The video above takes you on a walking tour through historic downtown Salado, TX — a small town about 60 miles north of Austin, right off I-35. What you find when you pull off the highway is a quiet Main Street district with roots going back to the 1800s. Salado was originally established around a bridge crossing Salado Creek, and it served as a stop along the Chisholm Trail during the era of cattle drives heading north through Texas. Walking around today, you'll find antique shops, art galleries, a general store, boutiques, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, wineries, and breweries all within easy strolling distance. The creek itself is accessible enough that people were wading in and cooling off their feet on the day this was filmed.
What Live Music Venues Are in Salado, TX?
For a small town, Salado has a solid handful of spots that regularly feature live music. Here are the venues highlighted in the video:
- Barrow Brewing Company — A popular local brewery that hosts live music events, right in the heart of Salado's downtown district
- Salado Lone Star Winery — A winery in town that brings in live performers alongside their tastings
- Chupacabra Craft Beer Collective Boutique — A craft beer spot with a unique vibe that also books live music acts
- Axis Winery — Located just up the road from downtown Salado, another winery that features music
- Wilson Valley Mercantile — A distillery about 20 minutes from Salado that grows its own grain and produces bourbon and vodka on-site; they host songwriter events in an intimate, attentive setting
The video captures a Songwriter Roundup event at Wilson Valley Mercantile, hosted by Eli Buck Davis and featuring David Bridwell and Natalie Metcalf. The format was a songwriter round where each performer shared original songs and the stories behind them, playing for a small but engaged crowd. It's the kind of event where the audience is actually listening — not just background noise at a bar.
Food, History, and the Chisholm Trail
One standout stop for food was The Shed, which describes itself as offering a unique tavern experience. The move there is the Shed Pie — essentially a Frito pie with chili stacked on top of Frito chips. Simple and good.
History buffs will appreciate the plaques scattered throughout downtown that tell the story of the area. The Stagecoach Inn is a key landmark — it was a stop along the Chisholm Trail and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously running hotel in Texas. The Stagecoach's restaurant has been operating since 1861. You can walk across the bridge over Salado Creek, look out at the water, and even catch a glimpse of I-35 in the distance — a funny reminder of how close modern Texas runs alongside its history.
If you're driving between Austin and Waco on I-35 and want to break up the trip with something more interesting than a gas station, Salado is worth the detour. It's peaceful, walkable, and has more live music and good food than you'd expect from a town this size.