US Travel Guide - Austin

Austin Entertainment

As the "Live Music Capital of the World," Austin hosts a variety of live music every night of the week. The multi-faceted arts scene, offering traditional artwork alongside the avant-garde, is growing as rapidly as the city itself. Filmmakers have taken an interest in Austin, realizing the town has more to offer than an attractive setting. The city is overflowing with creative and talented people ready to share and entertain.

Music
Whether you are a music fan searching for that up-and-coming band, or a musician looking for the perfect sound, you can carve out your niche here. The music scene has something for everybody - blues, jazz, fusion, pop/rock, noisepop, twee-pop, reggae, trip-hop, hip-hop, hard rock, country, Latino, classical, folk, experimental, garage and psychedelic. With 100 or more venues to choose from it may seem like a daunting task; for help, pick up The Chronicle, Austins free weekly information guide, and you will find information on all of the music venues and what acts will be gracing each stage.

Austins commercially successful musical artists include Willie Nelson, the late Janis Joplin, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Butthole Surfers, Lyle Lovett, David Garza, Kelly Willis, Shawn Colvin, Patti Griffin, Abra Moore, and Fastball. Many top independent acts live and create here, as well, including - Spoon, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Seven Percent Solution, Damnations TX, Brown Whornet, Orange Mothers, Toni Price, and The Swells. In the '60s, Austin was home to the psychedelic Vulcan Gas Company and Armadillo World Headquarters, where hippies and rednecks found themselves brought together by a common sound - progressive country.

Visit Stubbs, Red Eyed Fly, Antones or Emos to catch top local acts and independent touring musicians. For larger touring shows, check out La Zona Rosa, Austin Music Hall, or the Stubbs amphitheater. Stop by Hole in the Wall for live music seven nights a week, or the Flamingo Cantina to sample a variety of bands. Live music in Austin is not limited to the club scene though; frequently musicians are found performing in record stores, coffee shops and art galleries.

Museums
The Austin Museum of Art (Downtown) hosts ten to twelve exhibitions annually, presenting significant 20th-century American visual art. Works by artists from Mexico and the Caribbean are also represented, as well as local and Texas artists.

The Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria is a beautiful place to enjoy diverse artwork created by 20th-century artists from around the world. The Mediterranean-style villa that is home to the museum was built in 1916 and is surrounded by lush gardens and quiet paths. The Art School at Laguna Gloria is also on the grounds, offering classes for children and adults in sculpture, graphic arts, painting, jewelry-making and more.

For a multicultural Latin American experience visit the Mexic-Arte Museum, featuring three galleries that exhibit works from Mexic-Artes permanent collection, along with touring and self-curated shows. The museum also presents theatrical, musical and performing arts events on weekends.

Sculptor Elisabeth Ney moved to Austin in the late 1800s and built Formosa, her home and studio. This Greek/Gothic building, now the Elisabeth Ney Museum, is dedicated to the life and works of the artist. Ney sculpted the figures of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin that stand on the Texas State Capitol grounds today.

If its a beautiful day in Austin, you must visit the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum. Charles Umlaufs work is showcased here in the outdoor Xeriscape garden, where visitors linger by the pond. This casual setting is home to 62 bronze and cast pieces.

Theater
Austin offers big Broadway shows like Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Tuna Christmas in legendary theaters like the Paramount Theatre or UTs Bass Concert Hall. For an interesting change of pace try an experimental, Off Broadway-type shows presented by one of the 70 theater companies thriving in Austin. Frontera at Hyde Park Theatre is a good choice.

For original cutting-edge performances visit the Vortex Theatre in East Austin. Once an abandoned warehouse, this building has been converted into an intimate, comfortable, 80-seat venue that showcases contemporary theater, nationally known performance artists, multi-media performances, musical theater and ritual theater.

Film
Visit the Dobie Theatre, located on the second floor of Dobie Mall on the UT campus, for independent releases, the avant-garde and foreign films. Village Cinema Art offers independent releases in North Austin. And, if you are looking for a place where you can order great food and have it served to you while you take in a film, try the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre, where visitors can catch old B-movies, historic silent films and more.

Dance
One of only three professional ballet companies in Texas, Ballet Austin showcases dancers from around the world. The company presents five seasonal ballets, including the popular Nutcracker every December. Ballet East is a community of dancers from many ethnic backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on Austins Latino dancers. Also, check out Sharir/Bustamante Danceworks, known for its avant-garde performances, and the Margery Segal/NERVE Dance Company, known for its creativity and unique style.

Comedy
Political satire is especially strong at Esthers Follies, a campy comedy venue located on Sixth Street that has become part of the fabric of Austin. Just next door is the Velveeta Room, where local and visiting comic talents take the stage and try the outrageous. If you're looking for big-name comics, look no further than the Capitol City Comedy Club; nationally known comics like Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Foxworthy and Bobcat Goldthwait have all taken this stage in support of their art.

R.Staggs