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Austin’s official title of "Live Music Capitol of the World" is not self-appointed—it's earned. Long known as a playground for late night revelers, the city brought Texas country music to the forefront years before the emergence of mega-venues and craft cocktail lounges. Dance Halls and Honky Tonks once ruled the roost, and down and out drifters played for their wages. The music scene now pulls a sophisticated and cosmopolitan crowd while sticking true to its roots. Music lovers will find a variety of options every night of the week that span genres, all with a unique and soulful edge. It’s not surprising that the city plays host to several of the most significant music festivals in the country, like SXSW and the ACL Fest. New bars open almost daily in Texas’s ever-evolving and always-hospitable capitol city.
Cowboys, hipsters, and dancing queens mix and mingle with surprising ease at this honky-tonk for the modern age. The on-site food truck, Bomb Tacos, is open every day, live music is onstage every night, and newcomers can take free two-step classes before the main dance floor fills up.
If the sun has set, midnight is approaching, and you're ready to not only hear but feel some beats, then hit up these side-by-side sister bars for killer DJ sets and dance parties in the heart of East Sixth Street. Expect a throwdown of sound during SXSW.
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