San Antonio’s music scene is on the rise, with many bands and performers cruising over from nearby Austin and realizing that SA is one cool city. If you’re looking for great venues for local live music, wander into one of these houses of sound.
Club Rio
San Antonio is, as anyone knows, heavy on Latin influence. Club Rio is heavy on Latin rock and pop, and is the best venue in town for catching the liveliest, driving Latin beats going. This is no venue for amateur acts, by the way. Major Latin pop acts like Julieta Venegas and Alejandra Guzmán have played here, as have funky Afro-Caribbean acts like Elvis Crespo and Oscar D'León.
Gruene Hall
Okay, so Gruene Hall is actually in New Braunfels, but is that any reason to nitpick? Of course not. A short drive will put you in the oldest dance hall in all Texas. Built in 1878, Gruene Hall continues to host the biggest, best, and brightest country, blues, and Tejano acts ever. If you want a show as Texas as it gets, see Willie Nelson here, or any of the other great performers of traditional Texas sound.
Sam's Burger Joint
You like blues. You like rock. You want Sam’s. No place in San Antonio is as much a shrine to roots music as Sam’s Burger Joint. The atmosphere, the food, the people, and the music will make true followers of anyone who visits here. And you’ll wonder whether you remember the burger or the music more.
502 Bar
Few music venues outside of a symphony hall put quite so much attention on the acoustics as 502. Nor do they put so much attention on the lighting and stage appeal as this Embassy Oaks haunt. This is simply the best place to catch alt and indie bands making their way through San Antonio, as well as many national touring performers.
Boneshakers
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