LIVE MUSIC VENUES FOR YOUR NEXT AUSTIN EVENT
With hundreds of live music venues, Austin is rightfully known as the Live Music Capital of the World®. Treat your attendees to an authentic Austin experience by hosting a party or event at one of the city’s outstanding live music venues. Here’s a roundup of the best to get your planning started.
The White Horse. Courtesy of Contiki.
The White Horse is a true Austin honky-tonk that features live bands seven nights a week. This is the place to pull on a pair of cowboy boots and scoot along the floorboards to live bluegrass, country-western and Americana music. Dance instructors are available to teach your guests some new moves. Then grab a two-step (shot of whiskey and a Lone Star beer) and get to dancing. Complete buyout is available.
Opened in 1955 as a swank supper club, the retro Continental Club and its intimate upstairs Continental Gallery present nightly live rockabilly, country, rock, jazz and soul music. Austin music lovers in the know head to The Continental Gallery at 8:30 p.m. for Church on Monday with Elias Haslanger and Dr. James Polk, voted Best Jazz Band and Best Ongoing Residency in Austin. The Continental Club can accommodate parties of 175 maximum.
3TEN ACL Live. Credit Alison Narro Photography.
ACL Live at The Moody Theater is one of the premier concert venues in the city, and home to live television tapings of Austin City Limits (America’s longest-running music series). Located downstairs is 3TEN, a 350-seat listening room that presents smaller “house” shows by local and international artists, and is also available for private events. Be sure to snap a group selfie with the statue of hometown music hero Willie Nelson out front.
Parker Jazz Club is an atmospheric basement lounge known for its sultry vibe and rotating lineup of veteran jazz performers. Plan a cocktail party with the club’s Roaring ‘20s-influenced cocktails like the Satin Doll (Monkey Shoulder and Drambuie infused with black cherries) and light bites that include the meat-and-cheese platter served with Greek olives. Private concerts can be arranged.
The Courtyard at fourth&co. Courtesy of Visit Austin.
You’ll find live music, ranging from rock to blues, seven nights a week at The Courtyard at fourth&co, located in the heart of the Warehouse District. Plan a party for up to 600 on the outdoor sunken courtyard that’s illuminated with strung lights. The VIP Veranda overlooks the stage, and features a private bar and patio seating.
There isn’t a bad seat in the house at Parish, a locally beloved space for both up-and-comers and legendary musicians like Pete Townshend and Thom Yorke. Plan a private party for up to 450 people at this all-ages venue, which regularly hosts conferences and corporate events.
Courtesy of Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden.
At fun-loving Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden, the picnic tables are communal, 100+ craft beers are served and the menu consists of 30 different house-made sausages (ranging from wild game to veggie) cooked on a sizzling grill. Live country music and pig roasts are part of the raucous Banger’s experience. Book a small dinner party (for groups of 12+), plan a gathering in one of the many private event spaces, or rent out the whole place. (700 seated maximum).
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q is an Austin institution, known for its lip-smacking barbecue and some of the best live music around. By day, Stubb’s serves slow-smoked barbecue in an historic 1850s limestone building. At night, Stubb’s transitions into a rollicking live music venue featuring blues, country, rock and more in its outdoor amphitheater. Private Old West-style spaces, including two bars perfect for cocktail parties, an upstairs patio and the outdoor Waller Creek Amphitheater, make your event a real Texas experience for up to 2,200 guests.
Antone's. Credit Tom Fake.
The legendary Antone's Nightclub has been Austin’s home of the blues since 1975, hosting luminaries like Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton. The club’s new location on Fifth Street features a beautifully designed bar and Big Henry’s, a record store with a carefully curated collection of vinyl. Plan a party for 400 people in the downstairs entertainment venue, or host 250 attendees in the upstairs event space.
As the oldest continuously running beer joint in Central Texas, the rustic yet elegant Historic Scoot Inn, established in 1871, has kept up with the times, especially in terms of sound, lighting and handcrafted libations. Go ahead and book the full venue, including the outdoor Bier Garten patio, for a private event up to 800 people. Elevate your event with a custom dining menu that could include an appearance by a celebrity chef.
Waterloo Park, Moody Amphitheater. Credit John Sutfin.
Designed by world-renowned architects Thomas Phifer & Partners, the Moody Amphitheater is located in the heart of Waterloo Park. With its Great Lawn and the Texas State Capitol as a dramatic backdrop, the outdoor amphitheater is a vibrant venue that can hold 5,000 attendees for concerts and events. The PNC Lounge at Waterloo Park offers a premium experience for Moody Amphitheater guests attending concerts, as well as a gathering space for events. The 800-square-foot lounge features a mural by local artist Chacasso which spotlights Austin’s iconic music venues and artists, a private bar and restrooms, food and beverage options, and luxurious furnishings.
Opened in April 2022, the Moody Center was built in partnership between The University of Texas at Austin (UT), Live Nation and actor Matthew McConaughey. The 15,000-seat Moody Center plays host to UT basketball games, along with the best and biggest acts in live entertainment. In addition to arena seating, the Moody Center offers four distinct club areas: the Ultra Premium Club, a speakeasy-inspired space with a private entrance; South Club, touting classic Austin design touches; Establishment Club, with rich oak and mahogany; and Dell Technologies Club, featuring interactive technologies. The venue also offers local culinary and beverage options.
Armadillo Den. Credit Alex Thomas.
Armadillo Den, sprawled across three acres, features a two-story building that’s home to two bars serving craft beer and cocktails, an indoor stage, and a private event space for groups of 50 to 300 guests that includes its own bar, bathrooms and a covered balcony overlooking the outdoor Main Stage. Outside, guests can enjoy live music, yard games, axe throwing and food trucks, along with fire pits that keep things toasty in cooler weather.
Over nearly two decades, Speakeasy has earned its place as one of downtown Austin's most celebrated event and entertainment venues. Speakeasy is composed of three levels, including the Music Lounge featuring live entertainment, the vintage Bowling Mezzanine overlooking the stage, the Kabaret Room and Terrace59, a covered and heated rooftop with a spacious lounge area, full bar and spectacular downtown skyline views. Speakeasy’s expert staff offers one-stop event planning, handling the venue, bar, catering, entertainment, decor, full event production and any special requests.
Rustic Tap. Credit Mitchell Hallmark, Found Media Group.
The casual Rustic Tap harnesses all the fun of a backyard party. Whether your clients want to kick back by the fire pit with a beer in hand, listen to live music on the outdoor stage, catch the game on one of the HD TVs or engage in a little friendly competition (we’re talking corn-hole, giant beer pong and Jenga), Rustic Tap can make it happen. Private rentals can accommodate up to 500 people.
The Austin Music Office can help you navigate the city’s music scene, and works with planners to book talented local bands for events, conferences and receptions.