We’re gonna let you in on a secret: Austin’s “Live Music Capital of the World®” slogan isn’t technically true. It’s actually based on a one-time fact that stated in 1991, Austin had more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in America. This hasn’t stopped the city from celebrating the live music scene hard over the last 30 or so years (or plastering that tagline on just about everything), and for that, we’re grateful for a little white lie. Today, despite towering apartments, Sweetgreen chains and Soul Cycle studios occupying prime locations, live music still very much prevails, you just have to follow the riffs. Many of the town’s best restaurants, food halls and bars provide a stage for new talent. The Moody Center has expanded, too, with two brilliant new locations, meaning more space for international stars to come and grace us over Dallas or Houston, as Harry Styles did recently. Okay, so Austin doesn’t have that cool, Nashville vibe year-round but the live music here is still stellar and dare we say, better than the rest of the Lone State State. Don’t believe us? These Austin live music venues will prove it.

Downtown
When it comes to big touring artists, the Moody trio is where to see them. In fact, the two newest additions have changed Austin’s live music landscape, finally offering a world-class stage right in the…