Austin music venues for all ages
 

We are traveling to Austin this week and along with our 21 year old son, we are bringing our music savvy 16 year old. He wants to listen to some good music but I'm afraid he won't be allowed in many of the clubs on 6th street. Any ideas on where we can go that will allow us all to enjoy good music together? I appreciate any ideas! Thank you!

Are you flying or driving? If you are driving in, there's a great place outside of Austin that's a blast - the Gruene Dance Hall

Here's the calendar for April -
http://www.gruenehall.com/april2011.html
Kid policy - http://www.gruenehall.com/info.html

I'm sure a local will have some ideas in Austin. A wild idea is the live music that plays in the airport. That's why Austin is my favorite airport to wait in :-)
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/music.htm

I would also ask your question on this forum:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austin/

Lots of people on that forum have kids that age and would probably know.

Thank you! I'll give it a try! How far from Austin is Gruene Hall?

About an hour, but Gruene and New Braunfels are both neat places to visit. You could make an afternoon/evening of it.

Hopefully someone will know of another option IN Austin but if you see someone you are interested in hearing, it's an experience to go to the Gruene Dance Hall. It's been there over 100 years and it's a Texas institution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruene_Hall

I love it. I used to drive down from Dallas on the weekends to go there. ;)

http://www.nbcham.org/cwt/external/w...formation.aspx

You are going to be there JUST too early for the Schlitterbahn -
http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/

But check out the options at the caverns -
http://www.naturalbridgecaverns.com/

You may enjoy the tour, or the adventure tour with rappelling or ziplining or....

I know lots of people recommend Gruene Hall, but if you are in Austin for a short while, I don't think it's worth the drive to go there when there is so much great music in Austin.

If your son is with you, I think most venues will allow him in. Highly rec. Threadgills (South) and see James McMurtry on Friday the 22nd, Warren Hood on the 23rd. This is an outdoor venue just outside of their restaurant. I'm quite sure they will let you bring the family there. I am going to try to see one of these shows myself.

La Zona Rosa has Fitz and the Tantrums on Tuesday and The Kills on Wednesday. (Bet your son has heard of both of these groups.)

Other staples are Continental Club, Antones, MoMos, and jazz at The Elephant Room.

I would avoid 6th Street. IMHO it's gone downhill in the past several years. Lots of drunk college kids.

Thank you all for your suggestions - I will definitely check out the venues mentioned and will report back to you all. I really appreciate all the good advice. I can't wait to get there already!

I am going to be in Austin on Thursday (just the one night)and have been researching what will be going on...there is a free concert at Shady Grove/Zilker Park on Thursday night. It's early (6pm) which would leave you time for more exploring into the evening.

Then (for me) it's onto Gruene Hall for Friday night! I've wanted to see a show there for years and now is the time. Hope you have a great trip!

I would get to Shady Grover early for the Carolyn Wonderland show. She's great and very popular!

Who's at Gruene?

Micky and the Motorcars...I am excited about seeing them there. I wish I could stay and see the Saturday night show too...Cody Canada and the Departed.

If I lived in Austin, I would be broke from all the concerts I would have to pick from! :)

Definitely get to Shady Grove early, and preferably get there without a car. The Grove is on Barton Springs Road just before you get to Zilker Park.

Don't know if you are at all interested, but the spa at Barton Creek is very nice. Just in case you have some extra time and want to relax before the concert.

The Oasis has great music on weekends,and it's the Sunset Capital in Austin.

I am happy to say I DID indeed make it to Shady Grove for the Carolyn Wonderland show. We got there pretty early, but I was with a friend I haven't seen for several years so while we were waiting in our seats, we were able to get all caught up. I also enjoyed a frozen margarita and a frozen jack and coke...quite yummy! (I wasn't driving). It was pretty warm, but once the sun went down it was a beautiful evening with a nice breeze and a great show, a quintessential Austin evening of outdoor music, complete with multiple Austin "characters" in attendance.

Cool. Curious to hear about tennisisfun's week!

How was the trip?