Where to Find Live Music In Austin Area During The Pandemic?
We’re happy to announce that once again it’s possible to watch live music in Austin during Covid-19 due to Austin’s music venues and musicians’ careful planning and ingenuity.
As every Austin citizen knows, nothing is as cathartic as getting some live music. The live music scene is what brought so many people to the city in the first place, and in ordinary times, live music can be found on virtually every corner of the Live Music Capital of the World. Yet amid lockdowns and Covid-19 security measures, our stages were made to go dark, just when we needed them.
The silence of Austin’s live music places has been deafening, and the effect on Austin’s musicians and clubs as a result of Coronavirus-related closures and limitations has simply been catastrophic.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the audio community in Austin has remained busy and optimistic that, shortly, things will go back to normal. Throughout the past few months of live streams, virtual songwriting camps, and socially remote recording periods, Austin musicians have stayed flexible and have begun to play live music in protected surroundings. If you are itching to fulfill your live audio appetite, Austin is still the ideal place to enjoy live music from a safe distance.
And, finally, there is good news to report! Established places and music stores are restarting, live music stages are being redesigned, and things are looking up for the Austin music scene.
This is where you can find live music in Austin during Covid-19 and help support local Austin musicians.
Reopened Live Music Venues In Austin, Texas
1. Antone’s Nightclub
One of Austin’s most legendary venues of historical significance has opened up for extremely limited cap displays. Antone’s Nightclub has reopened! The venue and its past iterations have a huge history. Antone’s is renowned for attracting both touring acts like Los Lobos or Paul Cauthen and local functions like Sue Foley to the exact same stage.
Here is the iconic Austin place where, Therefore, many famous Texas musicians got their start, including Bob Schneider, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Gary Clark Jr. For over 40 years, Antone’s has been a destination for all things blues.
For Covid-19 protection, all shows are now safely distanced and seated-only, and masks are required when you are not seated. Look at their events page on their website to learn more about tickets and shows. Tickets must be purchased in advance through the website.
2. Empire Control Room & Garage
Empire Garage appears a bit different than just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the local place is set up with distanced “pods” where people have the ability to book seats. To find ticketing and event information, check their website.
3. The Far Out
Easily the most striking and Spacious outdoor place in Austin is The Far Out Lounge. With regular events most nights of the week, the Far Out executes strict COVID-19 principles and temperature tests.
Tables and decent seats are given for patrons. And besides music by local favorites of all genres like Nayome, Sam Houston & Blk Odyssey, and Henry Invisible, patrons can choose from several delicious food choices at the numerous food trucks established at the venue. Have a look at the upcoming events and ticketing information on their site. Allen Stone with a guitar in Empire Control Room and Garage at Austin Texas
4. Mozart’s
In West Austin, there is not a cozier Location than Mozart’s Coffee Roasters to enjoy sweet treats and coffee as you listen to instrumentalists and singer-songwriters like modern harpist Sarah Hall or Spanish guitarist Daniel Young perform on their broad, multi-level lake-side terrace. Each weekend, Mozart posts their live music program on their Facebook page. Make sure to check the times of the performances and make a plan to book a table to see their yearly holiday light show beginning November 11.
5. Nutty Brown Amphitheater
Half an hour from Downtown Austin is located among the city’s most beautiful outdoor music locations, Nutty Brown Amphitheater. The venue hosts socially remote and restricted capacity shows, inviting groups of all genres and prestige to do, from state stalwarts, the Randy Rogers Band, and Eli Young Band into Houston rap legends Bun B, Paul Wall, Slim Thug and Kirko Bang, and many, many others. Check the venue’s site for more info on forthcoming events and tickets.
6. Radio Coffee & Beer
At the heart of South Austin, Radio Coffee & Beer frequently host several of Austin’s best folk and bluegrass music on their patio. During the pandemic, the region’s hang-out spot has been restricting capacity to ensure the safety of all their patrons. Tickets and a list of the events are available on their website.
7. Sagebrush & White Horse
Experienced venue owner and Austin audio Fixture Denis O’Donnell of East Austin honky-tonk White Horse lately opened another South Austin live music combined, Sagebrush.
The White Horse, our favorite Community honky-tonk, is once more featuring live music seven days a week, from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am! As Coronavirus security precautions, masks are required, and dance is allowed, but distancing is encouraged. The cover is only $5 to $10 per night to find some of Austin’s greatest roots country, blues, funk, and western swing acts, such as the Pearlsnap Playboys Tomar, Armadillo Road, and the FCs.
Both venues have executed strict COVID-19 social distancing rules and capacity limitations. Take a look at Sagebrush site and White Horse’s Facebook page for a list of performing bands every night of every week!
8. Speakeasy
Located downtown, Speakeasy, a three-level place, complete with a performance space, a bowling mezzanine that overlooks the stage, and a rooftop lounge, stays open for occasional live music performances open mics. Check their FB page for a complete list of events.
Also, Hotel Vegas & Volstead Lounge in East Austin is open with patio displays and live streaming events. Grab some local hip hop, punk rock, stand-up comedy, and much more. Grab a burger and a Lone Star beer or a frozen habanero Margarita, and get ready to have a socially distanced fantastic time.
And for a perfect date night downtown, we suggest checking out Lambert’s. This enchanting restaurant, famous for its “fancy barbecue,” is offering dinner with safely distanced, romantic musical acts by some of Austin’s top artists. Tables can be booked for two, four, or six guests. Check out the events calendar on Lambert’s site and buy your tickets.
Austin Sunset Cruises And Drive-Ins With Music
One of our absolute favorite new concepts to come from Covid-19 is your drive-in concert. As you would imagine from the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin has among the best.
Just outside of the Austin city boundaries is Love & Lightstream, premiere drive-in concert series. Proceeds from the series support Austin’s music community and non-profit organizations like Healthcare Alliance for Austin Musicians. Local bands like Grupo Fantasma, Abhi the Nomad, and Los Coast, in addition to touring acts such as Mt. Joy, have graced the stage to an audience of hundreds of honking cars filled with eager patrons of music.
Love & Lightstream shows a distanced concert series with amazing artists and profiting Austin musicians. Nationally known acts such as Golden Dawn Arkestra, Black Joe Lewis, and Shakey Graves are playing the Haute Spot Event Venue, north of Austin in Cedar Park.
Food trucks are available on site for the delivery right to your car. Tickets are priced per car and let up to four guests. Visit their website to find out more.
Where to Shop to Support the Music Scene
Another good development, Austin Longtime music shop Waterloo Records recently reopened. As per Coronavirus safety measures, occupancy is limited to some shoppers at one time, and purchasing appointments can be booked via their site. Support local musicians and a venerable Austin institution by taking home audio, merchandise, and the finest Austin souvenirs, like a trendy Waterloo Records T-shirt.
Another great source for local Austin Band merch is your Fine Southern Gentlemen online store. This screen printing store prints and carries the product of Austin’s live music venues and coolest bands, and they’ve been incredible supporters of musicians and smaller businesses during Covid-19.
Where to Livestream Austin Musicians
The Livestream Concert was a saving grace for music lovers the past several months, providing us all with only enough live music during Covid-19 to get by.
Several Austin musicians have been hosting Livestream events throughout Covid-19. Among our favorites is Austin’s Band of Heathens weekly”Great Time Supper Club.” This streaming event runs each Tuesday at 7:30 pm. More than only a show, the dinner club is a chance to get to know the band better with a completely immersive streaming experience (ask questions, make requests!). PayPal or Venmo contributions are encouraged as they navigate the new touring climate. Go big and reserve a private (virtual) home screen!
The Austin City Limits “At Home with ACL” series is an excellent way to see live music from top Austin acts such as Max Frost, John Doe, and Hayes Carll while encouraging musicians through virtual tip jars and contributions the non-profits of their choice. One important non-profit that benefits from this effort are the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), which offers access to affordable health care for Austin’s working musicians, which is more important today than ever before.
Austin’s Paramount Theater and Proof Advertising have teamed up to create “Ten Bands, Ten Shows,” a live streaming series featuring artists such as Tameca Jones, Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines, Carrie Rodriguez, and much more! Performances are filmed in the historic Paramount Theater and other iconic Austin places and streamed your display. Shows are free, with donations recommended to benefit the artists, crews, and places that help bring this concert series to life.
Finally, we highly recommend the very limited Livestream residency with Texas folk songbird and mythical badass Patty Griffin. This three-engagement event will be broadcast live from and benefit the Continental Club, which remains closed because of Covid-19.
Upcoming concerts in the Austin region at these locations:
One World Theater, Austin, TX – 23 Concerts
Come and Take It Live, Austin, TX – 19 Concerts
Austin City Limits Lives at The Moody Theater, Austin, TX – 17 Concerts
Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX – 13 Concerts
Cheatham Street Warehouse, San Marcos, TX – 12 Concerts
3TEN Austin City Limits Live, Austin, TX – 12 Concerts
Antone’s, Austin, TX – 11 Concerts
