Austin, the capital of Texas, has a wide variety of attractions for music lovers. Located in central Texas in the Hill Country, Austin is the self-billed "Live Music Capital of the World." Austin has a large number of clubs playing country music, both live and recorded.
The Dallas Nightclub is located in central/north Austin and has disc jockeys playing country music Wednesday through Saturday. There is a full bar with daily drink specials. The club offers free country dance lessons on Fridays and Saturdays. Wednesday is ladies' night, with no cover charge. Dancing is the focal point at The Dallas Nightclub, with a large dance floor surrounded by four long bars. Bar stools line the dance floor for onlookers to observe the dancers. Pool tables are situated off to the side of the dance floor. While country music is predominant, there is the occasional pop or hip hop song, and Thursday is dedicated to salsa and other Latin music styles.
The Dallas Nightclub
7113 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78757
512-452-1300
danceatdallas.com
Located in central/east Austin, Midnight Rodeo occupies a large building that was previously a lumber warehouse. Midnight Rodeo is open Thursday through Saturday. There is a large dance floor---2,000 square feet---with two-stepping dancers enjoying country music played by disc jockeys every Thursday and Saturday night. The disc jockeys will occasionally throw in some rap or pop, but country music is the focus. The club has a full bar with drink specials each night. Up-and-coming country music bands are featured on Fridays. Saturday is ladies' night, with no cover charge and various drink specials. Midnight Rodeo is available for private parties on Sunday through Wednesday.
Midnight Rodeo
2201 E. Ben White Blvd.
Austin, TX 78741
512-443-2623
midnightrodeoaustin.com
The Nutty Brown Café & Amphitheatre, located just southwest of Austin, is open every day of the week and features live music Friday through Sunday. Wednesday is open "mic" night featuring singers, songwriters and stand-up comedians. The Nutty Brown has a casual, family-friendly atmosphere, with a sandbox for the kids and a talking parrot named Cheeto. The Nutty Brown has a full bar and also serves Tex-Mex and American food, including a Sunday brunch with a jazz band. The restaurant is separate from the bar, and there is an outdoor patio with decking built around large live oaks. There is a small outside stage for bands and also a larger stage at the amphitheatre, which has standing room for 4,000 people. Well known country acts play at The Nutty Brown, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Green and Clint Black.
The Nutty Brown Café & Amphitheatre
12225 Hwy. 209 West
Austin, Texas 78737-9148
512-301-4648
nuttybrown.com
Located in central Austin, Donn's Depot features live music Monday through Saturday. While most of the bands play country music, some bands also cover other musical genres, such as swing, blues and modern rock. The house band, Donn & the Stationmasters, plays frequently, offering mostly country classics and a little rock and soul. The crowds, a mix of both young and old, can enjoy the piano bar, two dance floors and wrap-around patio. This long time Austin honky-tonk, in business since 1978, is housed in an old Missouri-Pacific train depot transported via train tracks from McNeil, Texas. Train cars serve as seating areas, and the ladies' room is a caboose. The club has a full bar with happy hour specials and offers free popcorn, but no other food is served.
Donn's Depot
1600 W. 5th Street
Austin, TX 78703
512-478-0336
donnar.home.texas.net
