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Events · Top 10

Top 10 Live Music Venues in Austin in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
The Continental Club
Direct answer

The Continental Club is the best live music venue in Austin, with the Saxon Pub at #2 and Antone's Nightclub at #3. The ranking weighs how long each venue has been a live music room and how fully its own site shows its address, stages and 2026 calendar. For a headliner show, go to ACL Live (#7) or the 5,000-capacity Moody Amphitheater (#10).

At a glance

#PickAddressBest for
1The Continental Club1315 South Congress Avenue, AustinRoots, rockabilly and blues under a famous neon sign
2The Saxon Pub1320 S. Lamar, Austin, TX 78704Singer-songwriters in a listening room with a price you can see
3Antone's Nightclub305 E 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701Blues and roots shows in the club's Fifth Street home
4Stubb's Bar-B-Q801 Red River St, AustinBig outdoor shows with barbecue next door
5Mohawk912 Red River, AustinRock shows on an indoor or outdoor stage
6The Broken Spoke3201 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78704Two-stepping to live country in a Texas dance hall
7ACL Live at The Moody Theater310 West Willie Nelson Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78701Touring headliners in a purpose-built theater, or a small show next door
8Elephant Room315 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701Jazz in a basement room at a posted cover
9Scoot Inn1308 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702Outdoor indie and country shows on the East Side
10Moody Amphitheater1401 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701The biggest outdoor show in downtown Austin

Pick by what you want

Best overall
The Continental Club
Best for singer-songwriters
The Saxon Pub
Best for blues
Antone's Nightclub
Best for dancing
The Broken Spoke
Best for jazz
Elephant Room
Best for big shows
Moody Amphitheater

The ranking

1

The Continental Club

The Continental Club
Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe longest-running club on this list.
Address: 1315 South Congress Avenue, AustinOpened: 1955, as a swanky private supper club; now live music every night of the weekMusic: Roots, rockabilly, country, swing, rock and bluesLandmark: The neon sign above the entrance is a landmark on South Congress

The Continental Club at 1315 South Congress Avenue opened in 1955 as a swanky private supper club and now books roots, rockabilly, country, swing, rock and blues every night of the week. The neon sign above the entrance is a landmark on South Congress.

Go ifRoots, rockabilly and blues under a famous neon sign
Skip ifYou want a big room with a seated view
Why #1 over #2: It opened in 1955; the Saxon Pub opened in 1990.
2

The Saxon Pub

The Saxon Pub
Answrs VerdictA nightly listening room with $10 to $15 shows.
Address: 1320 S. Lamar, Austin, TX 78704Opened: 1990; well over 30,000 musical performances sinceTickets: $10 to $15 on its October 2026 calendar; some weekday happy hour shows are freeAge: 21 and overSound: House PA and lights

The Saxon Pub, at 1320 S. Lamar, opened in 1990 and has hosted well over 30,000 musical performances. Shows on its October 2026 calendar run $10 to $15, it is 21 and over, and some weekday happy hour shows are free.

Go ifSinger-songwriters in a listening room with a price you can see
Skip ifYou want a standing-room dance floor
Why #2 over #3: It is 21 and over with posted $10 to $15 prices, where Antone's ages vary show to show.
3

Antone's Nightclub

Antone's Nightclub
Photo: Ben Porter Photography via antonesnightclub.com
Answrs VerdictAustin's blues club, with a calendar that runs weeks ahead.
Address: 305 E 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701Opened: July 15, 1975, on Sixth Street; back on Fifth Street since December 31, 2015Billing: Austin's Home of the Blues since 1975Ages: 18 and up or 21 and up, depending on the show

Antone's opened on Sixth Street on July 15, 1975, and has been back on Fifth Street, at 305 E 5th Street, since December 31, 2015. It bills itself as Austin's Home of the Blues, and its calendar runs weeks ahead.

Go ifBlues and roots shows in the club's Fifth Street home
Skip ifYou want a patio or outdoor stage
Why #3 over #4: It has been open since 1975 and bills itself as the home of the blues; Stubb's Austin location lists no opening year.
4

Stubb's Bar-B-Q

Stubb's Bar-B-Q
Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe outdoor amphitheater on Red River, with barbecue.
Address: 801 Red River St, AustinStages: Waller Creek Amphitheater outdoors, plus an indoor stageSeating: Standing room only, except special events that need seatsRoots: Stubb opened his first restaurant in Lubbock in 1968; the Austin location is at 801 Red RiverSundays: Gospel Brunch, 10:30am

Stubb's, at 801 Red River St, has the Waller Creek Amphitheater outdoors and an indoor stage. It is standing room only except for special events, and Sunday means Gospel Brunch at 10:30am.

Go ifBig outdoor shows with barbecue next door
Skip ifYou want a seat for every show
Why #4 over #5: Its amphitheater is a dedicated outdoor concert space, where Mohawk's outdoor stage is 21' x 16'.
5

Mohawk

Mohawk
Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictTwo stages and three bars on Red River.
Address: 912 Red River, AustinBuilt: 2006, as a live music venue, event space and barStages: Two: outdoor 21' x 16' and indoor 16' x 13'Capacity: 900 guests for venue buyoutsHours: Live music most days from 8PM to 2AM

Mohawk, at 912 Red River, was built in 2006 and has two stages, outdoor and indoor, plus three bars. Live music runs most days from 8PM to 2AM, and the venue holds 900 guests for buyouts.

Go ifRock shows on an indoor or outdoor stage
Skip ifYou want a quiet listening room
Why #5 over #6: It publishes its two stage sizes and a capacity of 900; the Broken Spoke publishes neither.
6

The Broken Spoke

The Broken Spoke
Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA 1964 dance hall with a state historical marker.
Address: 3201 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78704Established: 1964; the Texas Historical Commission marker says James M. White opened it at a former lumberyard on South LamarTagline: "Last of the True Texas Dancehalls"Shows: Alvin Crow listed for Saturday October 17, 9pm to 1am in the Dancehall

The Broken Spoke at 3201 S. Lamar Blvd. has been open since 1964. Its own site calls it the last of the true Texas dancehalls, and it lists Alvin Crow for Saturday October 17 in the Dancehall from 9pm to 1am.

Go ifTwo-stepping to live country in a Texas dance hall
Skip ifYou want a modern concert hall
Why #6 over #7: It is a 1964 dance hall with a state historical marker; ACL Live is a theater.
7

ACL Live at The Moody Theater

ACL Live at The Moody Theater
Answrs VerdictThe room for headliners, with a 350-capacity club beside it.
Address: 310 West Willie Nelson Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78701Capacity: The 2,750-person Moody TheaterSecond room: ACL Live at 3TEN holds up to 350 fansHome of: Austin City Limits tapings for PBSNext shows: Snarky Puppy, October 19, 2026; Leonid & Friends, October 21, 2026

ACL Live at 310 West Willie Nelson Boulevard has the 2,750-person Moody Theater, the home of Austin City Limits tapings, and ACL Live at 3TEN, which holds up to 350 fans. Its calendar lists Snarky Puppy on October 19, 2026.

Go ifTouring headliners in a purpose-built theater, or a small show next door
Skip ifYou want a small bar show
Why #7 over #8: It publishes both room sizes, 2,750 and 350; the Elephant Room publishes no capacity.
8

Elephant Room

Elephant Room
Photo: K.T. Yarbrough Photography via elephantroom.com
Answrs VerdictA jazz bar with $5 to $10 covers.
Address: 315 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701Open since: 1991, a basement jazz bar with live music 7 nights a weekCover: $5 Monday and Sunday, $7 Tuesday to Thursday, $10 Friday and Saturday; none before 8pmAge: 21+ onlySeating: First come, first served; no reservations

Elephant Room, at 315 Congress Avenue, has been a basement jazz bar since 1991, with live music 7 nights a week. The cover is $5 on Monday and Sunday, $7 Tuesday to Thursday and $10 on Friday and Saturday, with none before 8pm.

Go ifJazz in a basement room at a posted cover
Skip ifYou want to reserve a table
Why #8 over #9: It posts its covers on its own site, which Scoot Inn does not.
9

Scoot Inn

Scoot Inn
Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAn East Side outdoor stage with a bookable lounge.
Address: 1308 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702Operator: Live NationOutdoor curfew: Shows end by 10pm Friday and Saturday, and 8pm Sunday to ThursdayIndoor lounge: Longhorn Lounge opens one hour before doors for weekend and select showsPayment: Cashless venue

Scoot Inn, at 1308 E 4th St, is a Live Nation outdoor venue. Shows end by 10pm Friday and Saturday and 8pm Sunday to Thursday, and the indoor Longhorn Lounge opens one hour before doors for weekend and select shows.

Go ifOutdoor indie and country shows on the East Side
Skip ifYou want a late-night set
Why #9 over #10: It has an indoor lounge as well as its outdoor stage; Moody Amphitheater is an outdoor venue only.
10

Moody Amphitheater

Moody Amphitheater
Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 5,000-capacity outdoor venue.
Address: 1401 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701Capacity: 5,000-capacity amphitheater in Waterloo ParkPark: 11 acres of green space in downtown AustinHours: Waterloo Park, including the amphitheater, is open daily 5:00 AM to 10:00 PMUpcoming: Foster The People, October 16, 2026; Mon Laferte, October 20, 2026

Moody Amphitheater at 1401 Trinity St is a 5,000-capacity outdoor venue in Waterloo Park. Its calendar lists Foster The People on October 16, 2026, and the park, amphitheater included, is open daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Go ifThe biggest outdoor show in downtown Austin
Skip ifYou want a small club

How we ranked these

We put how long each venue has been a live music room first, then how fully its own site shows its address, stages, capacity and 2026 calendar; every venue listed shows October 2026 events. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the biggest live music venue in Austin on this list?

Moody Amphitheater, a 5,000-capacity outdoor venue in Waterloo Park. Indoors, the biggest room is the 2,750-person Moody Theater at ACL Live.

Which Austin live music venue has been open the longest?

The Continental Club opened in 1955 as a private supper club and is now a live music club every night of the week; the Broken Spoke followed in 1964 and Antone's in 1975.

Which Austin venue has the cheapest cover?

The Elephant Room charges $5 on Monday and Sunday, $7 Tuesday to Thursday and $10 on Friday and Saturday, with no cover before 8pm.

Which of these venues are 21 and over?

The Saxon Pub is 21 and over, and the Elephant Room is 21+ only. Antone's sets 18 and up or 21 and up show by show.

Year each venue opened at a glance

The Continental Club1,955
The Broken Spoke1,964
Antone's Nightclub1,975
The Saxon Pub1,990
Elephant Room1,991
Mohawk2,006
Year each venue opened, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.