The video above takes you on a ride through Blanco, Texas — a small Hill Country town of about 2,000 people sitting roughly 50 miles southwest of Austin and 50 miles north of San Antonio. The host, Dave, was passing through on his way to play music at Wedding Oak Winery in Fredericksburg and decided to stop and explore what Blanco has going on. What he found was a town with a historic square, a state park right in the middle of everything, and a surprisingly solid lineup of live music spots for a place this size.
What Is There to Do in Blanco, Texas?
Blanco gets its name from the Spanish word for white, referring to the white limestone banks along the Blanco River. The river runs right through town and feeds into Blanco State Park, which sits just steps from the main square. That makes it easy to spend a morning walking the trails or hanging out by the water before heading into town for food and drinks. The historic courthouse on the square is hard to miss — it was originally the Blanco County seat before that designation moved to Johnson City after just four years. A scene from True Grit was actually filmed inside the courthouse. The town is also known for its lavender farms and hosts an annual Lavender Festival. If you're around on the third Saturday of any month, the Market Days event takes place on the courthouse grounds with local vendors and goods.
Where Can You Find Live Music in Blanco, Texas?
For a town this small, Blanco has a real concentration of spots hosting live music. Here's what Dave found while walking around:
- Red Bud Cafe — A popular breakfast spot on the square that regularly features live music
- Uptown Blanco Restaurant — A restaurant right on the historic square with live music events
- Tenuta Bianco Wine Bar — A wine bar on the square serving live music alongside Texas wines
- Herb's Hat Shop — Best known for selling cowboy hats, but occasionally hosts live music inside the shop
- Old 300 Barbecue — A barbecue joint on the square that advertises live music on its signage
- Chess Club Cafe — Located less than a mile south of the square, known to host live music
- Iron Horse Saloon — A bar not far south of the square area
- Malom and Green Whiskey — A whiskey-focused spot just north of town with regular live music
- Real Ale Brewing Company — A large brewery operation north of the square with a big outdoor area and live music events
Playing Music at Wedding Oak Winery in Fredericksburg
After exploring Blanco, Dave continued up to Fredericksburg to play a set at Wedding Oak Winery, which produces wine from Texas-grown grapes and operates multiple locations. The video includes a bit of his performance — an original song with a storytelling feel about family, land, and growing up in rural Texas. It's a laid-back afternoon scene that captures what a lot of Hill Country winery gigs look and sound like.