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We've compiled the best of the best in Downtown with Sixth Street and Rainey Street - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Jazz fanatics love to hold court at this basement locale, named one of the top 10 jazz venues in the country by famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. A respected (and locally loved) venue established in 1991, the Elephant is one of the reasons Austin still earns its keep as the "Live Music Capital of the World," with acclaimed local and traveling talent performing onstage every night of the week.
This multilevel, indoor-outdoor Red River establishment is consistently a frontrunner for "best live music venue" in local Austin polls. With a cool, indoor stage and a killer outdoor stage and sprawling rooftop deck and bar, these guys know how to throw a party. Expect serious jams and strong pours seven nights a week. This is a popular spot for large touring acts throughout the year and during SXSW, the venue hosts multiple days of official, unofficial, and free showcases with lines wrapping around the door for certain acts.
One of the city's most highly touted venues, Stubb's features live music booked by the same folks who produce many of Austin's top shows, including the ACL Festival. This Red River hot spot attracts incredible local and touring artists. The massive outdoor venue, one of the biggest downtown, boasts an impressive monthly calendar of performances from internationally known acts. It's one of the hottest tickets in town for exclusive SXSW shows and ACL after-parties. Additionally, their popular Gospel Brunch, showcasing rotating live gospel acts, is hosted every Sunday.
The grand dame of the trendy West 6th Street District, this fashionable bar and club has a swanky appeal with a lovely courtyard and Hollywood-esque waitstaff. It offers an impressive lineup, from indie rock to electronic dance music, and tends to bring an interesting mix of showcases to Austin during SXSW, partnering with several hot indie record labels.
This place serves up a good time every night of the week, with live music from national and local bands. People love to catch the Spazmatics—a local '80s cover band—on Wednesday night as the courtyard becomes a playground after dark for revelers. Cedar Street offers one of the top SXSW showcases every year. RSVP and pick up your wristband early to catch a great lineup throughout the festival.
This local gay bar, dance club, and live music venue boasts an incredibly friendly staff that delivers an equally friendly pour (whether it's a Lone Star beer, biodynamic wine, or kombucha on tap). The LGBTQ+-friendly bastion serves as a great meetup point thanks to its large back patio (plus a resident food truck) in the heart of Red River. There is weekly programming on the indoor and outdoor stages dedicated to live music, drag shows, record releases, themed dance parties, and more. With its location in the heart of SXSW madness, expect music showcases and special events during the festival.
One of the top spots for live music on the perpetually vibrant East Sixth Street since 1978, the Gibson Room is one of famed bar Maggie Mae's music spaces and has its own entrance on the other side of the building. Sponsored by Gibson Guitars, this exclusive music venue is an artful homage to some of the world’s greatest rock artists, styled with Gibson guitars associated with legendary musicians like Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. Regular shows are open to the public, especially during SXSW, but the venue also hosts private events.
Lamberts offers a luxurious take on barbecue in its swanky Second Street historic district locale while offering live music almost every night of the week in their upstairs loft. They host a mix of popular local musicians as well as highly acclaimed acts in an intimate setting and offer a full spectrum of SXSW offerings, including an impressive music-infused brunch.
One of Sixth Street's longest-running venues (established 1978), Maggie Mae's features an Irish pub–style bar, a New Orleans–style courtyard, two stages, and one of the largest rooftop bars in downtown. The expansive, 11,000-square-foot venue hosts live acts throughout the week, and it is usually an official SXSW music showcase or party venue throughout the annual music fest.
Formerly located downtown, this live music lounge and venue relocated just east of I–35 in recent years, so the physical space is different than old Austinites remember, but the nightly live music and dedicated community and special events are still the same. A small attached bar space, My Oh My, has a nice cocktail menu and rotating food options.
This downtown live music venue is composed of three levels; the first floor bowling mezzanine (a lounge area complete with two vintage bowling lanes that overlook the music lounge stage); the second-floor Ballroom concert space and Prohibition-themed Kabaret Room; and the Terrace59 rooftop lounge. There is live music and late-night dance parties almost every night, with extended showcases during SXSW. The Spazmatics, a beloved local '80s and '90s tribute band, perform on the Ballroom stage to packed audiences every Wednesday night.
