The Austin Tx vlog at the top of this page takes you through the East 12th Street District on the east side of Austin, a historically significant neighborhood with deep African American heritage, solid food, and some real live music spots worth knowing about. David Bridwell stopped through this area on his way to play a songwriter happy hour at The Hole in the Wall, and the detour turned into a walk through one of Austin's more interesting and underappreciated pockets.
Exploring the East 12th Street District
The East 12th Street District sits apart from the more heavily trafficked strips like East 6th Street or East Cesar Chavez. It has its own character — old storefronts with murals on the walls, intimate barbershops like Marshall's Barber Shop, churches, and small retail mixed in with newer apartment buildings going up around the edges. The neighborhood is changing, but the places that have been here a long time still anchor it. For food, two spots stand out. Galloway's Sandwich Shop is known for southern soul food. And then there's Sam's BBQ, an institution open since 1957 with ties to Stevie Ray Vaughan, who used to eat there. Their tagline — "you don't need teeth to eat my beef" — speaks to the tender brisket and mutton ribs they're known for. A two-meats-and-two-sides plate is the move.
What live music venues are in the East 12th Street District?
There are a couple of spots in this neighborhood worth checking out for live music:
- Deer Diary Coffee — A coffee shop that hosts live music, including a Sunday open mic run by Rusty Pagee
- King Bee — A self-described eastside locals joint with cocktails and live music, known for the motto "the neighborhood might be changing but we sure ain't"
Neither of these is a massive venue, but that's the appeal. They're neighborhood spots with real personality.
Songwriter Happy Hour at The Hole in the Wall
After walking the East 12th Street District, the evening wrapped up at The Hole in the Wall, located on the Drag near the UT campus. This is one of Austin's most well-known dive bars, and it recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The songwriter happy hour featured performances from David Bridwell, Philip Gibbs, and Caroline Sears, who hosts the event. The Hole in the Wall has been a home base for local music in Austin for decades, and nights like these are a good reminder of why it still matters.
- The Hole in the Wall — A legendary Austin dive bar on the Drag near UT, preserving local music since 1974 with frequent live performances and songwriter events