Austin, the Live Music Capitol of the World!

Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue, Auditorium  Shores
Stevie died in a tragic  helicopter accident while
leaving a concert East Troy, Wisconsin in 1990.

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by Dylan Gray

         Having never lived anywhere else, it’s only natural that Austin is the one place on Earth that I feel at home. Something about the atmosphere, the people… I’m not sure what it is, but to date, I’ve found no other city quite like it. One aspect of Austin that I can identify as to why I love it so, is its self-proclamation as the ‘Live Music Capitol of the World.’ This claim to fame is one that any Austinite is proud to uphold, and more importantly one that we couldn’t live without.  
         Flashback to the era of Blues Rock ‘n’ Roll and Outlaw Country; hundreds (even thousands) of respectable regional musicians flocked to The City of the Violet Crown due to its distinctive demeanor and unbridled exuberance by way of the truth found only in the soulful tones of music. Reputation built and sooner than anyone expected Austin became a hot spot in the Southwest for tourists and touring musicians alike, all who wished to get a taste of the rare ambiance only Austin provided. Appealing to all walks of life, Austin became a music town where tradition collided head-on with the innovative genres of the 1960’s and 70’s, resulting in sounds the likes of which had never been seen or heard. Musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson became frontrunners through this era and adopted Austin as their home away from home, giving the city exorbitant creditability and style. 
        Yet as you well know, The Live Music Capitol of the World has expanded more with each passing year and the status of the city has reached the point of national, even global recognition. Each year Austin is home to the South-by-South West (SXSW) and Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festivals and tapings, two of the most financially and culturally viable events the city has ever known. Annually, thousands of music lovers travel to our fare city for each respective festival, allocating legitimacy in an exponential fashion. Not only that, but the city is also chock-full of critically acclaimed music venues and nightclubs such as Stubb’s BBQ, Antone’s Club, Austin Music Hall, The Continental Club, not to mention the world-renowned 6th Street and the abundant music-related night life that allows Austin’s downtown district to thrive on a nightly basis.
        Needless to say, the ideal that defines The Live Music Capitol of the World is simply a way of life for Austinites. In fact, I don’t believe Austin could exterminate the abundant presence of music that flows through its hill country-laden miles no matter the circumstance… But frankly, why would we want to?

More Festival Information: 

Austin’s Festival Smörgåsbord

South by Southwest 2013 essay - A preview of the upcoming SXSW Music Festival

Links to Concert Venues

South by Southwest - http://sxsw.com/
Austin City Limits -http://www.aclfestival.com/
Stubbs Austin - http://www.stubbsaustin.com/
Antones - http://www.antones.net/
Continental Club - http://www.continentalclub.com/

The Long Center for the Performing Arts: One of our larger venues

Concert Information / Long Center

Austin Events

 

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