The video above takes you on a drive into Taylor, Texas — a small Central Texas town about 40 miles southeast of Austin with a population hovering around 17,000. What you find here is a place with genuine small-town energy, a downtown full of old brick buildings, solid barbecue, and a handful of spots where you can catch live music. The video also continues up the road to Wahlberg German Restaurant in Wallburg for their long-running Songwriter Wednesdays series.
What Is There to Do in Taylor, Texas?
Taylor has roots that go back to the 19th century, built up around the railroad and agriculture like so many Texas towns. Today it sits just off Interstate 35, making it an easy side trip from Austin. The big recent development is Samsung's semiconductor campus going up on the outskirts of town — you can see the cranes from the road coming in.
Once you cross the bridge into the downtown area, you're on a main strip lined with older architecture and practical storefronts — banks, sporting goods shops, antique stores, barber shops, and restaurants. There's a small cowboy statue of Bill Pickett, known as the father of bulldogging, and a few murals worth checking out on foot. For food, Louie Mueller Barbecue is the big draw. The place has a classic, no-frills look and a reputation that brings people in from all over.
Where Can You Find Live Music in Taylor, Texas?
Taylor has a few places where you can hear live music, and they're all pretty close to the downtown core:
- Black Sparrow Music Parlor — A well-known downtown venue with a deep history of hosting popular Texas acts. They closed for a stretch but have since reopened, and they've got their performance history plastered right on the front window as a reminder of the caliber of music that's come through.
- Texas Beer Company — A spot just off the main downtown strip that features live music alongside its beer lineup.
- Loose Screw Beer Company — Located inside the old Taylor High School building, this brewery is small inside but has a cool-looking stage. The repurposed school setting gives it a unique feel you won't find at a typical taproom.
Songwriter Wednesdays at Wahlberg German Restaurant
Just up the road from Taylor in Wallburg, Wahlberg German Restaurant hosts a weekly songwriter round called Songwriter Wednesdays. David Bridwell performed at installment number 203, sharing the stage with Taylor Weaver, Nancy, Mick, and Danny David Brentwell. It's a laid-back format where songwriters rotate through original material in a comfortable restaurant setting — the kind of thing that keeps going because the community actually shows up for it. If you're already making the trip out to Taylor, it's worth continuing a few miles north to catch one of these rounds on a Wednesday night.