They don’t call Austin “The Live Music Capital of the World” for nothing. As the temperatures get hotter and the days get longer, Austinites flock to favorite live music destinations to enjoy some summer jams. The best part, Austin loves music so much, there’s no shortage of free shows to take in. If you’re looking for an Austin free, live music schedule, scroll through our favorite free summer concerts below.
Free Concerts in Austin this Summer:
- Blues on the Green
- Concerts in the Park
- Concert series at the Galleria
- Free music at Gruene Hall
- Live Entertainment at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse
- Live Music at the Oasis
- Music in the Park
- Music on the Square
- Music Under the Star
- Sound and Cinema
- The Wine Down
- Unplugged at the Grove
Blues on the Green
Austinites are always longing for live music, and during these long summer nights, there are plenty of chances to get your fill! Blues on the Green is the longest series of free summertime concerts hosted by KGSR Radio Austin! KGSR invites music lovers to Zilker Park every Wednesday of every month in the summer to enjoy a family (and pet-friendly!) night of music in a comfortable atmosphere. These free concerts feature performances by popular local bands with a variety of different genres. The audience is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets, pack a picnic and bring the whole family out for a unique musical experience!
| May 23 | The Black Angels with Night Glitter |
| June 13 | Bob Schneider with Superfonicos |
| July 18 | Wild Child with Los Coast |
| August 8 | The Oh Hellos with Bidi Bidi Banda |
Concerts in the Park
If rock and blues aren’t your taste, then you may like The Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park with performances presented by the Austin Symphony Orchestra! A variety of music will be performed, from jazz and light classical to pops selections and film scores and you can enjoy the music with beautiful views of Lady Bird Lake and the downtown skyline. It’s the perfect opportunity to listen to some refined Austin live music on a summer evening with a picnic dinner and group of friends!
| June 3 | Strings |
| June 10 | Woodwinds |
| June 17 | Brass |
| June 24 | Big Bands | July 1 | Strings |
| July 15 | Woodwinds |
| July 22 | Brass |
| July 29 | Big Bands | August 5 | Strings |
| August 12 | Woodwinds |
| August 19 | Brass |
| August 26 | Big Bands |
Concert series at the Galleria
Bring your family and friends to The Galleria’s Saturday night concert series and enjoy vendors, restaurants where you can order food to go and bring to your spot on the grassy lawn and lots of free kids activities like face painting or balloon twisters! Make sure you come early to give yourself enough time to shop and order food. Check the Hill Country Galleria website periodically for updates on their Saturday Night Concert Series.
| March 24 | Chubby Knuckle Choir |
| March 31 | Beat Root Revivial |
| April 7 | Texas Tycoons |
| April 14 | South Austin Moonlighters | April 21 | Jeff Plankenhorn |
| April 28 | Suede |
| May 5 | Jomo & The Possum Pose |
| May 12 | The Watters | May 19 | Johnny Nicholas |
| May 26 | The Chevelles |
| June 2 | The Peterson Brothers |
Free music at Gruene Hall
Gruene Hall is Texas’ oldest continually operating, and most famous dance hall and a Texas legend that’s name dropped in many a lone star ballad and is a happening honky tonk nearly every night of the week. During the summer, Gruene Hall hosts free music concerts that range all over the musical spectrum, from country to R&B to Cajun and folk! You can find more free concert dates on Gruene Hall’s website!
| June 1 | Friday Afternoon Club | |
| June 2 | Whitney Johnson | |
| June 3 | The Peterson Brothers | |
| June 3 | Bob Livingston | June 9 | Beat Root Revival |
| June 10 | Bret Graham | |
| June 10 | The Railhouse Band | |
| June 16 | Gus Samualson & Swampadelic | June 17 | Jonathan Byrd and The Pickup Cowboys |
| June 17 | Kelley Mickwee Band | |
| June 24 | Slim Bawb | |
| June 30 | Flat Top Jones |
Live Entertainment at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse
Steiner Ranch Steakhouse’s massive patio with sweeping views of Lake Travis is a picturesque setting for a live music performance. It makes sense that they break out the guitars and amplifiers on the weekends for live music by local musicians. It is hard to beat the beautiful setting, the amazing live music or the delicious steaks!
| June 1 | Pictures |
| June 2 | Sophisticates |
| June 8 | Matt Wilson Band |
| June 9 | Jumpstart | June 15 | Texas Unlimited Band |
| June 16 | Newsboyz |
| June 22 | London Calling |
| June 23 | Groove Knight | June 29 | Uptown Drive |
| June 30 | Third Language |
Live Music at the Oasis
The Oasis has two live music venues on site, the Starlight Terrace, and Beau’s Backyard. Every weekend, The Oasis hosts local Austin bands of all types of genres to give you a fun and exciting night to remember. Grab some food, have a tasty drink and listen to live music at The Sunset Capital of Texas. Not to mention, every Sundays they also have free salsa lessons! You can find more free concert dates on The Oasis’s Facebook page!
| May 19 | Funky Brass Factory |
| May 26 | Funkomatic |
| June 2 | Hot Sauce ATX |
| June 9 | Austin Party Band | June 16 | Departure ATX |
| June 23 | Cap City Band |
| June 30 | Natural Causes |
| July 7 | Lucas Johnson | July 14 | Blazin Kane |
| July 21 | High Road |
Music in the Park
The annual Music In The Park outdoor concert series showcases a variety of live bands and one movie night on selected Friday nights from June to September. Make sure to bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets, friends and neighbors for a free evening of music, entertainment and relaxation. Your dogs are allowed to come as well, and there is no admission charge! Drinks are allowed in the park, not no in any glass bottles or cups.
| June 1 | Belle and the Beasts |
| June 8 | The Derailers |
| June 15 | Salero! |
| June 22 | Rochelle & The Sidewinders | September 14 | Candace Bellamy |
| September 21 | Kristen Gibbs |
Music on the Square
If it is not too far from you, venture to the Courthouse Square in Georgetown to listen to some live music. So grab your friends, take some food to go from one of the local spots or pick up dinner and bring it with you for a lovely picnic and settle in for an experience that is bound to be music to your ears. All concerts are from 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm on Friday nights.
| June 8 | Jeremy McBee |
| June 15 | Georgetown Fire Pipes & Drums |
| June 22 | Bluegrass Showmen |
| June 29 | Xander Ortiz | July 13 | Lexxi Garza |
| July 20 | Wilson String |
| July 27 | The Staylyns |
| August 10 | Roland Waits & The Wayward Travelers | August 17 | Mr. Thrill |
| August 24 | Steel Country Outlaws |
| August 31 | Them Duquaines |
Music Under the Star
Music Under the Star is a free concert series held each July in the Bullock Museum’s Lone Star Plaza. For three Friday nights in July, the Bullock Texas State History Museum curates a music series lineup featuring popular Texas artists and invites you to experience the free concerts under the iconic Bullock Museum Star. Bring the whole family, camp chairs, and blankets to enjoy an incredible lineup of Texas artists! Keep track of the confirmed concert dates on their website!
| July 2018 dates unconfirmed | TBD |
Sound and Cinema
Do512 and Alamo Drafthouse present Sound & Cinema, six summer nights of live bands paired with classic Hollywood movies. The event is family-friendly, visitors can feast on food truck favorites, as well as cocktails, craft beers and non-alcoholic beverages that are for sale on site. Sound & Cinema brings together all of Austin’s best qualities: music, food, film and the great outdoors!
| July 11 | Wayne’s World with Billy King & The Bad Bad Bad |
| July 25 | Grease with Huggy & The Feel Goodz |
| August 1 | Mean Girls with Go Fever |
| August 15 | O Brother, Where Art Thou? with Rattlesnake Milk |
The Wine Down
The Wine Down, back for its sixth year, is a music series that is anchored towards driving people downtown to the 2nd Street District to experience lively nights of shopping, eating, and strolling the 2nd Street corridor. Each month, a different restaurant provides food samples and happy hour specials, while KUTX D.J.s entertain the crowd with great music. Proceeds from the Wine Down will be benefiting the Austin Music Foundation.
| April 25 | Kalu and the Electric Joint |
| May 30 | The Sour Notes |
| June 27 | Mélat |
| July 25 | Grace Pettis Band | August 29 | Love & Chaos |
| September 26 | Blackillac |
Unplugged at the Grove
Join 93.3 KGSR and Shady Grove by celebrating 25 years of KGSR’s Unplugged at the Grove with free live music every Thursday evening in June at the iconic Shady Grove on Barton Springs Road! Unplugged at the Grove will be 23 weeks of the best live music, food, and fun you’ll experience under the clear, warm skies of Austin, Texas. There will be absolutely no cover charge, that’s why Unplugged at the Grove is the longest free running concert series!
| May 10 | Marcia Ball | |
| May 17 | Ian Moore | |
| May 24 | Dale Watson | |
| May 31 | Los Coast | June 7 | Gary P. Nunn |
| June 14 | The Rocketboys | |
| June 21 | Dirty River Boys | |
| June 28 | Ray Wylie Hubbard | July 5 | Jackie Venson |
| July 12 | Peterson Brothers | |
| July 19 | Asleep at the Wheel | |
| July 26 | Roger Creager | |
| August 2 | Alejandro Escovedo | |
| August 9 | TBD | |
| August 16 | Eric Tessmer | |
| August 23 | Bob Schneider | August 30 | TBD |
| Sept 6 | TBD | |
| Sept 13 | TBD |
Free Summer Concerts in Austin
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