to Austin's Dance Bars & Night Clubs

Looking to get your dancin’ shoes on? Austin’s unique nightlife experience has a unique flavor of fun. Since the ‘80s when Austin’s new wave and punk scene lit up the dirt floors of former venue Liberty Bell, which led to the scene developing a taste for more electronic styles of dance music, the…

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Music Venues in Central Austin

Central Austin is the one area of town that is arguably still as iconically Slacker- esque as it was in the ‘90s. Since the filming of this essential Richard Linklater capstone, this area of Austin has reached new heights in the world of food, music and entertainment. Here are some live music spots…

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Austin’s Best Live Music Brunches

In the Live Music Capital of the World®, live music always adds to the full brunch experience. Here in Austin, there are tons of options for live music brunches, so here are just a few we’ve selected that you should try out this season. Courtesy of Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden. Banger’s…

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Explore Austin's Moody Center

The newest jewel in Austin’s live music crown is the Moody Center. Opened in April 2022, the ambitious arena is located on the University of Texas campus and plays host to music and sporting events. Complete with outdoor space, several bars, and state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, it is an…

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Live Music Venues in West Austin

West Austin is known for its rolling hills, scenic hiking trails and beautiful residential architecture, but it also boasts a few live music gems that provide residents and visitors alike with seemingly endless amounts of fun and entertainment. Check out a few of West Austin’s best music venues…

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Where to Listen to World Music in Austin

The music that built Austin’s sterling reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World® derives from cultures that immigrated to Central Texas from all over the globe. In fact, after nearly a decade of growing popularity of foreign-inspired music, the term “world beat” was popularized by Dan Del…

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Where to Catch a Show en Español

Looking for insider tips to help you experience Austin like the locals? We have you covered. Here’s a list of our favorite spots for catching a show in Spanish, guaranteed to look awesome on your newsfeed and make friends back home secretly wish they were you. Cilantro Boombox at Empire Control…

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Best Of: Spring Music Events in Austin

The live music scene is always in full swing in Austin, with some venues featuring one or two shows a night, but there's nothing like spring in the Live Music Capital of the World®. As the warm weather arrives and the calendars fill up with festivals, you'll find that many Austinites like to spend…

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