Latin Music in Austin, Texas

Experience the best of Latin music in Austin, Texas! From traditional to contemporary, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The History of Latin Music in Austin

Austin has a rich and vibrant musical history, and Latin music has played an important role in shaping the city’s sound. Austin is home to a large and diverse Latin community, and the city’s Latin music scene reflects this diversity.

Latin music has been present in Austin since the early days of the city’s history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Austin was a popular destination for Mexican musicians, who often performed in the city’s nightclubs and dance halls. Mexican-American musicians began to make their mark on the Austin music scene in the 1920s, when they began performing in local honky-tonks. This new generation of Mexican-American musicians developed a unique style of music that blended traditional Mexican folk music with American Country and Western sounds. This hybrid style of music, which came to be known as Tejano, would go on to become one of Austin’s most defining musical genres.

The Tejano sound was popularized in the 1950s by conjunto pioneer Narciso Martinez, who is often credited with inventing the genre. Martinez’s innovative style of Tejano music helped to launch the careers of many other Mexican-American musicians, including Sunny Ozuna, Lydia Mendoza, Flaco Jimenez, and Ruben Ramos. These artists helped to bring Tejano music to a wider audience by performing on television and radio programs and releasing commercially successful records. In the 1970s and 1980s, artists like Selena Quintanilla and Emilio Navaira helped to propel Tejano music to new heights of popularity, both within Austin’s Latin community and beyond.

Today, Austin is still home to a vibrant Latin music scene. The city host numerous Latin music festivals each year, including the annual Austin Tejano Music Festival, which is one of the largest gatherings of Tejano fans in the world.Austin is also home to numerous Latino-themed clubs and venues that feature live Latin music nightly. Whether you’re looking to experience the sounds of traditional Mexican rancheras or modern Tex-Mex conjunto, you’ll find it all in Austin!

The Various Types of Latin Music in Austin

Latin music comes in many forms, from the intense and passionate Flamenco, to the rhythmically intoxicating rhythms of Salsa. No matter what your preference is, you can find it in Austin. Here is a list of the various types of Latin music you can find in Austin.

Tejano

Tejano is a type of Mexican folk music that originated in the state of Texas. It is a combination of Spanish and Mexican music and has been influenced by a variety of other genres, including country, rock, and blues. Tejano is typically played on an accordion and includes a variety of dance styles, such as the two-step, waltz, and polka. The most popular Tejano artist is Selena Quintanilla, who was tragically killed in 1995.

Norteño

Norteño, also called conjunto, is a kind of traditional Mexican music originally from the northern states of Mexico. It has a strong influence from German and Polka music. The instruments used in norteño bands typically include accordions, guitars, violins, and drums. Norteño bands often sing about the working life of rural Mexicans and the struggles of everyday life.

In Austin, you can find norteño music being played at places like the White Horse on Tuesday nights and at Cuba Libre on weekends. You can also find norteño bands performing at festivals like Pachanga Fest and Sonic Equinox.

Conjunto

In Austin, one of the most popular types of Latin music is conjunto. This style of music originated in the Rio Grande Valley in the 1800s and is a mixture of German and Mexican influences. It is typically played with a button accordion and a 12-string guitar called a bajo sexto, and the lyrics are usually sung in Spanish.

Conjunto music is often used for dancing, and it is common to see couples dancing the Polka or the Waltz at conjunto concerts. The music is also sometimes used for political purposes, as it was during the Chicano Movement in the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years, conjunto has become more popular with young people in Austin, and there are now several conjunto bands that play regularly at clubs and festivals.

Mariachi

Mariachi is a type of music and dance that originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is a folk style that was popularized in the early 20th century and has since become one of the most iconic symbols of Mexican culture. Mariachi bands typically consist of 5-10 members, who play a variety of instruments such as guitars, violins, trumpet, and drums. The music is characterized by its joyful and celebratory sound, as well as its use of complex harmonies and rhythms.

Mariachi bands are often hired to perform at weddings, quinceañeras (coming-of-age parties for 15-year-old girls), and other special occasions. In recent years, Mariachi bands have also become popular performers at festivals and concerts in Austin, Texas. There are numerous Mariachi bands in Austin that perform regularly at venues such as El Rinconcito Español and guero’s on South Congress Avenue.

If you’re interested in experiencing this unique and vibrant form of music, be sure to check out some of the Mariachi bands in Austin!

Banda

Banda is a type of Mexican music that includes a large brass section. This music originated in the state of Jalisco in the 1800s. Banda music is often played at weddings and other celebrations.

There are two types of banda: original or traditional banda, and modern banda. Traditional banda is slower and includes songs about love, loss, and nature. Modern banda is faster and often includes pop lyrics.

Some well-known banda artists include: Banda El Recodo, La Banda MS, Banda Carnaval, and Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga.

The Most Popular Latin Music Venues in Austin

If you’re a fan of Latin music, you’ll be happy to know that Austin, Texas is home to some of the best Latin music venues in the country. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular Latin music venues in Austin.

The White Horse

The White Horse is one of the most popular Latin music venues in Austin, Texas. The venue offers a variety of Latin music genres including cumbia, salsa, and bachata. The White Horse has a capacity of 200 people and is open Thursday through Sunday.

The Continental Club

Originally a car dealership in 1957, the Continental Club has hosted live music seven nights a week for the past 25 years. The club’s calendar is packed with local and touring talent, including frequent shows from Grammy-winning singers and dynamic Latin bands.

With a capacity of just under 200 people, the Continental Club provides an intimate setting for fans to enjoy live music. The club also features a full bar, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a few drinks and dance the night away.

Gruene Hall

Gruene Hall is a historic dance hall in New Braunfels, Texas, United States. Built in 1878, it is the oldest continually operating and oldest dance hall in Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1974. The hall is owned by the Gruene Historical Society and features live country music almost every day of the week

The Future of Latin Music in Austin

The future of Latin music in Austin is very bright. The city has a large and growing Hispanic population, and there is a thriving scene of Latin musicians and bands. Austin is also home to a number of major music festivals that feature Latin music, including the Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest.