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 22 | Jamestown Revival with Sir Woman |
| June 12 | Max Frost with Sun June |
| July 17 | Ben Kweller with Como Las Movies |
| August 7 | TBD |
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 2 | Strings |
| June 9 | Woodwinds |
| June 16 | Brass |
| June 23 | Big Bands | June 30 | Strings |
| July 14 | Woodwinds |
| July 21 | Brass |
| July 28 | Big Bands | August 4 | Strings |
| August 11 | Woodwinds |
| August 18 | Brass |
| August 25 | 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 23 | Guy Forsyth and Blues Band |
| March 30 | Nakia and the Blues Grifters |
| April 6 | Fastball |
| April 13 | Carson McHone Band | April 20 | South Austin Moonlighters |
| May 4 | Two Tons of Steel |
| May 11 | Chubby Knuckle Choir |
| May 18 | Mayeux & Broussard | May 25 | Dale Watson |
| June 1 | Dawn & Hawkes |
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 | Soul Sessions | |
| June 2 | Linda Gail Lewis | |
| June 5 | Casper Rawls Band | |
| June 6 | Friday Afternoon Club | June 8 | Bob Livingston Trio |
| June 9 | Bret Graham | |
| June 9 | Bill Hearne Trio | |
| June 12 | The Georges | June 14 | Friday Afternoon Club |
| June 16 | Danny Brooks | |
| June 16 | Guy Forsyth Band | |
| June 19 | Bill Kirchen | |
| June 20 | Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros | |
| June 21 | Friday Afternoon Club | |
| June 22 | Lucas Ebert Band | |
| June 23 | Murali Coryell and Ernie Durawa | |
| June 23 | Warren Hood Band | |
| June 26 | The Georges | |
| June 26 | Troy Stone & The Spent Shells | |
| June 28 | Friday Afternoon Club | |
| June 29 | Flat Top Jones | |
| June 30 | Slim Bawb | |
| June 30 | Brian Pounds Band | |
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!
| May 3 | Howlin Waters |
| May 4 | Jumpstart |
| May 9 | TBD |
| May 10 | Drew Womack & Tommy Shane Steiner | May 11 | Electric Circus |
| May 17 | Pictures |
| May 18 | Sophisticates |
| May 24 | Drew Womack & Tommy Shane Steiner | May 25 | Groove Knight |
| May 31 | Drew Womack & Tommy Shane Steiner |
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 18 | Time Warps |
| May 19 | The Brew |
| May 24 | The Brass Tax |
| May 24 | Dawn Maracle | May 25 | Austin Party Band |
| May 25 | Natural Causes |
| May 31 | Suede |
| May 31 | Castaneda Project | June 1 | Rocket Brothers |
| June 1 | Caboose | June 1 | Rocket Brothers |
| June 2 | The Brew |
| June 7 | Natural Causes |
| June 7 | Memphis Train Revue |
| June 13 | Dawn Maracle |
| June 14 | Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes |
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.
| May 24 | The Greatest Showman | |
| May 31 | Bidi Bidi Banda | |
| June 14 | Justin Langston | |
| June 21 | Kev Bev | August 30 | Chandler and the Bings |
| September 6 | Caboose | |
| September 13 | Steel Betty |
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 14 | Georgetown Pipes & Drums |
| June 21 | Wilson String Band |
| June 28 | Lexxi Garza |
| July 12 | Mike Hamilton | July 19 | Megatunes |
| July 26 | Roland Waits & The Wayward Travelers |
| August 9 | Showmen Bluegrass |
| August 16 | Mike Elliot | August 23 | The Porch Turtles |
| August 30 | Dueling Pianos |
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 2019 dates CANCELLED | Unfortunately due to heavy construction, the Bullock Museum has cancelled their summer concerts. |
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!
| June 19 | The Goonies |
| July 10 | Guardians of the Galaxy |
| July 31 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban |
| August 14 | 10 Things I Hate About You |
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.
| Wine Down 2019 dates unconfirmed | TBD |
Unplugged at the Grove
Join 93.3 KGSR and Shady Grove by celebrating 26 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! More dates and artists are to be announced!
| May 16 | Charlie Mars |
| May 23 | Shaine Smith & the Saints |
| May 30 | Jackie Venson |
| July 11 | Pat Byrne | July 25 | Garrett Lebeau |
Free Summer Concerts in Austin
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