Hipster dives, Pabst Blue Ribbon and noise-punk not your cup of tea? Not to worry — as one of the fastest growing cities in America, Austin is seeing an uptick in ultra modern venues with high-end amenities and nationally recognized events.
Austin360 Amphitheater
About 10 miles southwest of the East End is Circuit of the Americas, a $350-million racetrack complex that immediately put Austin on the map as a motorsports destination when it opened November of last year. Besides hosting a 3.47-mile track for Formula One racing, the facility is also home to Austin360 Amphitheater, a 14,000-capacity shed co-promoted and booked by Live Nation and C3 Presents.
“We’re the only amphitheater in Austin and that’s given us the opportunity to attract a number of acts that haven’t played here before,” said Ben Cahalane, chief of sales for Circuit of the Americas. “Especially country — since our first concert with Kenny Chesney on April 5, we’ve also booked Zac Brown Band, The Lumineers and The Avett Brothers.”
ACL Live at The Moody Theater
With its gorgeous premium seating balcony, next generation lighting and optics system and state-of-the-art Meyer Sound M series Compact Curvilinear Array, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater is the Rolls Royce of venues in Austin. Housed inside the ultraluxe W Hotel and anchoring a new high-end retail and restaurant district, ACL Live at Moody Theater is an amenity-packed 2,750-capacity venue that doubles as a television studio for PBS series Austin City Limits.
“Stateside Live from Austin is a new project for us this year,” said Sharilyn Mayhugh, the building’s director of Marketing.
South Congress
Just across the Congress Street bridge sits South Congress Avenue, a new up-and-coming retail district home to trendy shops, food truck villages and a dozen live music venues specializing in everything from outlaw country to Mayan traditional folklorico.
There’s Mexican-inspired Jovita’s which books Latin acts, and for those looking for a bit of history, the city’s Continental Club has been bringing rock acts to Austin since 1957.
Interviewed for this story: Ben Cahalane, (512) 301-6600; Sharilyn Mayhugh, (512) 404-1304