Comedy

Political satire is especially strong at Esther’s Follies, a campy comedy venue located on East Sixth Street that has become part of the fabric of Austin. Just next door is the Velveeta Room, where local and visiting comic talents take the stage and try the outrageous. If you’re looking for big-name comics, look no further than the Capitol City Comedy Club; nationally known comics like Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Foxworthy and Bobcat Goldthwait have all taken this stage in support of their art.

Dance

One of only three professional ballet companies in Texas, Ballet Austin showcases dancers from around the world. The company presents five seasonal ballets, including the popular Nutcracker every December. Ballet East is a community of dancers from many ethnic backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on Austin’s Latino dancers.

Ballet Austin

(512) 476-9051

3002 Guadalupe Street

Ballet East Dance Theatre

(512) 385-2838

3111 Garwood Street

Music

Whether you are a music fan searching for that up-and-coming band, or a musician looking for the perfect sound, you can carve out your niche here. The music scene has something for everybody, blues, jazz, fusion, pop/rock, noisepop, twee-pop, reggae, trip-hop, hip-hop, hard rock, country, Latino, classical, folk, experimental, garage and psychedelic. With 100 or more venues to choose from it may seem like a daunting task; for help, pick up The Chronicle, Austin’s free weekly entertainment guide, and you will find information on all of the music venues and what acts will be gracing each stage.

Austin’s commercially successful musical artists include Willie Nelson, the late Janis Joplin, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Butthole Surfers, Lyle Lovett, David Garza, Kelly Willis, Shawn Colvin, Patti Griffin, Abra Moore and Fastball. Many top independent acts live and create here, as well, including Spoon, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Seven Percent Solution, Damnations TX, Ian Moore, Alejandro Escovedo, Golden Arm Trio, Brown Whornet, Orange Mothers, Experimental Aircraft, Rhythm of Black Lines, Toni Price and The Swells. In the 60s, Austin was home to the psychedelic Vulcan Gas Company and Armadillo World Headquarters, where hippies and rednecks found themselves brought together by a common sound: progressive country.

Visit Stubb’s, Red Eyed Fly, Antone’s or Emo’s to catch top local acts and independent touring musicians. For larger touring shows, check out La Zona Rosa, Austin Music Hall or the Stubb’s amphitheater. Stop by Hole in the Wall for live music seven nights a week, or the Flamingo Cantina to sample a variety of bands. Live music in Austin is not limited to the club scene though; frequently musicians are found performing in record stores, coffee shops and art galleries.

Performing Arts

Austin offers big Broadway shows like Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Tuna Christmas in legendary theaters like the Paramount Theatre or UT’s Bass Concert Hall. For an interesting change of pace try the experimental, Off Broadway-type shows presented by one of the 70 theater companies thriving in Austin. Frontera at Hyde Park Theatre is a good choice.

For original cutting-edge performances visit the Vortex Theatre in East Austin. Once an abandoned warehouse, this building has been converted into an intimate, comfortable, 80-seat venue that showcases contemporary theater, nationally known performance artists, multi-media performances, musical theater and ritual theater.

Austin Lyrica Opera

(512) 472-5992

1111 West Sixth Street

Opera performances include contemporary work and classic gems such as Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and Puccini’s ’La Boheme.’

Austin Symphony

(512) 476-6064

1101 Red River Street

Dougherty Arts Center

(512) 397-1468

1110 Barton Springs Road

Paramount Theater

(512) 472-5411

713 Congress Avenue

This 78-year old theatre each year has more than 160,000 spectators attend the Paramount’s performances. These performances include Broadway shows, music, dance comedy and film.