If you've lived in Austin for 10 or 20 years, you've probably seen more shows at legendary Emo's than any other venue. With at least one act on stage per night (there are two: outdoor and indoor), Emo's consistently brings the indie darlings of the moment to Austin. The best part being that if you buy a ticket for one show, you generally get access to the other, allowing you to pack in multiple genres (punk, metal, hip hops shows are booked just as often) in one night. 

You'll definitely sweat, you'll probably get drunk and you might even bleed. The shows booked at Red 7 run the gamut, but they all have one thing in common: They're rowdier than they are loud. And they're really, really loud.

Built in 2006, The Mohawk has been the envied up-and-comer of the past few years, battling with Emo's to book the most popular small-venue shows. From poster art and clever venue renovation to booking and blogging, The Mohawk is the home to a diverse creative culture and the go-to place to hear Pitchfork's latest obsession play live.

Depending on the night of the week, the Scoot Inn handily pulls off mixing bootleg mash-up parties with intimate bluegrass shows, all inside a (proclaimed) centuries-old beer hall with an outdoor shot-bar and a friendly, roving black cat. Phew!

Dark and moody, The Parish is uncharacteristically nestled right in the middle what's affectionately known as "Dirty 6th." However, the classy chandeliers, deep red walls and insanely good sound system remind you that you're seeing a show that's getting the highest quality production service in town.

Stubb's is simply an Austin music institution. It's as simple as that. It has helped many bands and musicians gain some major exposure in the indie music scene and now attracts large, national acts. But Stubb's still stays true to its indie roots, and the bands that play there are usually soon on their way to gaining a larger following. Plus, this music venue also has some very good BBQ, apparently.

There's a lot of Austin music history contained within the walls of Antone's. Legends and major acts such as Stevie Ray Vaughn got a major push through performances at Antone's, and now many artists are attracted to this historical venue, hoping to also get their own major exposure on a larger stage. Even when more famous acts make their apperances, plenty of the hottest indie bands are there as opening acts to try and steal the show.

ND@501 Studios isn't just devoted to local Austin music, it's devoted to showcasing everything that needs to be celebrated in local Austin art. Various art and comedy shows are featured on a regular basis, but the live music shows can attract the real party especially when there is a full bar available.