Austin is known as the live music capitol of the world, but the truth is the music doesn’t stop there. The Texas Hill Country, comprising 14,000 square miles of rolling terrain, sparkling lakes, towering oak trees and winding roads that stretch from Austin to the north and San Antonio to the south, is home to countless established, up-and-coming, and famous musicians.
The Hill Country is not just a great place to see a show. It’s also an incubator for some of the best music in the state—and the world. Some of the industry’s most renowned artists got their start or cultivated their craft in the Hill Country—artists like Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. But that’s only the beginning of the list. Here are more
Hill Country artists of note.
The Hill Country’s wide variety of music venues from dance halls to bars and restaurants to outdoor facilities makes it possible to enjoy live music almost every night of the year. Venues are found throughout the area, with many concentrated in New Braunfels and San Marcos. Here are a few you’ll want to make sure to visit.
Cheatham Street Warehouse, San Marcos
The famed music hall where George Strait got his start remains a popular place for live music and also hosts a weekly songwriters circle.
The Grapevine, Gruene
This is the place to go for a glass of wine and live music in the relaxing oak garden from February to December.
The Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, Gruene
Juicy burgers, Texas eats, drink specials, a gorgeous view of the river, and live music make this one of the Hill Country’s favorite spots.
Gruene Hall, Gruene
The oldest continually run dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall is the preeminent Texas music venue, hosting both new and established artists with the occasional Willie Nelson drop-in.
AJ’s Ale House, New Braunfels
Looking for something a little more interactive? Stop in for their rock & roll sing along piano bar show.
Lazy L&L Campground, New Braunfels
This unique open-air facility hosts live music and serves burgers and sandwiches every Friday and Saturday from Memorial Day weekend through mid-August, and also during Labor Day weekend.
River Road Ice House, New Braunfels
Stop in for cold drinks and live music several days a week.
Tavern in the Gruene, New Braunfels
This is the home of the Ray Wylie Hubbard Roots and Branches Weekly Live Radio Show on KNBT 92.1 FM featuring established and up-and-coming Americana artists. There’s also a Texas happy hour with live music Thursday and Friday.
Riley’s Tavern, New Braunfels
Famed as Texas’ first tavern after prohibition, this popular spot showcases local musicians almost every night of the week.
WhiteWater Amphitheatre, New Braunfels
A large-capacity venue that hosts larger acts from a prime location on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Hill Country artists and venues don’t have to look far for an opportunity to showcase their music. Special events and music festivals take place throughout the year.
Hill Country Jazz Festival, February
Held at Texas State University’s Evans Auditorium in San Marcos, this annual event features big bands, combos and individual jazz musicians.
Bluebonnet Blues & Fine Art Festival, March
Just how it sounds, plus food and drink in Marble Falls.
Wine & Art Weekend on the Square, April
Art, hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting and live music are offered throughout the weekend in downtown San Marcos.
Old Settlers Music Festival, April
An outdoor festival in Driftwood celebrating wildflower season and featuring Americana roots music greats.
Wein & Saengerfest, May
Stomp some grapes, check out the art market, taste wine and beer, partake of some of the local food, and enjoy live music in historic downtown New Braunfels.
Swing on the Square, May
San Marcos’ Courthouse Square plays host to Western Swing acts, blues, ‘40s jazz, big band swing and country, plus a farmer’s market and Texas arts & crafts.
JMBLYA, June
This annual festival at New Braunfels’ WhiteWater Amphitheatre features top artists across several musical genres.
BIGFEST, June
Billed as “three days and nights of great Texas music, ” this premier live music event at Cheatham Street Warehouse features 100+ new, up-and-coming, and established artists and is also the Annual benefit for the venue’s foundation.
Summer in the Park, June through August
San Marcos’ Park Plaza transforms into a concert stage every Thursday night during the summer.
Oktoberfest, October
Fredericksburg’s Markplatz is the place for a weekend of revelry including continuous oompah music plus art & crafts, a kids area, a German Bier Tent, and food and drink.
Gruene Music & Wine Fest, October
The event many live music enthusiasts wait for all year, with premier and up-and-coming artists, catered dinners, Texas food, beer, and wine tastings, and auctions. Held on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Gruene.
Songwriters Festival, October
Held throughout Dripping Springs, this unique festival celebrates the art of songwriting with hours of live music from songwriters playing “in-the-round, Nashville-style” plus headlining acts.
Wurstfest, November
The annual celebration of sausage in New Braunfels is also a great place to enjoy local music.
The Texas Hill Country is no longer a secret enjoyed only by Texans. And as more and more residents and visitors flock to San Antonio and Austin, the Hill Country has been discovered by the nation.
With an ideal blend of community amenities in an incredibly scenic, beautiful setting plus great convenient to both cities, it’s no wonder the area continues to grow and thrive at an unprecedented rate.
Here are a few more Hill Country venues worth visiting:
The Hill Country’s breathtaking scenery, highlighted by rolling green hillsides, towering oak trees, and golden sunsets, takes those who are visiting for the first time by surprise. Ten or 20 years down the line, they still consider themselves blessed to be able to gaze out the window and drink it all in. Or to hop in the car, on their bike, or lace up a pair of running shoes and meander through the city, as the roads twist and turn, enjoying the wondrous setting that is unlike anything else in Texas.
Living in the Hill Country means there is always a fun activity at hand. Spend a day at one of the many area parks, where you can enjoy everything from paddle boating, to miniature golf, to strolling among scenic trails, to a picnic in the grass.
Tubing is practically a national pastime in the Hill Country city of New Braunfels. There’s nothing like a day at the river, and the city offers two great opportunities to explore: the Comal River, the shortest navigable river in Texas and one that famously retains its 72-degree temperature year round, and the Guadalupe River, which runs from Kerr County all the way to the San Antonio Bay on the Gulf.
Another unique feature of the area is the Texas Wine Trail, with more than 35 wineries scattered throughout the Hill Country. Once a Texas secret, these unique wines continue to gain acclaim around the world.
Throughout the Hill Country, boutiques dotting historic squares and modern shops blend to offer residents and visitors a well-rounded shopping experience. One of the area’s favorite spots is the Premium Outlets in San Marcos, which was voted among the “Best places to shop” by the Austin Business Journal and was also named the third-best place to shop in the world by ABC’s “The View.”
Restaurants in the Hill Country celebrate an international flavor ranging from German fare that reflects the area’s heritage to good ‘ole Texas barbecue to a few local faves like those in the charming town of Gruene, once a cotton mill and today a favorite spot for hearty fare, antiquing, and dancing the night away.
The Hill Country enjoys a stellar location that puts it in the heart of one of the most spectacular areas in the state. With thriving economies all their own, many cities offer abundant job opportunities close to home. For those who work at the capitol in Austin or USAA in San Antonio—or one of many other large companies in two of the nation’s most bustling employment centers—the Hill Country offers easy commutability.
Residents of the Hill Country may be drawn in by the beautiful natural surroundings, but it’s the warmth of the communities, the generosity of the neighbors, and the beauty of the lifestyle that keep them here.
It’s the best of all worlds, with a calm way of life, small-town environments, and big city convenience. Great schools, friendly faces, an abundance of things to see and do, and convenient area services combine to make the Hill Country the choice of families, retirees, and veterans.
Throughout the Hill Country, a variety of homes and homesites provide buyers with the opportunity to purchase exactly what they want. Private, rural neighborhoods, masterplanned communities, older character homes, brand new estates, acreage sites for custom residences—all are waiting for the right buyer to come along and call them home.
Vintage Oaks’ prime location, variety of land and home offerings, and extensive amenity package makes the decision of where to live in the Hill Country an easy one.
The community’s sales led the San Antonio market for new housing starts in the $300s in 2014, according to MetroStudy, a national housing market research firm. Those sales were even better than Vintage Oaks’ record-setting 2013 numbers. MetroStudy has also reported Vintage Oaks as the fastest growing community in the Hill Country for two years running.
The community is also home to several American heroes who were the beneficiaries of free homesites and mortgage-free homes through Vintage Oaks and developer SouthStar Communities’ partnership with Operation FINALLY HOME (OFH). A fourth home at Vintage Oaks is currently being built on a one-acre lot for a wounded American solider. This is the 11th home SouthStar and OFH have partnered on since 2005.
Whether landbuyers are seeking a spacious one-acre lot, a larger acreage property zoned for equestrian so they can keep their horses on site, or a home-lot package from a leading builder, they can find it in a planned community like Vintage Oaks. Locations range from private cul-de-sacs to hillsides view lots to gated and private.
Current offerings in Vintage Oaks include:
The Bluffs is the newest neighborhood within Vintage Oaks to offer 1+ acre homesites to build your custom Hill Country home. These highly elevated homesites offer some of the most remarkable views in all of Vintage Oaks!
Canyon Ranch in Vintage Oaks offers 2+ acre homesites with magnificent views of the Texas Hill Country. This gated neighborhood is sprinkled with streams and ponds throughout and will feature several new walking trails that meander through the neighborhood for residents to enjoy all that this beautiful area has to offer!
Vineyard Ranch, offering prime Hill Country living with the added benefit of large acreage. These lots are Ideal for equestrian living and extra privacy, with 5-14 acre homesites and the same access to Vintage Oaks’ resort-style amenities.
Those amenities include multiple pools, a lazy river, a Tuscan Amenity Center with full catering kitchen and meeting rooms, numerous ball fields, a Fitness Club and waking trails.
These impressive amenities are just one of the advantages of living in a master-planned community like Vintage Oaks, located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country music scene.
With a year ‘round calendar of musical events in the nearby towns of Gruene, New Braunfels and Austin, there’s always a live music adventure in your reach.
SouthStar Communities, developer of Vintage Oaks is a seasoned developer with successful residential communities across the Southern United States. With over 25 years owning, operating and developing residential communities, our legacy is delivering beyond expectations for our residents, investors and partners. We welcome you to learn more at www.SouthstarCommunities.com.
Schedule your trip to the Texas Hill Country around a festival or concert you would like to attend and stop by Vintage Oaks, located just minutes from tons of local music venues and attractions.
For more information about living in the heart of the Texas Hill Country music scene, please contact a Vintage Oaks representative at 830-885-3054 or complete the form to schedule a community tour!
