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Austin, TX
RealMusic Events 7th Seismic Dance Event Is In Austin November 15-17
The Concourse Project in Austin, TX
Kelly Gray and Andrew Parsons founded RealMusic Events. Like many entrepreneurs, they set up in their town, in this case Austin, Texas. They began as promoters, putting acts into other people’s venues and built from there. This is the essence of how to build a business. Find a niche, build a community and establish trust with both your suppliers and your consumers. Kelly and Andrew have been at this for 15 years now, since 2009. They started with small events of 100 or so in attendance and built it to the point where their 3 day Seismic Dance Event is now drawing thousands and could soon max out The Concourse Project, their own venue with the capacity to hold 10,000 in attendance.
Theirs is an unusual partnership in that Kelly and Andrew are building this business together as a married couple in an industry which is an ongoing 24/7 commitment. Their task list is long between booking artists, hosting shows and handling the myriad details which lie between success and calamity on any given night.
2024 Seismic Dance Event lineup
In the crazy world of live entertainment, the flywheel spins fastest around two axes: your history of successful shows and whether you control a venue or are always working in someone else’s room.
Slowly, and perhaps in retrospect very slowly, Kelly and Andrew worked up to having The Concourse Project which is their own 18,000 square foot warehouse which can be configured as a modular venue. The Concourse Project sits on 15 acres and is home to what will be the 7th annual Seismic Dance Event this November 15th-17th.
Seismic Dance Event is their festival brand. It is a house and techno boutique festival. Kelly describes it this way: “it is electronic dance music, but even more narrowed down to the house music and techno subculture, kind of like a lifestyle and music festival.” This year’s event includes such acts as Disclosure playing a DJ set, Eric Prydz, Gesaffelstein, Carl Cox and a long list of other interesting players. Link to tickets is below:
I had such a fun conversation with Kelly and Andrew. They have such a comfortable way of interacting with each other. They’ve clearly mastered how to contain the frenzy of putting on shows and festivals while maintaining a normalized home life. Part of that comes from the way they’ve divided responsibilities between themselves, and part comes from the way in which they’ve honed their partnership so each focuses on what they are responsible to do.
The Concourse Project is interesting because it was such a risky undertaking. Kelly and Andrew have David Brinkley as the third partner in The Concourse Project. David’s role is CFO in addition to input related to design elements of the facility.
Their venue is near Austin’s airport which although it is not far from the heart of Austin, it is also not downtown. Locating an event center away from the city core adds complication to attracting audiences. A second challenge for The Concourse Project team is the lack of parking at their location. That is in part offset by the ever growing use of rideshare apps by music fans who would like to party without having to think about how to get home.
The list of events which Kelly and Andrew take on is long. In addition to Seismic, they host Boiler Room, ACL (Austin City Limits) after parties, events which occur alongside the F1 race when it runs in Austin, and a full calendar of stand-alone live music events throughout the year.
When I asked Kelly to explain how they managed so many events she said: “RealMusic Events started as just a promo company. We would produce shows at other venues, and it was basically just Andrew and I for many of those years, and it was kind of like a side hustle and just like a hobby that became our full time passion and job. And we have a big list of promoters, so a lot of the promoters help promote the shows, and there’s like 80 or so of those. When it comes to the actual working team, we started having full time team members once we were able to open the venue, which is The Concourse Project. There are about ten or so full time employees, but when we talk about part time employees and contractors, it gets up to more like 100.”
I only had one significant question for Andrew: “Which of you is in charge and why is it Kelly?” He was good natured in his answer: “She is the boss, but I guess it depends on how you look at it, too. I do all the talent buying and all the bookings, She’s definitely more of operations. She also comes more from the corporate world so she’s just better at that kind of stuff. I’m just kind of like, do what you do best, you know?” (edited for brevity)
Kelly further clarified: “I couldn’t tell you what exactly is in the future, but it’s always just about growth momentum and what feels like the natural next step. And I feel like one is maybe expanding upon our land, whether that is at our current property or an additional property, so that we can have larger festivals with a little bit more area, room to breathe and play with infrastructure and parking and all of that.”
The RealMusic Events team specializes in electronic dance music. It’s their specialty. Austin is known as one of the live music centers of the world. Formerly, Austin was more traditionally known for traditional live music with guitar, drums and a singer. The world has shifted in favor of EDM music. It is core music in Europe and around the world. And, it is blowing up in the US as well.
Kelly also said: “Fundamentally, the culture of enjoying electronic dance music is a journey and a progression. So the music itself, if you’re talking about one specific track it builds. So even throughout the night whether it’s a show or a festival, you’re building from one DJ to the next. And we always prefer when they mix into each other and it’s like a seamless transition versus a stop and start.”
The entire experience of discussing the Austin EDM scene with Kelly and Andrew was enlightening. Their long residence in Austin and the roots they’ve established have made them expert in their field and with their audience. They are succeeding as promoters and venue operators because they are well established in their field and with their audience.
Kelly’s summary to me of her core ethic was particularly on point: “Southern hospitality really is a thing. I mean, I always go back to that, but, I mean, it really is.”Go see The Concourse Project when in Austin, get a taste of that Southern Hospitality, and get your tickets to the Seismic Dance Event while they’re still available.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a match with a combined 27 fouls and eight yellow cards, visiting LAFC overwhelmed Austin FC 4-1 on Sunday at Q2 Stadium, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals of the MLS playoffs.
With the victory, LAFC claimed the best-of-3 first-round series 2-0 following their 2-1 win Oct. 29 in Los Angeles.
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Actor Matthew McConaughey, foreground, acknowledges the fans as he walks a sideline before Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs between Los Angeles FC and Austin FC, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Celebrations take place before Los Angeles FC and Austin FC compete in Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff (33) battles for possession over Los Angeles FC defender Ryan Porteous (5) during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC midfielder Myrto Uzuni (10) reacts after missing a penally kick against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC defender Brendan Hines-Ike (4) celebrates after midfielder Daniel Pereira (8) scored a penalty kick against Los Angeles FC during first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) celebrates a goal against Austin FC with defender Sergi Palencia (14) and forward Son Heung-Min (7) during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) scores a goal against Austin FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) celebrates a goal against Austin FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC midfielder Andy Moran (19) and Austin FC defender Žan Kolmanič (23) battle for the ball during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min (7) looks to take control of the ball against Austin FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) drives between Austin FC defender Julio Cascante (18), defender Brendan Hines-Ike (4) and defender Guilherme Biro (29) during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC midfielder Daniel Pereira scores a penalty kick against Los Angeles FC during first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Q2 Stadium is viewed before Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
By the time Austin FC’s Dani Pereira converted a penalty kick in the waning moment of first-half stoppage time, LAFC went into the locker room up 3-1 and in full control of the match.
Son Heung-min, the former Tottenham Hotspur captain who joined LAFC in August, opened the scoring in the 21st minute by beating Ilie Sanchez with a nasty stepover, and then he fired a shot past Brad Stuver from just outside the 6-yard box.
Denis Bouanga bagged a pair of goals in the first half to build LAFC’s insurmountable advantage. His first came four minutes after Son’s opening marker and was his 100th goal across all competitions with the club. His second goal added salt to the wound for Austin to make it 3-0 in the 44th minute. It came after LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stopped a Myrto Uzuni penalty kick attempt in the 39th minute.
LAFC’s Jeremy Ebobisse entered the match for Son in the 88th minute and, in five minutes, added another tally. He fired a left-footed shot past Stuver’s sliding boot to put an exclamation point on the final match of the season in Austin.
LAFC outshot Austin 17-7, including 5-4 on target, and Austin was whistled for offside three times.
It was the first time since 2022 that Austin made the MLS playoffs. They entered the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.
Coupled with its playoff appearance and runner-up finish in the U.S. Open Cup, Austin took a step in the right direction under first-year head coach Nico Estevez.
LAFC will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the conference semifinals.
Last Updated On – 2nd November, 2025
Jump to: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday
The best free and fun events in Austin, November 3 – 6, include Maroon 5 in concert, Oltrf Block Party, and more!
Austin turns up the energy long before the weekend hits, and our Austin picks Nov 3 to 6 2025 round up the can’t-miss events keeping the city buzzing all week. Explore what’s happening this week and keep your weekdays packed with Austin’s signature spirit and creativity.
Editor’s Note: Our staff works hard to bring you the latest information. However, all information mentioned in this article is subject to change. As always, please confirm before heading out.
Free and Fun Events in Austin this Monday, November 3, 2025
Jesse McCartney in concert
Get to see Jesse McCartney live and hear the latest music from his 2024 EP, All’s Well, and enjoy a thrilling show!
Where: Austin City Limits Live (ACL Live & 3TEN ACL Live), 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
When: Monday, November 3, 2025 | 8 pm
How Much: Not stated
Waterloo Wellness: Yoga & Sound
Image Credit: Waterloo Greenway FB Page
Start each week with feel-good vibes at Waterloo Wellness: Yoga & Sound. Experience mindful movement in a class that features a different style of yoga each time, perfectly accompanied by live music and healing sound therapy.
All ages and abilities are warmly welcome to join this unique and restorative event!
Where: Moody Amphitheater, Waterloo Park, 500 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78701
When: Monday, November 3, 2025 | 6 pm – 7 pm
How Much: Free
Free and Fun Events in Austin this Tuesday, November 4, 2025
World Ballet Company presents Cinderella
Image credit: World Ballet Company
Step into the magical world of Cinderella, live on stage, for one of the most enchanting Austin picks Nov 3 to 6 2025!
The World Ballet Company brings this beloved fairy tale to life in a spectacular Broadway-style production that delights all ages, flawlessly blending humor, romance, and the timeless majesty of classical ballet.
This dazzling show features a cast of 40 international dancers, over 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, exquisite hand-crafted sets, and captivating choreography by Marina Kesler.
Every moment is filled with charm and wonder, from the mischievous evil stepsisters to the breathtaking ballroom scenes, promising you an unforgettable journey of magic, beauty, and “happily ever after.” Just remember what happens when the clock strikes midnight!
Where: Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin, TX 78712
When: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 7 pm
How Much: Starts at $46.80
Maroon 5 in concert
Pop-rock band Maroon 5 is coming to Austin to perform in support of their brand new album, Love is Like. Get ready for a high-energy show as the band plays hits from their new release and their beloved catalog.
Where: Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin, TX 78712
When: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 8 pm
How Much: Starts at $64
Free and Fun Events in Austin this Wednesday, November 5, 2025
The 50th Annual Garage & Estate Sale Preview Party
Image Credit: The Settlement Home for Children Foster and Adoption Program FB Page
Get ready for an incredible shopping opportunity at the 50th Annual Garage & Estate Sale! The Settlement Home for Children’s massive annual sale gives you the chance to purchase thousands of items at bargain prices.
You’ll find a massive selection ranging from jewelry, tools, and vintage collectibles to children’s clothing. The festivities will begin with a special preview party on November 5th, before the public days run from November 7th through 9th.
Where: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
When: Wednesday, November 5 – 9, 2025 | 7 pm
How Much: Free to $25
Oltorf Block Party
Loro is hosting its first-ever Oltorf Block Party, a community-driven, market-style event to celebrate the launch of their new collaboration hat with Mañana Austin’s surf gear and apparel brand.
You can expect a night of good food, great vibes, and awesome giveaways! The party will also feature some of the city’s favorite local brands, one-night-only menu collaborations, exclusive giveaways, and live music.
Where: Loro Asian Smokehouse and Bar, 2115 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
When: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 6 pm – 8 pm
How Much: $38
Texas Theatre and Dance presents Cabaret
Step into the vibrant and tumultuous world of 1930s Berlin with Texas Theatre and Dance’s presentation of Cabaret.
Watch as a young American writer arrives in the city and immediately falls for the English singer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Fräulein Schneider, the boarding house owner, tentatively begins a romance with Herr Schultz, a mild-mannered Jewish fruit seller.
The iconic production features unforgettable musical numbers like “Willkommen,” “Cabaret,” “Don’t Tell Mama,” and “Two Ladies.”
Where: B. Iden Payne Theatre, 300 E 23rd St, Austin, TX 78712
When: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 7:30 pm
How Much: Starts at $10
Free and Fun Events in Austin this Thursday, November 6, 2025
Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
Image Credit: Out of Bounds Comedy Festival FB Page
Get ready to laugh non-stop at the beloved, Austin-grown Out of Bounds Comedy Festival (OOB), one of the best Austin picks Nov 3 to 6 2025!
After a six-year hiatus, the festival is back, featuring a packed schedule of hilarity. You can look forward to seeing incredible performances by talented local Austin acts and troupes from around the country.
Plus, the festival will also bring in special guest Dropout.TV all-stars including Ify Nwadiwe, Kimia Behpoornia, and Ross Bryant!
Where: Various locations in Austin
When: Thursday, November 6 – 9, 2025
How Much: Varies
Austin Polish Film Festival
You are invited to the Austin Polish Film Festival (APFF)! Over the years, this event has contributed to the vibrant Austin film scene by screening over 400 films and hosting numerous filmmakers.
This year’s festival will present a diverse and carefully selected lineup from among the latest award-winning features, documentaries, and animations. This unique platform gives Polish filmmakers a fantastic opportunity to share their work with a diverse audience.
Where: AFS Cinema, 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752
When: Thursday, November 6 – 9, 2025
How Much: Free – $120
Much Ado About Nothing
After years of war, you can step into an idyllic Italian town that is finally back in bloom for this performance.
Watch as the young lovers Claudio and Hero, along with the sparring singletons Beatrice and Benedick, discover that all is not as it seems in their beautiful surroundings. This classic comedy entangles them all in a series of mischievous games, pranks, and cunning plots.
Where: Mary Moody Northen Theatre, 3001 S Congress Ave Building THAR, Austin, TX 78704
When: Thursday, November 6 – 16, 2025
How Much: $15 – $28
Don’t let the weekdays have all the fun. Discover more Austin weekend events, food festivals, and free happenings here.
Lacey is a freelancer and Austin local who’s always on the hunt for new restaurants to try, fun activities to do, and local events to attend. She loves sharing her discoveries with others through her writing and hopes her work encourages both visitors and locals to be active in the community. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring one of the city’s many hiking trails with her Blue Heeler, Oreo, getting lost in a good book, or dancing the night away to some house or techno beats at one of her favorite rave spots.
Latest posts by Lacey Morris (see all)
Honky tonks are dance halls common in Texas, where men and women come to dance, drink, and socialize. They dance the two step on a large wooden dance floor to country and Western music, sometimes played by a band.
As the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is home to a whole host of venues, musicians and music lovers who flood bars and dance halls each night of the week to seek community and reprieve. Among them are the mix of newer and legendary honky-tonk venues that have ushered in seasoned dancers and newcomers to the craft of a little thing Texans like to call the two-step.
It’s a legacy that has seen revitalization and resurgence in recent years, both within Austin and beyond the Lone Star State. As country music reaches new heights of popularity and is capitalized all the more by cross-genre music icons like Houston’s Beyoncé, with it comes a renewed appetite for all things honky-tonk — and that’s something Austinites are looking to commemorate at Austin Monthly’s Honky Tonk Fest.
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Austin Monthly announced the creation of the festival in early September, noting it as “a love letter to the culture that has taken over nightlife in Austin and beyond.” Seasoned two-steppers and newer fans of the honky-tonk scene will gather at Jester King Brewery on Saturday, November 8, where the festival will spotlight nine artists across two different stages as well as feature two-stepping lessons, art, fashion, food vendors and other amenities.
For Bryan C. Parker, executive editor at Austin Monthly and the festival’s creator, he said he was inspired by the influx of newer honky-tonk venues and dance halls in recent years — like White Horse and Sagebrush — as well as offering an ode to legacy institutions like Sam’s Town Point and The Little Longhorn Saloon. At the heart of those venues, and honky-tonk culture at large, he said, is a communal spirit. But, he added, it wasn’t until he did a cover story on honky-tonk culture for Austin Monthly earlier this year that he really found himself inundated within, and mentally fixated on, the enduring legacy of that culture.
The band Mrs. Glass from Austin, Texas perform at the White Horse during 2012 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival on March 16, 2012 in Austin, Texas.
“I’ve lived in Austin for 24 years, but after I did that deep dive to report that story, I just couldn’t stop thinking about [Austin’s honky-tonk community],” he told MySA. “I found myself going out more — dancing and hanging out — and the bands are so good, and that fascination and love has kind of lingered, and I wanted to do something to celebrate that. So that’s how Honky Tonk Fest was born.”
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Within that communal scene is a cross-generational and cross-cultural reach, where 20-somethings who might be newer to the dance form link hands and partner with seasoned dancers decades older than them. That sense of welcoming is something he said has helped broadened the reach of honky-tonk venues and two-stepping.
“I feel like Austin is a place that embraces all kinds of people, and that is true of these honky-tonks as well,” Parker said. “You’ll see people that look like hipsters at the club, but you’ll see people that look like cowboys at the club — you know, tried and true cowboys. It’s truly a place where everyone feels welcome.”
Debra Watson dances with Shaan Shirazi to the music of James Intveld at the Little Longhorn Saloon on Sunday February 19, 2017 in Austin, Texas. Sunday at the bar features bingo centering on chicken droppings.
Part of that welcoming effort is reflected in Honky Tonk Fest’s music line up, which features Austin’s Aaron McDonnell & the Neon Eagles and Chaparelle, join the likes of Nashville’s Emily Nenni and New York’s Honky Tonkin’ in Queens. That eclectic mix of artists across the country is indicative of the cultural currency Texas’ music and dance scene has had nationally, with Parker referring to the Lone Star State as a “cultural taste maker.”
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And, if you happen to be a honky-tonk newcomer coming out on November 8? Parker’s biggest encouragement is that while this festival is a one-day event, you can find quality live music, dance lessons and communities in venues across Austin year-round.
“When you come to Austin, I think you find something that feels like it’s grassroots: It’s ground up, and it’s really driven by the people who are here and working here, and especially live music,” he said. “We love DJ sets and having fun, and obviously we’re bringing DJs in for the festival. But in Austin, everything comes back to and is driven by live music. And the amount of talent we have in our live music every night of the week is pretty astonishing.”
Austin Monthly’s Honky Tonk Fest runs on Saturday, November 8, from 1 to 11 p.m. at Jester King Brewery,
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Find it: 13187 Fitzhugh Road, Austin, TX 78736
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