Texas Music Venues

This is a somewhat unassuming little place in downtown Dallas that nonetheless has hosted such legends as Nirvana and Snoop Dogg, as well as contemporary stars like Nick Jonas and smaller indie names, too. The 1991 Nirvana gig is famous for having been so unexpectedly popular, Kurt Cobain ran offstage to hide in a broom closet.

Also in Dallas, this establishment holds thousands of attendees and is perfect for experiencing the buzz of a larger venue when seeing your favorite artists perform. The surrounding artsy Deep Ellum neighborhood is also well worth exploring.

In Houston, check out this two-story venue from the 1970s, a haven for indie lovers in this exciting Texas city. It was originally a Polish dance hall, a rather eclectic kind of place to find in Houston, and it has retained its alternative personality.

Fans of classic rock, jazz, blues, and country music will feel right at home in this Austin hub of musical tradition. Along with its sultry red-walled bar, this club is the perfect place to see how Texans have proper fun.

Over in Fort Worth, this 2,000-seat opera house is one of the state's older ones, although it was only built in 1998. You can also catch ballet and symphony performances here, as well as modern rock and musicals.

Just north of Houston is the gorgeous city of The Woodlands. As the name suggests, this location's outdoor spaces are amazing, and this outdoor amphitheater is no exception. The Pavilion’s performances lean toward the classical, and its lush green surroundings are the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon or warm Texas evening enjoying music.

Back in Dallas (you may notice the trend toward excellent music in this great cultural city), this is another outdoor arena which has been around for decades. Whether they're internationally famous or home-grown, the roster of artists here is superb. The Fair Park neighborhood where you'll found this venue is also designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Resembling a modern castle inside, this 1940s construction has two stages and mainly puts on plays, but you can often catch intimate music performances here, too.

It doesn’t get much better than this enormous arena in Victory Park, Dallas, where up to 20,000 attendees can gather for hockey and basketball games, along with the biggest names in pop music, who regularly perform here.

You may remember this by its former name, Reliant Stadium, but either way, this 72,000-person capacity arena in Houston dwarfs many others in the state. The stadium only hosts the biggest and best artists from the rock and pop worlds. With its college football and rodeo traditions, it’s also one of the best arenas for seeing how Texas does big, traditional entertainment well.

In Dallas again, with a capacity of over 90,000, the Cotton Bowl has seen historic concerts from the likes of Elvis Presley and Aerosmith. Check to see if one of your favorite bands is touring here in the near future, because its huge capacity is a sight to behold.

While not exactly huge compared to the state’s massive stadiums, this 1,000-person capacity venue in Helotes, close to San Antonio, is definitely one of the biggest venues for seeing what Texas does best: country music. It’s also famous for its superb tamales!