17 Texas Music Venues Worth the Drive

Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, (512) 442-6189, brokenspokeaustintx.net
Since 1964, the Broken Spoke has been a hot spot for live music and boot scootin’. The spirited Austin joint is also regarded for its beer and chicken fried steak. This dance hall is all about serving customers in every way possible, as it lets folks get their groove on, offers dancing lessons and, of course, a steady lineup of live music.
Photo via Instagram / austinhistoryshreds

Luckenbach, Texas
412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg, (830) 997-3224, luckenbachtexas.com
Luckenbach is largely considered a “ghost town,” except that its a hot spot for live music pretty regularly. Complete with a saloon and souvenir shop, the Old West-style dance hall showcases country artists. It can’t get more country than that, honestly.
Photo via Instagram / luckenbachtexas

Emo’s
2015 E Riverside Dr, Austin, (888) 512-7469, emosaustin.com
Formerly known as the Back Room, Emo’s keeps it real with live music. The club actually originated in Houston as a punk club in 1989, with the Austin location opening in 1992. Since then, the club has drawn in crowds for its hardcore lineups, complete with badass art.
Photo via Google Maps / Emo’s Austin

The White Horse
500 Comal St, Austin, (512) 553-6756, thewhitehorseaustin.com
Texas is no doubt filled with country bar after country bar. Consider the White Horse a solid option worth traveling for. Country acts stop by the East Austin honky-tonk joint (there’s live music every night) so you can dress up and dance across the dance floor. They even offer free dance lessons! The best part of all? There’s a taco truck outside so you can sober up on the good stuff.
Photo via Instagram / laurenmarieroet

The Granada Theater
3524 Greenville Ave, Dallas, (214) 824-9933, granadatheater.com
Originally opened in 1946 as a movie theatre, converted to a concert hall in 1997, then back to a movie theater, the Granada Theater, as of 2004, serves as a place to catch live tunes. A staple for the Dallas scene, the theater sees a steady lineup of bands and solo acts across a variety of genres.
Photo via Instagram / ajwhelton

The Little Longhorn Saloon
5434 Burnet Road, Austin, (512) 524-1291, thelittlelonghornsaloon.com
If honky-tonk is your scene, you’ll want to head to the ever-beloved Little Longhorn Saloon. The Austin joint draws crowds for its live music, of course, as well as its ice-cold beer and “Chicken Shit Bingo” on Sundays. With more than 10 shows a week, you’ll be able to catch a variety of country, folk, rockabilly and classic rock ‘n’ roll acts here. Luckily, there’s never a cover here.
Photo via Instagram / pepperjack96

Ballroom Marfa
108 E San Antonio St, Marfa, (432) 729-3600, ballroommarfa.org
There’s lots to see and do in Marfa – checking out this music venue among them. A spot for visual art and film as well, Ballroom Marfa host live music acts on occasion. Consider it something to do on your next art-filled getaway to Marfa.
Photo via Instagram / barkandbeam

Elephant Room
315 Congress Ave, Austin, (512) 473-2279, elephantroom.com
True jazz fans will want to scoot their way over to Austin’s Elephant Room. This underground joint keeps it hoppin’ with live jazz on the regular, complete with musicians active in the scene and in UT’s music program. The drinks are strong here, so you’ll be getting lost in the music in no time. Plus, the aesthetic is one-of-a-king as the walls and ceiling are lined with dollar bills.
Photo via Instagram / stardustaesthetic

The Continental Club
1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, (512) 441-2444, continentalclub.com
Known for hosting rock, country, jazz and blues acts, Continental Club sees a varied mixture of both local and national talent. The South Congress club has a long history and lots to brag about, which has pretty much secured its legendary status.
Photo via Instagram / zachperson

Whitewater Amphitheater
11860 FM306 #1, New Braunfels, (830) 964-3800, whitewaterrocks.com
Over in New Braunfels you can live it up at the Whitewater Amphitheater, a music venue nestled on the Guadalupe River. Both sides of the venue are bordered by water, while large trees are scattered throughout the grounds. Bringing a variety of acts from country to rock and more, the amphitheater is a solid option for when you want to enjoy live tunes but also fun activities like tubing, rafting and canoeing.
Photo via Instagram / hogcallinfoto

Gruene Hall
1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com
Familiar to most country music fans, Gruene Hall is packed with plenty of history, given that it was built in 1878. As the oldest dance hall in Texas, it has seen a notable lineup of acts since its opening, from big, touring acts to local musicians trying to get their break. In addition to country, the hall also host Americana and blues acts on the regular.
Photo via Instagram / djr_trvlee

The Mohawk
912 Red River St, Austin, (512) 666-0877, mohawkaustin.com
What’s better than a music venue that has a bar (duh), multiple levels, a rooftop deck and both indoor and outdoor stages?! We can’t think of anything, because the Mohawk is pretty hard to beat. Hosting a mixture of local and touring acts, this Austin outpost has shows every night and caters to an eclectic mix of genres.
Photo via Yelp / Mohawk

The Parish
214 E 6th St, Austin, theparishaustin.com
Calling itself “Sixth Street’s little secret,” Parish keeps it real with a solid lineup of live hip-hop, rock, funk, reggae, Latin and more. So go ahead and make your way down the booziest street in Austin and then enjoy a night of tunes.
Photo via Instagram / olkerphoto

Antone's Nightclub
305 E 5th St, Austin, (512) 814-0361, antonesnightclub.com
Priding itself as the stomping grounds of the late Texas legend Stevie Ray Vaughn as well as the esteemed Gary Clark Jr., Antone’s has a long history and colorful resume with numerous notable acts taking the stage here. Found in downtown Austin, the nightclub is roomy enough for decent-sized shows while also being intimate enough to connect with the musicians.
Photo via Instagram / troyjayadams

The House of FiFi DuBois
123 S Chadbourne St, San Angelo, (325) 658-3434, fifidubois.com
San Angelo may not seem like a happening scene, but this music venue makes up for that. Located in the heart of the historic downtown, FiFi’s is all about celebrating the good times and all things retro. With an ambiance that is “equal parts Graceland and Haight-Ashbury,” this lounge sees an eclectic mix of tunes, from classic rock and soul to country and blues. There’s even an Airstream *inside* the bar!
Photo via Instagram / jane.0f.all.the.trades

The Blue Light
1806 Buddy Holly Ave, Lubbock, (806) 762-1185, bluelightlubbock.com
Lubbock may be a sleepy town, but the Blue Light keeps it lively with fresh tunes on the regular. From country and singer-songwriter to Tejano and more, this joint makes for something fun to do in an otherwise boring place.
Photo via Instagram / thebluelightlive

ACL Live at The Moody Theater
310 W Willie Nelson Blvd #1B, Austin, (512) 225-7999, acl-live.com
There’s not many folks who haven’t heard of ACL Live. While not every show is a live taping, the downtown Austin venue brings both big names and indie artists alike across multiple genres, making for a diverse mix of acts. This one is definitely worth a visit, seeing a show here is iconic in its own right.
Photo via Instagram / mimemendra