Antone’s Nightclub is the home of Austin blues — the venue founded by Clifford Antone in 1975 that shaped the city’s musical identity more profoundly than any other single place. Stevie Ray Vaughan built his sound on Antone’s stage. Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and every major figure in blues has played here. The venue has moved over the decades but the mission has never changed: present world-class blues in Austin, develop local talent, and treat the music as the serious art form it is.
This guide covers Antone’s history, what makes it essential, the current venue, tickets, and where to stay nearby.
The Story of Antone’s
Clifford Antone opened Antone’s Nightclub on July 15, 1975 at Sixth and Brazos in downtown Austin. Antone was a blues obsessive — a Texas native who had grown up listening to Chicago and Delta blues and wanted to bring those artists to Austin at a time when virtually no venue in Texas was booking them. He did exactly that, turning Antone’s into a pilgrimage stop for the living legends of blues: Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, Albert King, and dozens of others.
The effect on Austin’s local musicians was seismic. A teenage Stevie Ray Vaughan was a regular presence at Antone’s from the club’s earliest days — watching the masters, sitting in when he could, developing the vocabulary that would make him the greatest Texas blues guitarist of his generation. Antone gave him the room and the mentorship that shaped his sound. The connection between Antone’s and Stevie Ray Vaughan is not incidental; it is foundational.
The club moved several times over the decades — from Sixth and Brazos to Anderson Lane in the early 1980s, to Guadalupe Street (the legendary era), to West Fifth Street, to East Riverside, and finally to its current home on East 5th Street in downtown, where Antone’s has operated since a 2015 revival. Clifford Antone himself died in 2006. The venue’s current operators have maintained its blues identity and its significance to Austin’s musical heritage.
The Music: Blues in All Its Forms
Antone’s books blues in the full breadth of its American tradition — Chicago electric blues, Texas blues, Delta styles, soul blues, jump blues, and the rock-inflected blues that Austin practically invented. The venue also books rhythm and blues, funk, and soul. The common thread is a commitment to Black American music traditions and the musicians who carry them forward.
The programming mix at Antone’s runs from established touring artists who have been playing the circuit for decades to younger musicians developing their own voices. It remains one of the few venues in Austin — or anywhere — where blues is treated as a primary genre rather than an occasional booking.
Antone’s has also long been home to an annual blues festival and has ties to the Antone’s record label, which has documented Austin blues on record since the 1980s. The label’s back catalogue is a significant piece of Texas music history.
The Current Venue
Antone’s current location at 305 E 5th Street in downtown Austin holds approximately 300 guests. The room retains the intimate club character that the venue has always had — this isn’t a concert hall or an amphitheater, it’s a blues club where you’re close to the stage, close to the music, and surrounded by an audience that takes what it’s hearing seriously.
The walls carry the history of the venue — photographs, posters, and the visual record of 50 years of significant music. Walking into Antone’s for the first time, you understand within minutes that this is a place with a story.
Tickets
Antone’s tickets are available through the official website at antonesnightclub.com. Many shows also have a cover charge at the door. Ticket prices vary by act — local showcases are often free or low cover; touring national acts carry higher prices. Check the website calendar for the full schedule and advance ticketing.
What to Expect
- Intimate blues club atmosphere. Antone’s is not a produced, polished venue experience. It’s a blues club: dark, close, and focused entirely on the music.
- Full bar. Standard bar service throughout. No food service.
- 21+ for most shows. Check the specific event for age policy.
- Arrive early for good position. At 300 capacity, the room fills up for popular shows. Earlier is better for access to the front.
- Respect the music. Antone’s audiences are there for the blues. This isn’t a background music situation.
Getting There and Parking
Antone’s Nightclub address: 305 E 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701
Antone’s downtown location means standard central Austin parking — competitive on show nights, but multiple paid lots are within a short walk. Street parking on 5th Street and surrounding blocks is metered. Rideshare drop-off and pickup on East 5th is straightforward. Most downtown hotels are a 10–15 minute walk from Antone’s.
Hotels Near Antone’s Nightclub
Antone’s downtown location on East 5th Street puts it within easy reach of the full central Austin hotel inventory. The venue is close to the Congress Avenue hotel corridor and the Lady Bird Lake waterfront properties.
- JW Marriott Austin — Congress Avenue, a short walk to East 5th Street.
- Fairmont Austin — Near the Convention Center, walking distance to Antone’s.
- Hyatt Regency Austin — Lady Bird Lake, easy walk to downtown venues.
- Hilton Austin — Central, reliable, walkable to East 5th.
- Hotel Van Zandt — Boutique music-themed hotel in the Rainey Street area, close to downtown.
See our downtown Austin hotels guide for the full range of options within walking distance of Antone’s. Our Lady Bird Lake hotels guide covers the waterfront properties that are also close to the venue.
Antone’s Nightclub FAQ
Where is Antone’s Nightclub?
Antone’s is at 305 E 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701 — in downtown Austin, a short walk from Congress Avenue.
When did Antone’s open?
Antone’s was founded by Clifford Antone on July 15, 1975 at Sixth and Brazos in downtown Austin. It has occupied several locations over 50 years and currently operates at 305 E 5th Street following a 2015 revival.
What is the connection between Antone’s and Stevie Ray Vaughan?
Stevie Ray Vaughan was a regular at Antone’s from its earliest days in the mid-1970s, watching blues legends and sitting in on sessions. The club’s role in his musical development — exposing him to the masters of Chicago and Texas blues — is central to understanding how he became the guitarist he was.
What music does Antone’s book?
Blues across all its American traditions: Chicago electric blues, Texas blues, Delta styles, soul blues, and the rock-inflected Texas blues the city helped create. Also rhythm and blues, funk, and soul. Antone’s is Austin’s dedicated blues institution.
More Austin Music Venues
Antone’s is Austin’s blues institution. The city’s live music scene runs deep across every genre and scale:
- Continental Club — South Congress’s legendary blues and roots venue, open seven nights a week since 1957, where Stevie Ray Vaughan also played.
- Mohawk — Red River’s premier independent venue, booking indie, punk, and underground acts before anyone else does.
- Stubb’s Amphitheater — The iconic outdoor limestone-bowl amphitheater on Red River, with Texas barbecue on-site.
- ACL Live at the Moody Theater — 2,750-capacity downtown venue and taping home of Austin City Limits.
- Paramount Theatre — Congress Avenue’s historic 1,273-seat theatre, open since 1915.