Austin's Newest Music Venue
Favorite Austin music venue reveals plans for new spinoff
As the Live Music Capital of the World, there is a responsibility to foster the Austin music community’s artists, venues, and businesses. Amid a slew of venue closings, one popular venue is expanding to give up-and-coming musicians a space to perform.
ACL Live at the Moody Theater, owned by Stratus Properties Inc., has announced plans for a new venue: 3Ten at ACL Live will debut next month on the ground floor of ACL Live. With a 350-person capacity, 3Ten is reminiscent of the original ACL Studio 6A, and is expected to host about 200 concerts and events each year.
“The whole idea is to create an intimate listening environment,” Terry Lickona, executive producer of the Austin City Limits TV show, told Austin American-Statesman. “It’s all about the experience, the connection between the artist and the fan.”
ACL Live, in operation for five years, is bucking the venue closure trend and aiming to serve the city's interest in smaller music venues. Compared to ACL Live’s 2,700-person capacity, 3Ten will have a cozier design with dark hardwoods, lush velvet, and brass trimmings but will use the same designers, acoustic engineers, and lighting experts to outfit the new space. The venue’s large, sliding glass front doors open to a patio on Willie Nelson Boulevard where concertgoers can see the stage while enjoying a beverage outdoors.
Austinites can expect musicians from all genres performing at 3Ten, with a strong focus on showcasing local acts.
“We believe the music scene is the heartbeat of the city, and we want to grow that,” Stratus Properties CEO Beau Armstrong told the Statesman. “Live music is what put Austin on the map. It’d be a shame to lose that.”
A variety of shows have already been booked, including a handful of SXSW showcases. Donavon Frankenreiter, Waterloo Revival, The Nightowls, and Grupo Fantasma are a few of the confirmed upcoming performances. Additionally, the summer’s Wine Down series will move from ACL Live to 3Ten. KLRU, who hosts Austin City Limits, is also planning on utilizing 3Ten for station events.
