Few People Know The Real Reason Behind Austin Becoming The Live Music Capital Of The World
By Katie Lawrence|Published February 24, 2024
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Most of us are aware that Austin is the “Live Music Capital of the World,” but the story of how the city received such a title is lesser known. The origins of the moniker involve environmental concerns, a group of Country-Western singers, and a now-demolished music hall. Intrigued yet?
Our capital city has changed quite a bit over the years. From a quiet town along the Colorado River to the bustling cultural, educational, political, and technological hub it is today, its evolution tells a remarkable story.
Austin saw tremendous growth (in both population and urban development) in the 1970s and 1980s, which really sparked the beginning of the counterculture movement the city is so known for today.
Preservationists went head-to-head against developers in an effort to protect Barton Springs and the precious Edwards Aquifer. By the early 1980s, there were over 150 environmentalist groups in the city whose members worked tirelessly to protect the place they called home.
These social tensions occurred at the very same time a group of Country-Western musicians flocked to Austin to escape the corporate domination of the music industry in Nashville. Among these artists was Willie Nelson, who is seen more or less as the "poster child" of the city's alternative music scene.
Many Austinites felt a cultural void during this time as they watched the lush, beautiful city they grew up losing its identity to corporations, and it is my opinion that music filled that space, and that is why it was able to flourish so much there.
In 1975, the TV show Austin City Limits premiered on PBS and starred Nelson. The show inspired the iconic music festival of the same name, which is held annually at Zilker Park and attracts roughly 500,000 people.
Also in the 1970s, the Armadillo World Headquarters was a place where struggling musicians could perform in front of live audiences to try to jumpstart their careers. All of this emphasis on music eventually earned Austin the nickname of "The Live Music Capital of the World."
Today, although the Armadillo World Headquarters is no longer standing, there is a plaque in its place that details the incredible history of the building and the influence it had on the city as a whole.
Did you know why Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Check out our previous article below for a cool place to stay if you come to town for a music festival (or anytime, really!). You can book this highly-rated property on Hostel World.
