Music of Austin, Texas facts for kids

Austin, Texas, is proudly known as the "Live Music Capital of the World"! This is because there are so many places to hear live music all over the city. Austin is also famous around the world for its big music festivals. These include South by Southwest (SXSW) and the Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festivals. These events bring together many different kinds of music and artists from all over the globe. You can find lots of music venues in areas like 6th Street, the Red River Cultural District, and South Congress.

Modern Austin music really started to grow in 1972. A new style of country music became popular. It was different from the music in Nashville and connected with the counterculture movement. A big part of this was the Armadillo World Headquarters music venue, which opened in 1970. It played both country and rock music. In 1972, famous singer Willie Nelson even moved to Austin from Nashville.

Austin became a special place for young, creative musicians. They loved the city's artistic vibe, open-mindedness, and lower living costs. Austin became well-known for its folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, Tejano, zydeco, new wave, punk, and indie music. The city also has classical music groups like the Austin Symphony and Austin Opera.

Austin's Musical Journey

Austin's early music scene in the late 1800s started in German beer gardens. Places like Scholz's Garden and Dessau Hall were very popular. Dessau Hall was big in the 1940s and 1950s. It hosted famous acts like Glenn Miller, Hank Williams, and Elvis Presley. Other important country music spots were Big Gil's and The Skyline.

Kenneth Threadgill opened Threadgill's in 1933. This venue later became a place for folk and country music jams. Young Janis Joplin even performed there early in her career. On the East Side, places like the Victory Grill and Charlie's Playhouse were popular. They featured local and touring acts. These spots were famous for hosting music legends like Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, and B.B. King.

In 1964, The Broken Spoke opened. It featured country stars like Bob Wills and Ernest Tubb. The young Willie Nelson also played there. In the late 1960s and 1970s, many new people moved to Austin. They brought different types of music with them. Roky Erickson and his band, the 13th Floor Elevators, helped bring in the psychedelic music era.

Austin was home to the Vulcan Gas Company. It featured bands like the 13th Floor Elevators and the Winter brothers. The Vulcan later became the Armadillo World Headquarters in 1970. For over ten years, it hosted all kinds of music. Artists from Bruce Springsteen to Bette Midler played there. The Armadillo became a symbol of Austin. Songs like Gary P. Nunn's "London Homesick Blues" even mentioned it. The artist Jim Franklin created the famous Armadillo logo.

The Armadillo World Headquarters in 1976.

Austin became known as a place where new musicians could start their careers. They could play for welcoming audiences in casual venues. A big influence was Clifford Antone, who opened his blues club, Antone's, in 1975. Antone's helped launch the careers of many musicians, including Stevie Ray Vaughan. Liberty Lunch was another famous live music spot. It hosted all kinds of music in the late 1970s and 1980s. It closed in the late 1990s for downtown development. Both Liberty Lunch and Armadillo World Headquarters are now legendary in Austin's music history.

In recent years, Austin's live music scene has grown again. Even after losing some beloved venues, many new clubs have opened. Places like the Skylark Lounge, Stubb's, and Ginny's Little Longhorn continue Austin's rich music tradition.

The punk and new wave music scene in Austin began in 1978. The Club Foot was important for hosting many local punk bands. The city's first rock and new wave bands, the Skunks and the Violators, played their first show in February. The Sex Pistols had played in San Antonio the month before. This helped create excitement for the new local bands. The Skunks became very famous. The Austin Chronicle newspaper later said, "The Skunks put Austin on the rock n' roll map." Another important punk band was the Big Boys.

Austin became a key stop for many touring punk and new wave bands. Groups like the Police, Joe Jackson, and Blondie played at the Armadillo. Some, like the Clash and Elvis Costello, even jammed with local bands like the Skunks.

The 1980s and 1990s also shaped Austin's music. Waterloo Records, a famous independent record store, opened in 1982. It still hosts live shows. Austin's own Stevie Ray Vaughan won a Grammy Award in 1990. He won for best contemporary blues album. After his tragic death, a statue was built to honor him by Lady Bird Lake. In 1991, Austin city leaders officially named Austin "The Live Music Capital of the World." This was because of all its live music venues.

You might see giant 10-foot guitars around Austin. In 2006, Gibson Guitar brought "Guitar Town" to Austin. They placed 35 of these huge guitars around the city.

Groups like the Austin Music Foundation help independent artists. The Simms Foundation and Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) help musicians with medical needs. The Austin Blues Society works to promote and preserve blues music. The Austin Music Office helps promote the city's big music industry. It helps book live music and offers guides to Austin's music scene.

Music on TV

The PBS live music television show Austin City Limits started in 1974. It has featured over 500 artists of many different music styles. These include rock, folk, country, and bluegrass. This show helped Austin become known as a live music center. It is broadcast worldwide and is the longest-running music television program ever. In 2011, ACL moved to its new, specially built Moody Theater in downtown Austin.

Austin also had the Austin Music Network (AMN) from 1994 to 2005. AMN was a non-profit music channel. It showed mostly music videos and live performances. It focused on non-mainstream music like indie, punk, and blues. After AMN, Music and Entertainment Television (M*E) took over the channel in 2005. M*E showed regional artists and touring groups from Texas. It aimed to support new talent and different art forms.

Music Festivals in Austin

Austin City Limits Music Festival with view of stages and the Austin skyline.

Austin is home to South by Southwest (SXSW). This is a huge yearly festival for music, film, and technology. Many other events happen around town during SXSW. In the fall, Austin hosts the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) and the Fun Fun Fun Fest.

In the spring, the Old Settler's Music Festival takes place just outside the city. Every summer, Austin City Limits Radio puts on free blues shows. These are called "Blues on the Green" and happen in Zilker Park.

The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department also holds the Hillside Summer Concert Series. This music festival happens throughout July. It features popular local and national Tejano and Latin music artists.

Many other music festivals happen all year long. Some annual festivals include the "Keep Austin Weird Festival" and the Heart of Texas Quadruple Bypass Music Festival.

Other large yearly festivals in Austin are:

• Carnaval Brasileiro
• Eeyore's Birthday Party
• Levitation (which used to be called Austin Psych Fest)
• Oblivion Access Festival
• Old Pecan Street Festival
• Republic of Texas Biker Rally

Amazing Music Venues

You can find information about Austin's music venues from places like The Austin Chronicle and Visit Austin.

Here is a short list of some well-known music venues:

Austin also has live music in surprising places! These unique venues include:

• City Hall - Every Thursday, the City Council honors a local musician. There's also a free concert series called "Live from the Plaza" on Fridays.
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport - Live music is featured 11 times a week at four different spots in the airport.
• Grocery Stores - Central Market has live music three times a week. Whole Foods Market hosts a "Music at the Market" series in the spring.
• Road Races - The Austin Marathon has over 30 bands along its course. The Capitol 10K has a band at every mile marker.
• House Concerts - Many Austin locals open their homes for concerts. They host both local and touring musicians.

Talented Austin Musicians

Austin is home to many talented musicians. Some well-known artists who have called Austin home include:

Many musicians have contributed to Austin's music scene over the years. Some have moved away or their bands have broken up. These include:

Sadly, some Austin musicians have passed away. They are remembered for their contributions to the city's music. Some of these include:

The Austin Music Memorial at the Joe and Teresa Long Center honors those who have helped build Austin's music community.

Images for kids

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  Roky Erickson and Billy Gibbons

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  Joe Ely in concert at the Blues On the Green music series, 2006.