Where to Listen to Country-Western and Bluegrass Music in Austin
In a city that loves Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel, honky-tonks still swing. New dance halls are expanding the sound, booking original acts and welcoming influences beyond traditional country. Longtime dives helped set the tone. Today, country-western and alt-country artists such as Charley Crockett, Melissa Carper, Croy and the Boys, Rattlesnake Milk, Carson McHone and Dale Watson blend classic twang with elements of jazz, punk and other genres.
That energy often carries onto the dance floor, most commonly through the two-step. Local instructors say Austin dancers tend to mix in a bit of swing, though there’s no single right way to do it. For those less inclined to dance with a partner, bluegrass offers another outlet, with its fast tempos and come-as-you-are approach to movement. Here are a few places to get an earful.
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar Blvd.
Old news clippings in a side room trace the brief rise and fall of the Urban Cowboy–era honky-tonk boom. Broken Spoke endured, operating as a no-frills dance hall and restaurant serving Southern comfort food. Since opening in 1964, the venue has hosted country music figures including Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff, Willie Nelson and George Strait. Terri White teaches two-step lessons Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Cash cover.
The White Horse
500 Comal St.
At The White Horse, standing near the dance floor often leads to an invitation to dance. On weekends and many weeknights, the East Austin honky-tonk fills with couples two-stepping in boots and denim. The 21-and-up crowd ranges in style, from dressed up to laid-back. Beth Coffey of Dancin’ Austin teaches two-step lessons Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. Cash cover.
Donn’s Depot
1600 W 5th St.
A 1970s-era dancehall, Donn’s Depot is a former train depot relocated to West Fifth Street. The venue is known for its dance-forward crowds and steady live music. Double or Nothing’s Vanessa Vaught teaches beginner two-step lessons on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Weekend cover.
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Little Longhorn Saloon
5434 Burnet Road
Five miles north of downtown, Little Longhorn is a chapel-shaped dive bar dating to 1963. Chicken Shit Bingo is part of the bar’s lore, alongside a live music calendar that continues six days a week. Hill Country Two Step hosts two-step lessons every Wednesday at 7 p.m. No cover.
Sagebrush
5500 S Congress Ave.
South Austin live music joint Sagebrush hosts up-and-coming bands alongside established cult-favorite acts. Double or Nothing offers two-step lessons on Tuesdays, with beginner classes at 6 p.m. and intermediate lessons at 7 p.m. Hill Country Two Step hosts intermediate lessons on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and advanced lessons on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Country Fried Dance brings queer line dancing on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Cash cover.
Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
1305 W Oltorf St.
Fiddler Warren Hood draws a loyal crowd to Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (ABGB) every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., where his high-energy sets regularly fill the room. The South Austin gastropub’s Western-leaning calendar has made it a reliable stop for live country and roots music. No cover.
Sam’s Town Point
2115 Allred Drive
Sam’s Town Point, a favorite hangout for local musicians, is tucked into a residential neighborhood just off the beaten path. Ramsay Midwood plays weekly, drawing a two-stepping crowd to the often-packed dance floor. Cash cover.
Bluegrass Joints
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca Road
Uptempo tunes from The Bluegrass Outfit on the outdoor deck at Radio on Menchaca are so popular that seats are usually claimed by the 7 p.m. start for the weekly bluegrass Monday. Shows move indoors in bad weather. Arrive early to navigate the dirt parking lot or find neighborhood parking, order from Veracruz All Natural, Short Wave Diner, Wow Poke or other trailers, and grab a drink at the bar. No cover.
St. Elmo Brewing Company
440 E St Elmo Road G-2
The weekly Grassy Thursdays event at St. Elmo Brewing Co. is an indoor or outdoor jam, dependent on weather, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with many players hopping in. With ice cold beer and a Spicy Boys food trailer, it’s a hootenanny that’s hard to beat. No one breaks into clogging, but a few people dance along. No cover.