The video above is a solid tour of where to listen to live music in New Braunfels, TX, covering everything from quiet songwriter rooms to big outdoor stages with packed crowds. If you're planning a trip to the area and want to know where to catch a show, this is a great place to start. The video walks through more than a dozen venues in and around New Braunfels, each with its own personality and style of music.
What are the best live music venues in New Braunfels?
New Braunfels has a surprising number of spots to hear live music, and they range from intimate listening rooms to rowdy outdoor stages. Here are the venues covered in the video:
- Redbird Listening Room — A dedicated listening room that supports songwriters with an open mic every Thursday. The crowd actually pays attention, and it's a great place to see artists like Slade Cleaves and Scrappy Judd Nukem in an up-close setting.
- Phoenix Saloon — A historic downtown spot in a building dating back to 1871, regarded as the birthplace of chili powder. You can catch performers like Tony Taylor playing during lunch and School of Rock bands setting up in the back for evening sets.
- The Poor House — A short walk from the Phoenix Saloon, this place runs wild, especially during tourist season. Acts like the Ali Matice Band and Sean Hart bring serious energy here.
- Moonshine and Ale — A piano bar in the downtown square area that leans touristy but is genuinely fun, especially on a weekend getaway. The piano players are talented and stick to crowd-pleasing songs.
- Sidecar at Prince Solms Inn — A speakeasy-vibe bar with quality cocktails and live piano from artists like Brett Klein. It feels a little more upscale and relaxed.
- Freiheit Country Store — A spacious venue with a big stage, known for great burgers and rowdy crowds watching exciting bands.
- Billy's Ice — Similar outdoor vibe to Freiheit, with a slightly rougher edge. The Ali Matice Band was playing when the video was filmed.
- The Watering Hole — The go-to spot in New Braunfels for country dancing and live music on the same night.
- River Road Ice House — Bigger than you'd expect, with both an intimate indoor stage and a giant outdoor stage. Stoney LaRue drew a huge crowd here, and parking fills up fast.
- Devil's Backbone Tavern — One of the standout venues in the video. It has a Jerry Jeff Walker mural outside, a deep connection to Todd Snider (who wrote "The Ballad of the Devil's Backbone Tavern" about the place), and a welcoming crowd. Jason Eady was performing and had the room locked in.
- Gruene Hall — The most famous venue in the area and one of the oldest dance halls in Texas. Dale Watson and Two Tons of Steel (who play the popular Two-Ton Tuesdays) are featured in the video. The walls are lined with photos of legends like Joe Ely, John Prine, Merle Haggard, Townes Van Zandt, and Guy Clark. George Strait's album cover was even shot here.
More than just Gruene Hall
Most people only know about Gruene Hall when they think of New Braunfels music, and it absolutely deserves the reputation. But as the video makes clear, the real story is how many different kinds of music experiences are packed into this area. You can start your day with a songwriter at the Redbird Listening Room, grab chili and live music at the Phoenix Saloon for lunch, wander to the Poor House at night, and finish the weekend at Devil's Backbone Tavern or River Road Ice House. It's a full music scene, not just one famous dance hall.