Austin Crescendos Into a Musical Mecca
Mix a little bit of Austin’s laid-back vibe with a touch of its weirdness and you transform a city into the
“Live Music Capital of the World”™
A Music Venue Named After a Nocturnal Mammal
According to the Texas State Historical Association, “An out-of-order bathroom and an impromptu visit to the Cactus Club parking lot … helped concert promoter Eddie Wilson notice the old National Guard armory on Barton Springs Road.”
Transformed into a 1,500- seat music/beer hall, the armory re-opened for business in 1970. Eddie christened the new venue Armadillo World Headquarters — The Armadillo — reflecting on the armored appearance of the animal’s hard shell.
About The Armadillo
- The birthplace of redneck rock, a fusion of country and rock music.
- At its peak, the volume of Lone Star draft beer sold was second only to the Houston Astrodome.
- Neiman Marcus, an upscale department store chain, carried Armadillo-branded products.
- Due to a combination of downtown development and poor promotion, the venue closed December 31, 1980, after a final concert.
Live Music Capital of the World™
In the mid-1980s, members of the Austin Convention and Visitors Council began brainstorming how to capitalize on their city’s live music venues, which were open nightly.
Taking advantage of a Billboard magazine feature on Texas’ growing movie and music industry, the council placed their first ad, which sparked continued growth. In 2000, the Austin City Council declared and trademarked their city the Live Music Capital of the World. The trademark covers many related goods and services, including promoting conventions and tourism in Austin.
Austin City Limits: A Musical Driving Force
When the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) asked member stations for original programming ideas, Austin responded with excitement. Inspired by redneck rock, the station came up with a live program to showcase Austin’s diverse music scene.
- The name Austin City Limits was courtesy of the PBS producer, who saw the highway sign weekly as he commuted from Dallas to Austin.
- Willie Nelson was the featured performer for its October 31, 1974 debut. He continued to promote the show as he toured the nation.
- In 2002, Austin City Limits debuted its music festival at Zilker Park. The now-annual event takes place on two consecutive, three-day weekends. In 2024, total attendance was more than 450,000.
- Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater was named after the beneficiary, the Moody Foundation. The foundation’s gift funded ACL‘s new home in 2011. The theater/studio seats 2,750 and hosts concerts and private events.
- Now in its 51st season, ACL is the longest-running music program in television history and is the only television show to have been awarded the National Medal of the Arts.
- ACL was recently recognized by Time magazine as one of the 10 most influential music programs of all time.
SXSW: Austin + Music in Harmony
In 1986, journalists from the Austin Chronicle came together with the goal of promoting Austin’s vibrant live music scene. Their idea for a music festival started small. In March 1987, just 150 people registered for the inaugural SXSW conference and festival, yet more than 700 attendees participated in panel discussions and enjoyed performances by 177 artists across 15 stages.
As the years passed, SXSW grew to encompass technology, film, television, and education. By 2024, the event had expanded to more than 500,000 attendees, with 1,700 conference sessions and 1,200 performances spread across 65 stages.
The festival’s unique combination of new talent performing alongside world-renowned superstars, its diverse musical genres, and the sheer scale of the event have helped establish Austin as a global hub for musicians and artists. Along the way, SXSW has also significantly boosted the city’s economy and tourism.
SXSW 2025 is March 7–15
Visit the website for more about the festival. Plus, if you don’t have $2,095 for an all-access badge, visit the volunteer page to earn one of several types of badges. There are also many free events scheduled throughout the festival.
Fun Facts
- The name was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest.
- In 2012, pajama manufacturer, Jumpin Jammerz, threw the world’s largest footed pajama party at SXSW, breaking the Guinness World Record by just over 50 people.
- John Mayer and Amy Winehouse are just two of the musicians discovered after performing at SXSW.