live music

They don’t call Austin the Live Music Capital of the World for nothing. There are literally dozens of shows each night ranging from up-and-coming artists to the big names. Also, there are three major music festivals that provide perfect weekends for visiting.

South by Southwest (SXSW)

More up-and-coming artists with 1,200+ bands in town playing nonstop for a week in mid March

Austin City Limits Festival (ACL)

Zilker Park is taken over in late September/early October for a Friday-Sunday party

Fun Fun Fun Fest

The smallest of the major ones but also the most laid back

Nocturnal

Up-and-coming Electronic/Dance music festival about 30-40 minutes NE from Downtown

Reggae Fest

Let’s just say that people like to chill out on Auditorium Shores (banks of the Colorado River Downtown) for this one

Old Settler’s

Popular Folk/Americana themed festival located 30 minutes from Downtown