Austin: The Heartbeat of Live Music in Texas

For an Austin music trip, plan around three dated events: SXSW on March 15-21, 2027, Old Settler’s Music Festival on April 16-18, 2027, and ACL Fest in early October. Fly into Austin-Bergstrom (AUS), then take CapMetro Route 20 or a rideshare downtown. This page covers the airport ride, festival logistics, the venues we cover, and where to read more.

Mar 15-21
SXSW 2027
Apr 16-18
Old Settler’s 2027
Early Oct
ACL Fest, Two Weekends
$1.25
CapMetro Local Fare

🎵 Music Events in Austin — November 2026

100 events this month
Nov36:30 PM
Knox
📍 Emo's AustinNovember 3, 2026
Tickets →
Nov37:30 PM
Doja Cat - Tour Ma Vie World Tour
📍 Moody Center ATXNovember 3, 2026
Tickets →
Nov38:00 PM
All Get Out
📍 3TEN ACL LiveNovember 3, 2026
Tickets →
Nov46:00 PM
Adelitas Way
📍 Come and Take It LiveNovember 4, 2026
Tickets →
Nov47:00 PM
Slow Pulp
📍 Emo's AustinNovember 4, 2026
Tickets →
Nov48:00 PM
An Evening with Shadowgrass
📍 Antone's NightclubNovember 4, 2026
Tickets →
Nov48:00 PM
Stephen Day
📍 3TEN ACL LiveNovember 4, 2026
Tickets →
Nov56:59 PM
Premium Seating - Knocked Loose
📍 Moody AmphitheaterNovember 5, 2026
Tickets →
Nov57:00 PM
Knocked Loose & Denzel Curry
📍 Moody AmphitheaterNovember 5, 2026
Tickets →
Nov57:00 PM
Bonobo: Distance in Static Live North American Tour
📍 Emo's AustinNovember 5, 2026
Tickets →
Austin Quick Facts
Airport Austin-Bergstrom (AUS)
Airport to downtown by bus CapMetro Route 20, about 35 min
Airport to downtown by rideshare Typically 20-30 min, fares commonly $20-$30
Music districts Red River, 6th Street, South Congress
Festivals SXSW, Old Settler’s, ACL Fest, Levitation
Music heritage Country, Blues, Rock, Americana
Best For
Festival travelers building a trip around SXSW, Old Settler’s, or ACL Fest
Roots and blues fans looking at the Continental Club, Antone’s, and the Broken Spoke
Arena show travelers heading to Moody Center on the UT campus

Getting To and Around Austin

From Austin-Bergstrom (AUS), take CapMetro Route 20 or a rideshare. Route 20 runs from the airport to downtown about every 15 minutes, seven days a week, and takes about 35 minutes. The local fare was $1.25 at last check. Rideshare typically takes 20 to 30 minutes, with fares commonly reported at $20 to $30 and sometimes higher.

Fares, routes, and schedules change, so confirm on the CapMetro site or app before you travel.

Getting to ACL Fest at Zilker Park

You cannot park at Zilker Park for ACL Fest. The City of Austin says there is no parking at the park or in the surrounding neighborhoods, and parking on the grass or on unauthorized ground brings a large fine.

  • Festival shuttle: ACL Fest runs a shuttle from a downtown pickup point to the Barton Springs entrance. The pickup location has changed between years, so check the ACL Fest website for the current one.
  • CapMetro MetroRapid 803: The city has called it the best bus route to ACL Fest. It stops near South Lamar and Barton Springs Road.
  • Bike: The City of Austin publishes an ACL mobility guide with routes around the park.

Austin Music Festivals and Dates

South by Southwest (SXSW)

SXSW has announced March 15-21, 2027 for its Austin event. Check sxsw.com for badge types, showcase listings, and venue details as they are released.

Old Settler’s Music Festival

Old Settler’s is listed for April 16-18, 2027 at Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, which is outside Austin. It focuses on Americana, roots, and bluegrass. Confirm dates, tickets, and camping details on oldsettlersmusicfest.org.

Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest)

ACL Fest runs two weekends at Zilker Park. The 2026 edition ran October 2-4 and October 9-11, and the festival has been held on the first two weekends of October. We have not seen 2027 dates announced, so confirm on the ACL Fest website before booking.

Levitation

The 2026 Levitation ran September 10-13. Dates have moved between years, so check levitation.fm for 2027 before you book.

Austin Music Venues

These are the venues on our venue guide hub, plus the Austin clubs we reference most. Confirm hours, covers, and show calendars with each venue.

UT Campus
Austin’s arena venue. Read our directions to Moody Center before show night.
Best for: Arena tours
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
Red River Cultural District
An outdoor amphitheater and a barbecue restaurant on Red River Street.
Best for: Outdoor shows, rock, Americana
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Downtown Austin
The home of the Austin City Limits television tapings.
Best for: Mid-size shows, all genres
Continental Club
South Congress Avenue  |  Open since 1955
A small club known for rockabilly, blues, and honky-tonk.
Best for: Blues, rockabilly, classic Austin
Antone’s Nightclub
Downtown Austin  |  Opened 1975
A blues club founded by Clifford Antone.
Best for: Blues, Texas roots music
The Broken Spoke
South Austin  |  Open since 1964
A Texas dance hall for country music and two-stepping.
Best for: Country, honky-tonk

Austin Visitor Guides: Moody Center

Our Moody Center guides cover how to get there, where to eat, where to drink, and where to stay. For general planning, see our live music travel tips and the top music events calendar.

How Austin Compares With Other Music Cities

Compare Austin with Nashville or New Orleans, or browse all of our music city guides.

Austin Music Travel FAQs

How do I get from Austin airport to downtown?

CapMetro Route 20 runs from Austin-Bergstrom to downtown about every 15 minutes, seven days a week, and takes about 35 minutes. The local fare was $1.25 at last check. Rideshare typically takes 20 to 30 minutes, with fares commonly reported around $20 to $30. Confirm current fares on the CapMetro site or app.

Can I park at Zilker Park for ACL Fest?

No. The City of Austin says there is no parking at Zilker Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods during ACL Fest, and parking on the grass or unauthorized ground brings a large fine. Use the festival shuttle, CapMetro MetroRapid 803, a bike, or rideshare, and check the ACL Fest website for current shuttle details.

When is SXSW in 2027?

SXSW has announced March 15-21, 2027 for its Austin event. Check sxsw.com for badge types, showcase listings, and venue details as they are released.

When is ACL Fest in 2027?

We have not seen 2027 dates announced. ACL Fest runs two weekends at Zilker Park, and it has been held on the first two weekends of October. The 2026 edition ran October 2-4 and October 9-11. Confirm dates on the ACL Fest website before you book travel.

When and where is Old Settler’s Music Festival in 2027?

Old Settler’s is listed for April 16-18, 2027 at Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, outside Austin. It focuses on Americana, roots, and bluegrass. Confirm dates, tickets, and camping details on the official festival website before you book travel.