Austin, TX

Where in Austin to see free live music that doesn’t suck

Published

11 months ago

December 26, 2024

Where in Austin to see free live music that doesn’t suck

Austinites, new and old, often hear that the city is no longer the live music capital of the world, but that claim should be taken with a grain of salt. There are plenty of spots in ATX to hear free live music that’s good — as long as you know where to look.

The Capital City was first dubbed the “Live Music Capital of the World” in August 1991. According to Visit Austin, the title was justified by the number of music venues per capita in the city. ATXToday reports there are over 250 venues in Austin where live music is played, proving there’s no shortage of spots offering live entertainment.

However, not every venue allows residents and visitors to Austin to enjoy quality live music without some sort of cover charge. This is when it pays to know the Capital City like the back of your hand.

9 places in Austin to see free live music

While there are countless bars, coffee shops, restaurants and music venues in Austin offering free live music, not all of it passes as “good.”

What’s the point of hitting up a cover-free spot if the live entertainment is soul-crushingly bad?

Below are nine spots to see quality live music in Austin for free.

Reminder: If you’re enjoying free live music somewhere, show the artists some support! Most have tip jars and/or signs with their Venmo username near the stage.

Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden

Pros: Spacious beer garden with indoor and outdoor seating, covered outdoor stage for live entertainment, a stellar sound system that funnels live music inside (even in the bathrooms) quality local acts that get guests on their feet during Sunday brunch and beyond, attentive service and an expansive food and drink menu.

Address: 79 Rainey St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

View Banger’s live music calendar here.

Mama Dearest

Pros: Backwoods-themed bar with eclectic and borderline eerie decor, decent sound system for listening to live music, indoor-outdoor seating, food truck, all of the vibes. Misting fans on outdoor patio in the summer, heaters in winter.

Address: 515 Pedernales St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; noon to 2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Mama Dearest often will share its live music offerings on Instagram. Check the bar’s IG here.

Austin Beer Garden and Brewing Co.

Pros: Free live music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, delicious pizza and sandwiches, various drink options (beer, wine, seltzer and more!), dog-friendly, children welcome.

Address: 1305 W. Oltorf St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: Closed Monday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

View ABGB’s live music calendar here.

The Elephant Room

Pros: Centrally located venue offering live jazz music nightly, no cover charge on Sunday, Monday or before 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, intimate setting, attentive service.

Address: 315 Congress Ave., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday.

View the live music calendar here.

Armadillo Den

Pros: Spacious, casual friendly service, free live music, good sound system, numerous food trucks on-site. Kids are welcome until 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Otherwise, the Armadillo Den is for those ages 21 and older.

Address: 10106 Menchaca Road, Austin, Texas.

Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight Monday-Wednesday; noon to 12:30 a.m. Thursday; noon to 2 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; noon to midnight Sunday.

View Armadillo Den’s live entertainment calendar here.

Jester King Brewery

Pros: Live music on weekends at a brewery that doubles as a ranch where goats not only live but also thrive alongside their trusted canine companion. Jester King also has delicious bites and funky beers to choose from, forts for kids to climb on and ample space.

Address: 13187 Fitzhugh Road, Austin, Texas.

Hours: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Browse Jester King’s live music calendar here.

Blind Pig Pub

Pros: Live music every day of the week in the heart of Dirty Sixth, indoor and outdoor stages, open-air rooftop patio. For a chiller experience on weekends, visit the Blind Pig before 9 p.m.

Address: 317 E. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Tuesday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Austin Garden & Studio at Inn Cahoots

Pros: The Garden at Austin Garden & Studio often hosts live music on the outdoor stage. Musical genres vary, but the sound quality is superb. There also is a food truck on-site and yard games to play.

Address: 1209 E. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: Doors open at 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Browse the December 2024 schedule here, and view the 2025 schedule here.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Icehouse

Pros: Located in the heart of West Sixth where bars and restaurants are plentiful, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot offers stellar sound quality, a covered bar and stage for chilly or rainy nights, strong drinks, fast service and more.

Address: 701 W. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, noon to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Check Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’s Facebook and Instagram pages for up-to-date information on live music offerings.

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Austin, TX

Texas football: How the No. 17 Longhorns graded in win over Arkansas

Published

12 hours ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Texas football: How the No. 17 Longhorns graded in win over Arkansas

With its small hopes of a College Football Playoff on the line, Texas football secured a needed win Saturday by racing away from Arkansas 52-37 behind a record-setting game from quarterback Arch Manning.

The Longhorns (8-3, 5-2) scored their most points ever in a SEC game, and they needed almost all of them against the explosive attack of Arkansas (2-9, 0-7). The Razorbacks tallied 512 yards of offense, the most a Texas team has allowed since Washington had 537 yards in a 37-31 win in their 2023 CFP semifinal.

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GOLDEN: Texas football did its part but CFP chances are dim with Aggies waiting

Manning threw for a career-high 389 yards to power Texas to the win and set up a Friday showdown against blood rival and unbeaten Texas A&M, the third-ranked team in the nation.

Here’s how the Longhorns graded out in the 52-37 win over Arkansas:

Texas Longhorns defensive back Jelani McDonald (4) yells in celebration after making an interception in the third quarter of the Longhorns’ game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 22, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Quarterback: A

Manning offered some self-criticism after the game, but it’s hard to find much fault in his career day. He threw four touchdowns, ran for another and even caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Parker Livingstone on a trick play to become the first Texas player to ever run, catch and throw for a score in a single game. The lone critique: He went 18 of 30 and missed a couple of throws.

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MORE: Texas vs Arkansas: Longhorns blast Hogs 52-37 to set up SEC finale against Texas A&M

Running back: C-

The combination of Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter continues to carry the load, and it continues to plod along. They combined for 91 yards on 22 carries and didn’t catch a single pass. Baxter runs hard, but it looks like he may need another offseason to regain his explosiveness after undergoing knee surgery in August 2024.

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Receivers: A

This unit continues to spread the wealth. DeAndre Moore Jr. stepped into the starring role with a career-high three touchdowns on three catches, and Ryan Wingo continued to be the most productive receiver on the squad with six catches. Tight end Jack Endries also got into the act with two catches for 49 yards. Best of all, no drops for a group that has shown some butter fingers.

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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Deandre Moore Jr. (0) celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas Razorbacks in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman

Offensive line: A-

The Longhorns started the same quintet of left tackle Travor Goosby, left guard Cole Hutson, center Connor Roberston, right guard DJ Williams and right tackle Brandon Baker for the third straight game. That continuity is paying off, especially in pass protection. Manning didn’t suffer a single sack and only absorbed three hits with arguably his best protection of the season.

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Defensive line: B-

Texas’ defensive line had its hands full, especially early before Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green and running back Mike Washington Jr. left the game with injuries. Edge rushers Colin Simmons (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1½ tackles for loss) and Ethan Burke (6 tackles) had big games, but the interior had trouble with the big Hogs.

Linebackers: C+

All-American middle linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. missed the game with a hand injury, and it showed. Edge backer Trey Moore played much of the game out of position inside and Ty’Anthony Smith was ejected for a targeting call that will cause him to miss the first half of the game against Texas A&M. Liona Leafu’s scoop-and-score touchdown off a strip sack by Simmons was the unit’s only highlight, even if the ball did end up in Bevo’s pen.

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Secondary: D+

Arkansas threw for 324 yards on 26-of-49 passing even though backup QB KJ Jackson played almost half the game. The Longhorns did get an interception from Derek Williams Jr. on an ill-advised shovel pass by Green, but missed tackles and blown coverages remain a concern. One side note: Freshman Kade Phillips seems to have taken over the starting cornerback spot from Jaylon Guilbeau opposite Malik Muhammad.

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Special teams: B

Moore had a strange punt return in which he fielded the ball in the end zone and barely made it to the 5-yard line. Punter Jack Boumeester dropped two of his three kicks inside the Hogs’ 20-yard line, Mason Shipley made a 44-yard field goal just before the half, and Texas avoided the miscues that have plagued them in several games.

Coaching: B+

Steve Sarkisian is cooking as a play-caller and as a quarterbacks coach, considering Manning’s development over the past month. He also shows that his team usually rebounds in tough weeks; Sarkisian’s teams are 10-0 after a loss since 2022. But defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s group couldn’t handle the Hogs, even with their backup quarterback.

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Austin, TX

“Hogs vs. Horns” in Austin, Arkansas renews rivalry with Texas

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

“Hogs vs. Horns” in Austin, Arkansas renews rivalry with Texas

Posted: Nov 22, 2025 / 02:29 PM CST

Updated: Nov 22, 2025 / 06:29 PM CST

AUSTIN, Texas — The Arkansas Razorbacks head into the penultimate game of their 2025 season against the Texas Longhorns, the 81st meeting in the history of the “Hogs vs. Horns” rivalry.

The old Southwest Conference foes are now members of the Southeastern Conference. Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992, Texas three decades later in 2024. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 57-23. The two schools are scheduled to meet on an annual basis as “permanent rivals” in the SEC.

Follow along for live updates!

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Austin, TX

Austin real estate broker, supplier arrested for alleged role in drug network

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Austin real estate broker, supplier arrested for alleged role in drug network

AUSTIN, Texas — Court documents have revealed that a commercial real estate broker in Austin was arrested on Thursday on charges related to a narcotics distribution operation.

According to an arrest affidavit, Justin Bayne, 45, who is the president of Baynes Commercial, faces multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance.

ALSO| Hays County man sentenced to 15 years for 2022 crash that killed woman, injured baby

According to investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Bayne was involved in a concierge-style drug network, regularly purchasing cocaine and introducing associates to an accused dealer. The clientele reportedly included doctors, executives, and individuals in the entertainment industry.

The documents indicate that Bayne maintained a supplier-buyer relationship with Uthman “Tobi” Oluwatobi Salisu, 31, who was arrested in September following an anonymous tip.

Salisu is facing five counts of money laundering of $300,000 or more, and four counts of manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance.

The affidavit references messages where Bayne arranged cocaine pickups, paid through Venmo, and organized purchases from his office. Investigators estimate that introductions made by Bayne led to more than $45,000 in cocaine sales.

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