South by Southwest is a music industry event not to be missed. Hosted in our great city each March since 1987 hundreds of up and coming bands can be seen and heard, panels can be attended and good times are sure to be had. This is a don't miss for anyone in the know.
March 12-18, 2008 Austin, TX
Antones is Austin's legendary home of the blues. The club on 5th Street in the booming downtown district regularly features such acts as The Scabs (and Bob Schneider as himself, as well), Gary Clark Jr., The Gourds, Malford Milligan and many more. It was this very bar where artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, Guy Forsyth, Jimmie Vaughn and the Fabulous Thunderbirds grew to the talents they are renowned for today. Austin recenlty lost Clifford Antone, Anton'es founder and hometown hero, he is sorely missed but his legend lives on.
Stubb's BBQ, on the corner of 5th Street and Red River in the heart of Austin, has two purposes it serves to famously well. First, they serve some damn great brisket. Second, they host some damn great bands. A staple for all things rock Stubb's has also been known to showcase such acts as Snoop Dogg and Bob Dylan. Austin's own Robert Earl Keen will grace the stage Friday June 20th. And as always, each Sunday they host a fantastic gospel act for your listening pleasure as you indulge in the brunch to end all brunches.
The Continental Club, around since 1957, is yet another Austin live music scene staple. The retro vibe of this hip club is actually a fairly new design choice for a club that has seen many a decade pass. In the '60s the Continental was home to burlesque and later hosted famous Austin blues man Stevie Ray Vaughn. The club is on Congress Ave. in the hippest of all parts of Austin, across the street from the Hotel San Jose where big stars, Continental bands and tourists all stay to feel Austin cool.
The longest running public television show in the nation, Austin City Limits is taped in Studio 6A of PBS station KLRU on the University of Texas at Austin campus in front of a small live audience. Since 1976 singer-songwriters and acclaimed newcomers perform country, blues, rock, folk, bluegrass, and related styles of music. The list of artists who have graced the ACL stages is staggering and still growing steadily. In 2009 ACL is to have a new studio with a larger audience capacity within which to continue to grow this legend.