In case you missed it, Austin is still the Live Music Capital of the World. While it hasn’t been living up to its name in recent years, this October, the city is proving worthy of the title. And we don’t just mean ACL weekend one OR two! While the lineup for ACL is pretty good, there are so many other great talents coming through ATX this month and we’re here to tell you all about it!
PS,we’re giving away tickets to one of these shows, keep reading to the end to find out which one and how you can enter!
October Live Music Events in Austin That Are NOT ACL Festival
Time for Three | Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7 | Stateside Theater & The Pershing
ATX Chamber Music and Jazz is working to bring live music back to ATX and they’re kicking off their inaugural season with Grammy Award winners Time For Three at two very special events this month. Join them for an incredible evening at the iconic Stateside Theater on October 6. The following day, October 7 they will be hosting a premium experience at the members-only club, The Pershing. The event extends beyond just a concert. Expect Austin-themed craft cocktails paired with a seafood tower and world-class food prepared by Chef Chris Gallucio. Before the concert, they will have art by local artists, such as Avery Price’s Coloring Austin among others. The ticket for this premium event includes a meet and greet and photo op with the band and a personalized gift to take home!
Alanis Morissette | Friday, October 6 | ACL Live – Taping
Alanis Morissette, who started her career in 1995 has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. She will be in town for ACL, the festival, but she’s also doing a taping at Austin City Limits on October 6. This is a great alternative to going to the festival if it’s not your thing. Did we mention that if you do get to go to the taping it’s free? Yup, free as in zero dollars. Find our guide on how to get into one of the free tapings here.
Janelle Monáe | Wednesday, October 11 | Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
American singer, songwriter, rapper and actress, Janelle Monáe is gracing Austin with her presence this month. Monáe is on tour for her fourth studio album The Age of Pleasure. Dreamer Isioma and Nana Kwabena will be opening for Monáe here in Austin. The Moody Amphitheater is an amazing way to experience her music so don’t miss out!
Thirty Seconds to Mars | Thursday, October 12 | Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
Yes, we know this is technically ACL related but for people who don’t want to pay for a day pass or have to deal with the crowds to see just one band they like, the ACL night shows like this are a great way to have your cake and eat it too! Thirty Seconds to Mars has been around since 1998 and just released their fifth studio album. You’re probably thinking that’s not a lot of music for a band that’s been around that long. That’s probably because frontman Jared Leto is also an actor, an award-winning one at that. He’s won awards for his work in movies such as; Mr. Nobody, House of Gucci and Dallas Buyers Club. But he will always be Jordan Catalano to us! Find the full ACL Fest Nights lineup here.
Foo Fighters | Thursday, October 12 | ACL live – Taping
The Foo Fighters have been rocking out since 1995 and have the 15-Grammy-Awards to prove it! After a hard year full of losses they’re continuing to rock on! They’re headlining day two of ACL Festival weekend one and two! While they’re in town they’ll also be doing their third ever Austin City Limits taping! This is a great alternative for fans who don’t want to or can’t see them at ACL Festival. Plus, if you get chosen for the taping, it’s free! Find our guide on how to get into one of the free tapings here.
Lukas Nelson and POTR | Friday, October 13 | ACL Live
Texas and Hawaii-based Lukas Nelson debuted over a decade ago and since then he has played countless sold-out shows and festivals and released seven studio albums to date. He also happens to have a Texas legend as a father, if the last name wasn’t a giveaway, he’s Willie Nelson’s son. While he spent his youth touring with his dad, he’s definitely making a name for himself with his own music. He even co-produced the music for 2018’s A Star Is Born, in which he also appeared in the film. He went on to win a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music and a GRAMMY Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. His career is definitely one to watch, plus he puts on a great live show!
The Killers | Friday, October 20 | Germania Amphitheater
F1 is another exciting event that happens in Austin in October and it’s sure to bring some big names into town! This year, the first performing act at Germania Amphitheater is The Killers! It’s going to be a great weekend full of fast cars, adrenaline, celebrities, and good music.
Queen + Adam Lambert | Saturday, October 21 | Germania Amphitheater
F1 weekend has more up its sleeve and boy is it gonna be good! The second show on October 21 is none other than Queen! Adam Lambert will be joining them for vocals. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Keep scrolling ’cause there are a few more once-in-a-lifetime acts on this list!
Jonas Brothers | Sunday, October 22 | Moody Center
The Jonas Brothers added another night to their original sold-out show which happened on September 3. They’ll be back on October 22 to sing all five of their albums and supersized renditions of their Disney Channel jams. If you’re a fan, I can’t imagine a more incredible night!
Aerosmith | Monday, October 23 | Moody Center
Told you there were more once-in-a-lifetime acts on this list! Aerosmith is currently on their Peace Out: The Farewell Tour and it’s all in the title. After fifteen studio albums, six live albums, 16 compilation albums, and two extended plays this is the band’s final concert tour. Austin is only their fifth stop on their tour, if you’re a fan, DON’T miss it.
John Malkovich in the Music Critic | Monday, October 23 | Long Center
John Malkovich, yes that John Malkovich, is starring in a limited tour of The Music Critic which includes a stop at the Long Center on October 23. The Music Critic is a combination of classical music, theatre, and comedy. The tour was set for 2020 but due to the pandemic they had to cancel and film a live version of it now three years later, they’re hitting the road!
Michelle Branch | Wednesday, October 25 | Mohawk
If you’re singing Everywhere suddenly we don’t blame you! Michelle Branch has been busy since you last saw her on MTV. She recently released her fourth studio album, Hopeless Romantic which she co-produced with her husband Patrick Carney (The Black Keys). She’s bringing both her new music and her oldies to the Mohawk stage. She’s even paying an after show there featuring: Hey Cowboy!, Dorothy’s and Gummy Fang.
Parker McCollum | Friday, October 27 | Moody Center
Parker McCollum started his music career right here in Austin and now he’s back and headlining Moody Center with his new album Never Enough. While he might have grown up in Conroe and The Woodland, we’re still considering this his hometown show and we’re sure it’s going to be special!
Shakey Graves | Saturday, October 28 | Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
Speaking of people from Austin, Alejandro Rose-Garcia aka Shakey Graves will be performing at KUTX’s 10th birthday concert at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park on October 28. Shakey Graves is currently on tour for his new studio album, Movie Of The Week. This really is a hometown show for him so it’s definitely going to be a good one. We have to mention that before he was Shakey Graves, Rose-Garcia was in Friday Night Lights and Spy Kids, which were both filmed right here in Austin!
Kiss | Sunday, October 29 | Moody Center
Last but certainly not least Kiss! This is another bittersweet concert because much like Aerosmith this is also Kiss’s final tour, appropriately called the End of the Road World Tour. The band that formed in 1973 is now down to the final leg of their final tour all leading up to their final show at Madison Square Garden on December 2. Hope the Kiss Army is ready for this one!
So if you’re having FOMO over missing ACL, don’t. This list is proof that there’s still plenty of great live music to see in Austin this month!
GIVEAWAY!
We’re giving away two pairs of tickets to Austin Chamber Music and Jazz‘s inaugural event on October 6 at the Stateside Theater! They’re not just kicking off their season but they’re also working toward the amazing goal of bringing live music back to the live music capital of the world! Enter to win on our Instagram page.
The contest ends on Thursday, September 28. Entries from all posts will be combined and a winner will be randomly chosen and notified via DM by EOD Friday, September 29. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.
