[FM] Visiting Austin

[Michael Scully]

>I'm visitin Austin in late March.  What are the venues I should seek out
>for good acoustic (and even country) music?


	So many venues, so little time . . .

	The best acoustic listening room by far (Austin or anywhere I've
been) is the Cactus Cafe, located in the student union building on the UT
campus. Smoke free, but with a full bar, and shows that start at the
civilized hour of 9 pm, or earlier. I saw Katy Moffat there the other night
for 8 bucks plus my whiskey, and the place was wonderful, as usual.
	For country, both local and touring, check out the  Continental
Club, a sweaty, box of a place with no seats, great acts and great sound,
as well as Stubbs Bar-B-Q. The Saxon Pub and the Broken Spoke ("We ain't
fancy but we're darn shure country!") are local roadhouses (bars, plain and
simple) with usually great acts.
	Local legends: Toni Price's Tuesday happy hour shows at the
Continental Club (stand and be crowded, but great music); Don
Walser--usually Tuesday nights at Jovita's, where you can get food; Alvin
Crow playing Western Swing (often on Thursday nights at Jovita's). A new
treat: Caroline Herring singing gorgeous Southern-mountain style originals
at Stubbs Thursday night happy hours, starting (I think) around 6:30. Good
food, too.
	There's always Antone's. A great room and world famous, though they
don't have as many classic acts as I understand they once did (maybe fewer
of those classic acts are around).
	Pick up an Austin Chronicle when you hit town--free at music
stores, some restaurants, wherever free alternative publications are piled
up for the taking. Have fun.
	Michael
______________________
Michael Scully
Dept. of American Studies
University of Texas at Austin
512-306-8846 (home phone)