Austin Open Mics List
It is highly recommended
that you call these places before making plans. Open mics seem to change with
the weather, and I highly doubt that all these places
are even still in business.
Everything I can think to say is listed here. Your comments, if reasonably appropriate,
will be added if you write adamgerow@yahoo.com.
This list was quite
current in spring 2006, however, I only add comments or new listings that are
emailed to me - I don't scan the Statesman, etc..
I have no goals with this list, you are welcome to copy it, host it, pass it
off as your own, and make lots of money on it, if you can figure a way to do
so.
| S S S S S S
|
BB
Rovers Int'l Cafe & Pub |
"Jollyville
City Limits Open Mic w/ Brian Shirk; Someone wrote: "Really well run, good quality musicians/vocals/songwriting overall. Awkward space (when I went, it was outside on the patio in a corner, so the audience was split and the performer is facing the corner of a building. But everyone there is really into the quality of their songwriting. Not all great vocalists, but it was a nice evening. I'd definitely recommend it. The sound quality was decent, too, and the hosts introduced everyone and watched the board to some extent. Probably better if it's indoors, though the weather was really nice the night I went. Decent food, too." |
| The
Water Tank |
Sing with a live band backing you up on your favorite hits. You can do the singer songwriter stuff from 7:30 till about 9:30 or so depending on the croud, you can also bring your own band or jam with other musicians as well. | |
| Riley's
Tavern (Hunter) 8894 FM 1102 - 512.392.3132 - 7-10pm Glen Allen & Kim MacKenzie |
midway between Austin and San Antonio. the first licensed tavern to open in Texas after Prohibition. | |
| 311
Club |
Blues Jam |
|
| Artz
Rib House |
Central Texas Bluegrass Association JAM |
|
| Friends
Bar |
Open Mic Blues Jam | |
| Nuno's
on Sixth |
Blues only??? | |
| Alligator
Grill N Hwy 360 & 2222 - 346-4411 - 2pm |
Sketchy information. "While our employees don't wear flair, the movie Office Space was filmed here." | |
| Triple
Crown (San Marcos) - 396-2236 - 8pm |
Terrible, rude people, awful experience. The opposite of recommended. | |
| The
Pier 1703 River Hills - 327-4562 - 3pm |
R.I.P. | |
| M M M M
|
Cactus
Cafe |
"It'll go for 2-3 months and then disappear. It's the absolute best listening space in town for acoustic music." |
| Tambaleo |
"intelligent austin lounging". hosted by 50-something country veterans Brad Brobisky and Calvin Russell. |
|
| The
Water Tank |
Sing with a live band backing you up on your favorite hits. You can do the singer songwriter stuff from 7:30 till about 9:30 or so depending on the croud, you can also bring your own band or jam with other musicians as well | |
| Dallas
Nightclub |
||
| Elephant
Room |
Michael Mordecai's Jazz Jam |
|
| Flamingo
Cantina 515 E. 6th - 494-9336 - 7pm |
cancelled??? | |
| The
Hideout Coffeehouse 617 Congress - 236-8485 - 7pm |
cancelled? conflicting reports. | |
| T T T T T T T T
|
Cafe
Caffeine |
Best I’ve been to, very small and clean with an artsy atmosphere. Stopped for summer 2006. |
| Trophy's 2008 S. Congress 8pm "Armed and Dangerous" |
"Jason Weems is very attentive to the musicans, very approachabley. you get good time, good sound, and the crowd is alright for a rough bar like this. you may, after time, earn yourself a featured arist slot - 45 minutes on a tuesday. a hole in the wall dive bar - in a good way." | |
| Rockin
Tomato |
advertised on craigslist as "song writers wanted". Sports bar atmosphere. |
|
| BD
Riley's Irish Pub |
R.I.P. As of summer 2008, a songwriter showcase instead. |
|
| Graffiti's 2401 W Howard Ln - 255-8003 -8pm Felix the Kid |
||
| Sam's
Town Point |
||
| Pardners |
|
|
| Artz
Rib House |
Texas Olde Time Fiddlers Jam |
|
| Hanovers
|
Singer Songwriters Circle |
|
| Ruta
Maya |
A lot of work to play for a flaky, disinterested (but large) crowd, rude staff. |
|
| 311
Club |
Blues Jam | |
| Cypress
Falls Tavern |
||
| Tavern
in the Gruene |
"air-conditioned live music venue with a full bar, pool table, shuffleboard table, jukebox, garden patio, and both indoor and outdoor stages" | |
| Roper's
Nightclub 2113 Wells Branch Pkwy, #5000 - 990-4991 |
Cancelled? | |
| W W W W W W W
|
Ross' ol Austin
Cafe 11800 N Lamar - 6:30pm Glen Collins |
advertised on craigslist as "songwriters open mic". a cool old fashioned kind of place... I've heard it's sorta old-time country music mostly. Someone wrote: The night I went, it definitely was what your list says...old style country, mostly. Though a couple of young guys got up and did some more contemporary singer-songwriter stuff. The guy who runs it is a pretty decent singer/entertainer and he's got a bit of a back-up band that'll back up whoever gets up to play, if you want them to. The sound was decent, though somewhat loud for the space. And the band was decent, too. But it's pretty loose and it seems like you need to be a bit assertive to find a space to play. I'd sorta recommend it, though, just because it's sort of unique and entertaining in its own way |
| Poodie's
Hilltop Bar and Grill |
interesting joint outside of town in the hill country. friendly staff/people that know good music...might be worth the drive. | |
| Buddy's
Place |
Acoustic jam. It's all about playing music and having fun, all styles welcome. "I go to Buddy's every wednesday night, it older cats playin in the house band but a lot of different sounds and people come thru, its a dive, but the beers are cheap (my girlfriend and I get drunk + tip for $20) and the house guys are REALLY good musicians. I sit in with them and have a blast and learn a lot! Good place for country fans but a lot of other things get played too." "everyone was very friendly." | |
| Gino's
Italian Grill |
A little dive restaurant back in a strip mall. Sometimes all old-timers when I've been there, but see for yourself. | |
| Hill
Top Bar & Grill |
||
| Ventana
del Soul 1834 East Oltorf Austin, Texas 707-7447 - 6-10pm |
a really cozy space that's good for small acoustic groups. | |
| 503
Coffee Bar |
Now the Green Muse on Thursdays. | |
| Cheatham
Street Warehouse |
Adapted from the website: "Kent Finlay hosts, songwriters(are) treated as equals. Kent asks that everyone who attends pays attention. People don't play and then leave.. As informal as it was in the beginning – songwriters gathered around the old wood-burning stove and passing a guitar. Kent kicks it off every Wednesday night at around 9 p.m. He generally has one special guest who will perform twice... Songwriters sign up on a yellow legal pad that is on the bar, each perform 2 songs. The list fills quickly so get there early to sign in. The songs must be original compositions by the performer – and generally performed with a guitar. Cheatham Street Warehouse is renowned for its quality sound." | |
| Elmo's
|
||
| T T T T T T |
Giddy
Ups |
Scene described as "True Texas honky-tonk". No idea how friendly it would be to other genres. |
| Roadhouse
Bar and Grill |
||
| Texas
Bar & Grill |
"unbelievably smoky when it gets crowded" |
|
| Circle
Country Club |
||
| Nat's
Pub |
||
| Aunt
Tilly's Island Cafe & Bar 16410 Stewart Road - (512) 266-0331 - 9:30 to 1am Rusty Wier |
||
| Green
Muse Cafe 519 W. Oltorf, Just east of South First Marshall Jones |
All summer long in the Green Muse Café courtyard, 15 minutes to each performer. Jones is enthusiastic and hoping to create a positive and encouraging environment and adds: Sign-in at 7:30 p.m.
Featured performance at 10 p.m. (different band each week) The Green Muse
has great coffee, yummy food (get the Mediterranean plate or a panini
sandwich), sweets, beer and wine ... I look forward to seeing you on the
stage!
http://www.myspace.com/green_muse_open_stage |
|
| Java
Lounge at Austin Java 1206 Parkway (12th & Lamar) - (512) 476-1829 - 6pm |
Music and poetry. | |
| Rubicon
Events Center 1505 Blackjack on E. FM 20 (Lockhart) 512.398.2879 7 'til 11pm - Rick Saulcy |
R.I.P | |
| Crosseyed
Bull |
R.I.P. | |
| F R I |
290 West
Bar & Grill |
|
| F R I |
Genuine
Joe Coffeehouse |
Small and clean coffee house. About 5 people there when i went. Someone wrote: "I went a couple of times. One time there were very few people there and it was pretty haphazard. But the second time, there were a lot of people there. There was noone "running' it, but there was a sign-up sheet (which was sorta ignored in the early part of the evening and people were jumping in front of others.) That was really irritating. And a couple of people played for about 30 minutes instead of doing the nice 2-3 song limit. BUT, having said that, the quality was generally good. Some better than others, but mostly listeneable and entertaining. Someone really needs to run it, but it's a really cozy space and a nice place for an open mic." |
| ? | Saengerhalle
(New Braunfels) - (830)625-HALL 8pm |