Whether youâre at the Moody Amphitheater, Moody Center, or Moody Theater, youâre in for a show. | Photo by @teamscreamy
Between nationally esteemed music festivals, nightly star-studded lineups, and now the CMT Music Awards, Austin certainly seems to be embodying its moniker as the Live Music Capital of the World.
Weâll defend Austinâs music scene any day, but we were curious: how did the Capital City earn that title, anyway?
Depending on who you ask, Austin has been known as the Live Music Capital of the World for about four decades, with the city officially adopting the nickname in 1991.
Common lore says the title came to be when research found Austin had the most live music venues per capita in the US. While weâre not saying that statistic is false (although it would certainly be hard to prove), it might not be the whole truth.
As it turns out, the slogan may have been cooked up by the Austin Chamber of Commerce in the mid-80s, for an advertisement that ran in Billboard magazine. Other reports say it was developed by the city council to bring tourism to the city.
This might not look good for our live music egos, but hereâs our argument for why we deserve the title anyway:
For one, Austin actually does have a lot of music venues, with more than 250 hosting shows across the city.
But itâs not just the quantity of venues: itâs the quality. From big venues such as the Moody Center to intimate spaces like the Historic Scoot Inn, thereâs no bad spot to see a concert in ATX.
Concerts take place across the city every single night, amounting to thousands of live shows each year. Donât believe us? Just check our events calendar.
The Capital City hosts nearly 40music festivals each year, including those with national recognition â ACL and SXSW alone draw in ~850,000 visitors yearly.
You might argue a city like Nashville is the Live Music Capital (it does have a $5.5 billion music industry, whereas Austinâs industry is closer to $1.8 billion). But weâre Austinites through and through, and we know the truth: history, local artists, and stellar spaces make Austinâs claim on live music unlike any other.
(And donât worry, NASHtoday, we still love you.)
Austin Shakespeare: âSense and Sensibilityâ | Friday, Nov. 11-Sunday, Nov. 27 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Rollins Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W Riverside Dr. | $30+ | Jane Austenâs classic tale of two young sisters comes to life at this theatrical performance.
David Bowie: Starman Exhibition | Friday, Nov. 11 | 7-10 p.m. | Modern Rocks Gallery, 916 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 3, Ste. 103 | Free | Take in prints of David Bowie â including iconic and limited edition images â created throughout the duration of his career.
Austin Powwow and American Indian Heritage Festival | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 9 a.m.-9 p.m. | Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Ln. | $7+ | This 19th annual festival celebrating Native American heritage features traditional dance competitions, singers, and food.
JUST Fest: âA New Day, A New Dreamâ | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 1-5 p.m. | Mueller Branch Park Pavilion, 2006 Philomena St. | Free | Shop products from Austin-based small businesses at this event celebrating women-owned, Black-owned, and Latina-owned companies.
Sunday, Nov. 13
AFROTECH Conference 2022 | Sunday, Nov. 13-Thursday, Nov. 17 | 10 a.m. | Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. | $250+ | Learn from innovators, investors, and culture leaders at the yearâs largest Black professional conference.
Austin Mac & Cheese Fest: Mac vs. Grilled Cheese | Sunday, Nov. 13 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Lantana Place, 7415 Southwest Pkwy. | $25+ | Chefs will compete for champion belts at this delicious festival featuring local vendors.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
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Keep an eye out for strong to severe storms today, Austin. The most intense cold front of the year is expected to bring with it rain, high wind speeds, and temperatures in the 40s. (KXAN)
Today Is
Veterans Day, a federal holiday commemorating people who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Expect various closures related to the holiday at city facilities, such as Austin libraries and the Austin Animal Center.
Civic
Wondering how the recently passed affordable housing, ACC, and AISD bonds will affect your taxes? Depending on the value of your household, you could see an increase in costs of $106-$126per year. (KXAN)
Edu
AISD interim Superintendent Anthony Maysis leaving his position to become superintendent for Alief ISD, just north of Sugar Land. AISD may name a replacement superintendent as early as December. đ (KXAN)
Development
Developers recently broke ground on a ~$500 million mixed-use project in Lakeway called theSquare at Lohmans. The town square-inspired project is expected to take five years to complete. đ (Austin American-Statesman)
Travel
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport unveiled its new baggage claim system yesterday. The updates cost ~$125 million, and were completed ahead of peak holiday travel. 𧳠(KVUE)
Coming Soon
Fans of Lazarus Brewing will soon have a second spot for bites and beers. The brewery plans to take over the former I Luv Video space at 4803 Airport Blvd. starting Friday, Nov. 17 with an expanded menu. (Eater Austin)
Festival
The third annual Feels So Good Festival takes place Saturday., Nov. 12, and will include roughly a dozen musical acts, food trucks, and vendors. Proceeds benefit the Austin Music Foundation, which provides professional development + educational programming for the industry â Get tickets here. đ¶
Celebrate
We want to wish a happy birthday (on Sunday) to our teammate Camille, 6AM City Sales Executive. Happy birthday, Camille!
Travel
Two words:Pineapple cottage. This Hakalau, Hawaii Vrbo has sweeping ocean views, an outdoor hanging bed for lounging, and is on a fruit farm (think: lemons, oranges, lychee and pineapple at your fingertips). Book as a January getaway or as the best holiday gift ever for only $175 avg/night. đ*
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Editorâs pick: Shoutout to reader Nik B., who said Alabama was one of their favorite country artists in our poll.
My first-ever concert (if this counts as going to a concert) was an Alabama show with my parents â I was so young at the time, I missed the whole show in favor of playing with books and toys.
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