The video above takes you on a road trip from the Texas Hill Country down to Port Aransas, Texas, a small beach town on Mustang Island along the Gulf of Mexico. With a population of just over 3,000 people, Port Aransas sits north of Padre Island and is one of those laid-back Gulf Coast spots where people get around in golf carts, fishing is practically a way of life, and the pace is slow on purpose. The video walks through the main strip of town, explores the bar and restaurant scene, and wraps up with a songwriter showcase at one of the local venues.
Port Aransas is on one of the largest barrier islands along the Texas coast, covering about 14 square miles. The town is known as a spring break destination and sees its population swell considerably during the summer months. Beyond the beach and fishing, there's birding, hiking, beach camping, and even some pirate history tied to the area. Every April, the Texas SandFest draws crowds who come to watch elaborate sand castle competitions. The video also points out the Tarpon Inn, a historic spot with roots going back far enough that Franklin Roosevelt once stayed there. Along Restaurant Row, you can find a concentration of bars and restaurants near the waterfront, with views of ships passing through the channel near the pier at Fisherman's Wharf.
What Live Music Venues Are in Port Aransas, Texas?
For a town its size, Port Aransas has a handful of spots where you can catch live music. Here's what the video turned up while walking around town:
- Blue Water Cowboy Saloon — a bar in the main strip area that features live music
- Shorty's Place — bills itself as the oldest and friendliest spot in town, with live music on the schedule
- Salty Dog Saloon — calls itself the coolest honky tonk on the Texas Riviera, leaning into a country bar atmosphere
- VFW Post 8967 — the local Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, which had live music advertised out front
- Beach Bums — a casual beach bar that posts live music listings outside
- The Gaff — a local venue where the video's songwriter showcase took place, hosted by Dallas Burrow of the Red Bird Listening Room in New Braunfels
The Songwriter Showcase at The Gaff
The video wraps up at The Gaff, where Dallas Burrow hosted a Red Bird Road Trip event — an extension of the Red Bird Listening Room, his family's music venue in New Braunfels. The format is a songwriter showcase inspired by the tradition of songwriter circles associated with Kris Kristofferson and places like the Schreiner Street Warehouse. The idea is that songwriters play original material and feed off each other's performances. A solid group of musicians showed up to play, and Burrow performed some of his own songs as well. It's a good example of how original Texas songwriting culture shows up in unexpected places, even in a small Gulf Coast fishing town.