Austin, Texas

Everything Austin is known for

404 songs mention this city 1091 artists from here

Austin, Texas, a city synonymous with live music, boasts a rich and diverse musical history that has shaped genres and launched countless careers. Blues music found a home here as early as the 1920s, evolving through the mid-century and experiencing a significant resurgence with the emergence of Stevie Ray Vaughan in the 1970s and later Gary Clark Jr. The city also played a vital role in the development of Texas country and Americana, offering a haven for artists seeking a more authentic sound.

The latter half of the 20th century saw Austin embrace rockabilly, punk, and a burgeoning indie scene. The alternative music scene thrived, fostering experimental sounds and providing a platform for bands like Explosions in the Sky and Drainbow to develop their unique styles. The city's cultural diversity also fueled a vibrant Latin music scene, with artists like El Flaco and Rick Trevino contributing to the evolution of conjunto and Tejano music. Black Pumas have recently added to Austin's musical legacy with their blend of soul and rock. Austin continues to be a musical melting pot, where genres intersect and new sounds are born.

Music in Austin

Songs About Austin

What I Like About Texas
Gary P. Nunn
98%
"Swimming in the sacred waters of Barton Springs"
Lonely Lubbock Lights
Aaron Watson
98%
"I was singing at the ol' Broken Spoke"
Screw You, We’re From Texas
Josh Abbott Band
97%
"Cause we got Stubbs, and Gruene Hall, and Antone's"
When I’ll Miss You the Most
Drew Kennedy
97%
"The way up Chestnut Street"
Close Don’t Count For Nothing
Paul Eason
94%
"take classes at ACC"
What It’s For
Tobe Nwigwe
94%
"Right outside the Governor’s Mansion on Colorado Street"
Donut Taco Palace
Shinyribs
94%
"Donut Taco Palace"
Ian McLagan
Drivin’ n’ Cryin’
93%
"Down the alley at Yard Dog"
Crazy Eddie’s Last Hurrah
Reckless Kelly
93%
"So I went to the Horseshoe on Lamar"
What I Like About Texas
Jerry Jeff Walker
93%
"Swimming in the sacred waters of Barton Springs"
Screw You, We’re From Texas
Ray Wylie Hubbard
92%
"Cause we got Stubbs, and Gruene Hall and Antone's"
Texas Fight
University of Texas Longhorn Band
85%
"Yea Longhorns! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Pride and Joy
Stevie Ray Vaughan
85%
Level Above
Yung L.A.
85%
"Wale, Pills, Leland Austin, this is history"
Mob
Yung L.A.
85%
"Leland Austin flexed up, small time ass nigga better get ya check up (Ooh!)"
take me back to austin
jason boland and the stragglers
85%
Take Me Back To Texas
Justin Jeansonne
83%
Willie Nelson's Wall
Vincent Neil Emerson
80%
"I'm high was a fly on Willie Nelson's wall"
Somewhere in Texas
Tristan Roberson
80%
the girls next door in astin
jake penrod
80%

Showing top 20 of 404 songs

Artists From Austin

D
Drainbow
indie Pop: 73
a
aeseaes
folk Pop: 72
E
El Flaco
latin Pop: 71
R
Rick Trevino
latin Pop: 70
T
Ty Myers
country Pop: 70
B
Black Pumas
rock Pop: 63
C
Catch Your Breath
metal Pop: 61
S
Stevie Ray Vaughan
blues Pop: 61
C
Calvin Russell
rock Pop: 61
R
Ramsay Midwood
americana Pop: 60
T
The Dirty River Boys
country Pop: 60
U
Uncle Lucius
country Pop: 59
S
Shakey Graves
americana Pop: 58
R
Rhodes
indie Pop: 57
W
West 22nd
rock Pop: 57
S
SoMo
pop Pop: 57
S
Shane Smith & the Saints
country Pop: 56
C
Chris Wall
country Pop: 55
C
Christy Hays
americana Pop: 55
G
Gary Clark Jr.
blues Pop: 55

Showing top 20 of 1091 artists

Rivers & Roads in Song near Austin

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Austin.

Interstate 35 27 songs Texas Colorado River 6 songs Guadalupe River 9 songs US Route 90 6 songs Interstate 10 23 songs

History of Austin

The Servant Girl Annihilator — Austin, Texas, 1884-1885 RoadyGoat

1884

Austin, Texas, eighteen eighty-four. The city was small, prosperous, and beginning to fill up with domestic workers from the surrounding countryside. Between December of eighteen eighty-four and December of eighteen eighty-five, someone moved through Austin killing them. Eight women died — dragged from their beds in the middle of the night, attacked with axes, knives, and iron rods. Most were Black servant women sleeping in backyard quarters. The city barely responded. Then two wealthy white women were killed in a single night, and Austin panicked. Police arrested dozens of suspects — laborers, cooks, one man who confessed and then recanted. No one was ever charged. The murders stopped. The city moved on. Journalist Skip Hollandsworth later documented a theory, taken seriously by Scotland Yard, that the killer may have traveled to London afterward. The Whitechapel murders began in eighteen eighty-eight.

Keep Austin Weird vs. Silicon Hills RoadyGoat

Austin's unofficial motto — 'Keep Austin Weird' — was coined in 2000 by Red Wassenich, a local librarian who called into KUT public radio and tacked the phrase onto his pledge, meaning it as a rallying cry for local bookstores and dive bars over chain stores. Leslie Cochran, a beloved homeless fixture who wore a thong bikini and ran for Austin mayor multiple times, became the living embodiment of the slogan — finishing second in 2000. By 2021, Tesla, Oracle, and Elon Musk had all relocated their headquarters or primary residence to Austin, dubbing the area 'Silicon Hills' and triggering a housing boom that priced out many of the weird people the motto was meant to protect.

I Love You So Much: Austin's Accidental Landmark RoadyGoat

2010

On the south-facing side wall of Jo's Coffee at 1300 South Congress Avenue, four words are scrawled in red cursive: "i love you so much." Austin musician Amy Cook painted the message in 2010 as a private love note to her partner, Liz Lambert, the hotelier and proprietor behind Jo's and the South Congress strip. It carries no signature and no plaque. In January 2011 someone painted over it, and the couple restored it within weeks. Today it is one of the most photographed spots in the city, with a near-constant line of people waiting to pose in front of it, a private love letter that an entire city adopted as its own. (Sources: do512; South Congress Avenue guide; Wikipedia.)

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Whitman, Charles Joseph

1966

Charles Joseph Whitman, tower sniper, was born in Lake Worth, Florida, on June 24, 1941, the oldest of three sons of Margaret and Charles A. Whitman, Jr. He attended Sacred Heart grade and junior high schools, was an Eagle Scout at twelve, and graduated from St. Ann's High School in West Palm Beach in 1959. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 6, 1959, and was stationed for a year and a half at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. He passed a test to enter officer training, was sent to a preparatory school in Bainbridge, Maryland, and then to the University of Texas at Austin in September 1961 to major in engineering. There he met Kathleen F. Leissner, and they were married on August 17, 1962, at Needville, Texas, her home town. Because of low grades he was ordered back to duty as an enlisted man in the Marine Corps on February 12, 1963. While still in the service he attended East Carolina State College in the summer of 1964. He was discharged on December 4, 1964, and returned to Austin, where he reentered the University of Texas in the spring of 1965 to study architectural engineering. In the summer of 1965 he attended Alvin Junior College and then continued at the University of Texas in the 1965–66 school year. He also worked part time and was a scoutmaster. In the spring of 1966 his mother left his father and moved to Austin to be near her eldest son. On March 29 Whitman sought medical and psychiatric advice at the university health center, but he failed to return as directed for further assistance. On July 22 he visited the University of Texas tower observation deck with his brother John. During the pre-dawn hours of August 1, 1966, Whitman killed his mother in her apartment and his wife at their residence. Later in the morning he bought a variety of ammunition and a shotgun; about 11:30 A.M. he went to the university tower, taking with him a footlocker, six guns, knives, food, and water. After clubbing the receptionist (who later died) on the twenty-eighth floor about 11:45 A.M., he killed two persons and wounded two others who were coming up the stairs from the twenty-seventh floor. On the observation deck of the tower, at an elevation of 231 feet, Whitman then opened fire on persons crossing the campus and on nearby streets, killing ten more people and wounding thirty-one more (one of whom died a week later). Police arrived and returned his fire, while other policemen worked their way into the tower. Several of the dead and wounded were moved to cover by students and other citizens while the firing continued. At 1:24 P.M. police and a deputized private citizen reached the observation deck, where police officers Ramiro Martinez and Houston McCoy shot and killed Whitman. Altogether, seventeen persons were killed, including Whitman, and thirty-one were wounded in one of the worst mass murders in modern United States history. An autopsy on Whitman's body revealed a brain tumor, but medical authorities disagreed over its effect on Whitman's actions. His body was returned to Lake Worth, Florida, for burial.

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Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial

1954

Bronze statue on the shore of Lady Bird Lake honoring Austin blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who redefined electric blues before dying in a helicopter crash in 1990 at age 35.

Texas State Capitol

1888

The Texas State Capitol in Austin, completed in 1888, stands taller than the U.S. Capitol by 14 feet. Built with sunset red granite from Marble Falls, partly by convict labor.

Historical Marker →

Armadillo World Headquarters

1970

Austin music venue (1970-1980) that launched the cosmic cowboy movement, merging hippie counterculture with country music and establishing Austin as a live music capital.

13th Floor Elevators

1965

One of the first psychedelic rock bands to reach national prominence during the 1960s, the 13th Floor Elevators included founding members Tommy Hall, electric jug player, 1965-69; Stacy Sutherland, lead guitarist, 1965-69; Benny Thurman, bassist, 1965-66; John Ike Walton, drummer, 1965-67; and Roger Kynard "Roky" Erickson, lead singer and rhythm guitarist, 1965-69. Other personnel were bassists Ronnie Leatherman (1966-67) and Dan Galindo (1967-69) and drummer Danny Thomas (1967-69). The Elevators originated in 1965 in Central Texas with Tommy Hall, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, who was studying philosophy, psychology, and chemical engineering. The band, which included members from the group, the Lingsmen, began with Stacy Sutherland on lead guitar, Benny Thurman on bass (who also had played violin in the Lingsmen), and John Ike Walton on drums. Although not originally a musician himself, Tommy Hall performed on an amplified jug. Seventeen-year-old Roger Kynard "Roky" Erickson, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for an Austin band named the Spades, joined the group on vocals. Hall's wife, Clementine, reportedly suggested the name 13th Floor Elevators. Since most buildings do not have a thirteenth floor, the appellation seemed to imply that the band had the ability to travel to other dimensions and levels of consciousness. Others have suggested that the name refers to the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, "m," which stood for marijuana. In November 1965 Hall declared that the band had a "psychedelic" sound after reading the word in a book written by Timothy Leary, noted advocate of hallucinogenic drugs. Hall believed the garage rock band's mixture of rock-and-roll , folk , R&B, and drug-induced lyrics, coupled with Erickson's screaming vocals, was best described as "psychedelic." The Elevators claim to have drawn much of their musical inspiration from marijuana and LSD, both of which they used openly. In late 1965 the Elevators began writing songs. They soon signed with Contact, a small record label, and performed their first live shows together in Austin. Hall's electric jug, along with Erickson's dynamic vocals and stage presence, quickly set the group apart from other local acts and earned the Elevators a devoted following. Erickson's previous band, the Spades, had recorded the song "You're Gonna Miss Me" with the Austin-based label, Zero Records. The Elevators re-recorded the song with a harder sound, patterned more after their idols, the Kinks and the Rolling Stones. In 1966 the Elevators released their single featuring "You're Gonna Miss Me" and "Tried to Hide" with Contact Records. Local media began to take notice of the band, and it began touring outside of the Austin area and appeared on regional television shows including Sump'n Else with host Ron Chapman in Dallas and The Larry Kane Show in Houston. Later that same year, the Elevators signed with a Houston-based label, International Artists , which subsequently hired Lelan Rogers , brother of pop/country singer Kenny Rogers, to promote and produce them. The label re-released the Elevators' first single nationally in mid-1966. This single proved to be the group's most successful recording, climbing to Number 56 on the Billboard charts. The label followed with the group's debut album, Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators , which has been praised by some critics as one of the greatest psychedelic albums ever released. As the band's popularity grew, it traveled to San Francisco to begin a West Coast tour. Thurman, the band's bassist, chose to remain in Texas, so he was replaced by Ronnie Leatherman. The band was especially well-received in the San Francisco Bay area, where it played the Avalon Ballroom and Fillmore Auditorium, as well as several smaller venues. The Elevators appeared with such popular bands as the Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, and Big Brother and the Holding Company. (Reportedly, the Elevators had asked Janis Joplin to join the

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Things to Do in Austin

food 0.7 mi away
Franklin Barbecue

Legendary Austin BBQ with 2-3 hour waits. Obama waited in line here.
historical 0.1 mi away
Antone's Nightclub

Clifford Antone was a kid from Port Arthur who loved the blues so much he opened a club on East Sixth Street in 1975 and spent the next thirty years flying…
quirky 0.4 mi away
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats

When Austin rebuilt the Congress Avenue Bridge in 1980 the new design accidentally created perfect crevices for Mexican free-tailed bats. By the mid-1990s one…
historical 0.5 mi away
Texas State Capitol

The Texas Capitol in Austin is taller than the US Capitol in Washington -- three hundred and eight feet to two hundred and eighty-eight -- because Texas wanted…
nature 1.7 mi away
Barton Springs

Barton Springs is the main outflow of the Edwards Aquifer right in the middle of Austin. Thirty-one million gallons of sixty-eight-degree water pour out of a…
historical 3.4 mi away
The Broken Spoke

James White built the Broken Spoke out of cinder blocks on South Lamar in 1964 and stubbornly refused to let Austin grow up around it. Willie Nelson Bob Wills…
quirky 21.4 mi away
Willie Nelson's Luck Ranch

Willie built his own ghost town on his Spicewood ranch for the 1986 movie Red Headed Stranger -- a whole frontier village with a saloon chapel livery and…
nature 23.5 mi away
Hamilton Pool Preserve

A natural swimming hole under a 50-foot waterfall in a collapsed grotto.

Sports in Austin

🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 6A · Football · 2019–2021

Westlake — UIL 6A Football State Champions — 3 titles

Most recent: 40-21 over Denton Guyer · 2021 6A Division 2 final

Westlake High School, a Class 6A football powerhouse from Austin, Texas, has established a formidable record in state championships. The Chaparrals have secured three UIL 6A state titles, showcasing consistent excellence on the field. This impressive run highlights the program's strong tradition and competitive spirit within Texas high school football.

The school has also been a launching pad for several athletes who have gone on to play at major colleges or professionally. Notable alumni include Ethan Burke, Sam Ehlinger, Cade Klubnik, Bray Lynch, Seth McKinney, and Tanner Price, reflecting the caliber of talent developed within the Westlake football program. The community takes pride in these achievements and the continued success of its student-athletes.

State titles
3 (2019–2021)
Most recent
2021, 40-21
Class
6A
Key Players
  • Ethan Burke — , college football player for the Texas Longhorns
  • Sam Ehlinger — , NFL quarterback for the Denver Broncos
  • Cade Klubnik — , college football player for Clemson
  • Bray Lynch — , college football offensive lineman for the Indiana Hoosiers
The moment

In 2021, Westlake claimed the 6A Division 2 state championship by defeating Denton Guyer 40-21.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 6A · Football · 2024

Vandegrift — 2024 UIL 6A Division 2 Football State Champions

Most recent: 24-17 over Southlake Carroll · 2024 6A Division 2 final

Vandegrift High School in Austin stands tall in Class 6A football, a testament to the hard work and dedication found in the heart of Texas. The Vipers have established themselves as a formidable presence on the gridiron, representing their community with pride and competitive spirit.

Their journey through the challenging landscape of Texas high school football has culminated in significant achievements, bringing state-level recognition back to Austin. The school's commitment to excellence in sports shines brightly, reflecting the vibrant athletic culture of the region.

State titles
2024
Most recent
2024, 24-17
Class
6A
The moment

The Vipers secured the 2024 6A Division 2 State Championship by defeating Southlake Carroll 24-17.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 6A · Football · 2016

Lake Travis — 2016 UIL 6A Division 1 Football State Champions

Most recent: 41-13 over Conroe The Woodlands · 2016 6A Division 1 final

Lake Travis High School, nestled in the Austin area, consistently fields a Class 6A football program recognized across the state. The Cavaliers have established a strong tradition of excellence on the gridiron, making their presence felt in UIL competition year after year. Their commitment to competitive football has solidified their reputation in Texas high school sports.

The school has also been a launching pad for several athletes who have gone on to achieve success at major collegiate and professional levels. Notable alumni include Michael Brewer, Garrett Gilbert, Baker Mayfield, and Todd Reesing, all of whom have continued their football careers beyond Lake Travis.

State titles
2016
Most recent
2016, 41-13
Class
6A
Key Players
  • Michael Brewer — , American football player
  • Garrett Gilbert — , American football player
  • Baker Mayfield — , American football player
  • Todd Reesing — , American football player
The moment

One memorable championship moment for Lake Travis occurred in 2016 when they secured the 6A Division 1 state title by defeating Conroe The Woodlands with a final score of 41-13.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
⭐ HOMETOWN LEGENDS Class 5A · Football

Anderson Trojans — Anderson — a college & pro athletic pipeline

8 alumni who reached major-college or pro sports

Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, has a proud tradition of developing athletes who have gone on to compete at major-college and professional levels. The school's alumni include several notable figures in various sports. Among them are former NFL football players Ben Fricke, Thomas Henderson, Night Train Lane, and Bobby Micho, each making their mark in professional football. This rich athletic history reflects the dedication and talent fostered within the Anderson High School community.

The legacy extends to other sports as well. Former Major League Baseball players Justin Ruggiano and Lee Tunnell represent Anderson in professional baseball. On the basketball court, alumni like Rasmus Bach and Kris Clack have continued their careers as basketball players. These individuals highlight the diverse athletic achievements of Anderson High School graduates, inspiring current and future Trojans to pursue their athletic dreams.

Pro/D1 alumni
8
Class
5A
Key Players
  • Rasmus Bach — (2013) – basketball player
  • Kris Clack — (1995) – basketball player
  • Ben Fricke — (1994) – NFL football player
  • Thomas Henderson — (transferred) – Former NFL football player
  • Night Train Lane — Former NFL football player
  • Bobby Micho — Former NFL football player
The moment

Justin Ruggiano is a former Major League Baseball player.

Sources: Wikipedia · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
⭐ HOMETOWN LEGENDS Class 6A · Baseball

Austin Mr. Maroos — Austin — a college & pro athletic pipeline

5 alumni who reached major-college or pro sports

Austin High School has a proud tradition of athletes who have gone on to compete at high levels. The school's athletic alumni include several individuals who have made their mark in major college and professional sports. These former Maroons have represented Austin across various sports, showcasing the talent fostered within the school's programs.

Among the notable athletes are Don Baylor, a former Major League Baseball player and manager, and Ray Culp, a Major League Baseball pitcher. The roster also features Zay Jones, an NFL wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Scott Ruffcorn, a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. Additionally, Austin High is proud to count Xavier Silas, a former professional basketball player, among its distinguished alumni.

Pro/D1 alumni
5
Class
6A
Founded
1881
Key Players
  • Don Baylor — former Major League Baseball player and manager
  • Ray Culp — Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Zay Jones — NFL wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Scott Ruffcorn — former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies
  • Xavier Silas — former professional basketball player
The moment

Zay Jones is an NFL wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Sources: Wikipedia · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)

Everything Near Austin

827 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

Explore Austin on the Map
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