Ever wonder why Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World®? The slogan became official in 1991 after it was discovered that Austin had more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Listen closely and you’ll hear the sounds of more than 1900 bands and performing artists living in and around our city. From blues to indie rock country to jazz rock en español and more Austin’s nearly 250 live music venues mean you can catch a show any day at almost any time.

Austin is also home to some of the largest music events and festivals in the world including South by Southwest (SXSW) Austin City Limits Music Festival The Urban Music Festival and the Pachange Festival.

In American music history Austin has helped start or grow the careers of big time artists like Janis Joplin Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson.


Learn more about Austin’s Music Scene