{"id":30309,"date":"2020-02-24T18:18:17","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T18:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=30309"},"modified":"2021-10-28T17:28:29","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T17:28:29","slug":"austin-playlist-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/austin-playlist-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Playlist – Great Music by Musicians from Austin"},"content":{"rendered":"

Billed as the live-music capital of the world, it\u2019s no surprise that Austin<\/a> is considered one of America\u2019s great musical cities. From blues to jazz, country to R&B, Austin has every genre covered. While it\u2019s impossible to cover the full scope of everything that makes music in Austin great, this playlist hopefully shines a light on the established, and the up-and-comers that make Austin the musical mecca that it is.<\/p>\n

1. Pride and Joy \u2013 Steven Ray Vaughn \u2013 1983<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Universally considered one of the greatest guitarists of all-time, Stevie Ray Vaughn is a true blues rock legend. He has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Blues Hall of Fame. He revived blues rock in the 80\u2019s and helped push the genre into more musically adventurous territory. Musicians as diverse as Mike McCready to John Mayer have cited him as an enduring influence.<\/p>\n

2. Keep On \u2013 Jackie Venson \u2013 2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of Austin\u2019s youngest rising stars, Jackie Venson brings Berklee schooled expertise to an R&B based alternative sound. Classically taught on the piano and in composition, Venson picked up the guitar in college and melds both blues and soul into her pop inflected music.<\/p>\n

3. Bright Lights \u2013 Gary Clark Jr \u2013 2010<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Already an Austin legend at the age of seventeen, Gary Clark Jr is one of the region\u2019s most successful stars. Incorporating hip-hop, soul and R&B into a classically styled Texas Blue sound, Clark Jr has one of the most diverse repetoires around. Combine this with an insatiable work ethic and you get one of Texas\u2019 most beloved musicians.<\/p>\n

4. Suffocation Blues \u2013 Black Pistol Fire \u2013 2015<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Canadian born and Austin bred Black Pistol Fire bring an old school Southern rock and rock and roll vibe in a modern setting. They have released five studio albums and are a common fixture in Austin\u2019s live music scene.<\/p>\n

5. Must Be The Whiskey \u2013 Carrie Rodriguez \u2013 2015<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Texan singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez is as known for her use of interesting instrumentation (she plays the fiddle, four-string guitar and mandobird) as she is for her songwriting and live performances. Rodriguez is also one of the hardest working women in music, with eight studio albums and an incredible live performing schedule.<\/p>\n

6. Green Lights \u2013 Sarah Jarosz \u2013 2016<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Austin seems to grow musical sensations on trees, with Austin raised Sarah Jarosz one of the latest rising stars. At age twenty eight, Jarosz has won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album along with many other nominations. Equally adept on the guitar, banjo and mandolin, Jarosz injects folk, bluegrass and country into her unique take on Americana.<\/p>\n

7. Harder to Lie \u2013 David Ramirez \u2013 2015<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With four studio albums, Ramirez is certainly not overlooked. But he lacks some of the star stature as others on this list. But one listen to his songs will show that while he may lack in buzz, he certainly doesn\u2019t lack in talent. Ramirez is making some of the most exciting new Americana music today.<\/p>\n

8. Tall Walkin\u2019 Texas Trash \u2013 Jesse Dayton \u2013 2004<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Primarily known for his guitar work on albums by Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, Jesse Dayton also makes his own songs and music and has released almost a dozen studio albums. His songs trend towards country and Americana with significant rock influences.<\/p>\n

9. Big Sweet Life \u2013 Jon Dee Graham \u2013 1999<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 2006 Austin Musician of the Year, Jon Dee Graham is a guitarist and songwriter from Austin who continues to produce music well into his 60\u2019s. His music has been featured on television and movie soundtracks in a variety of genres.<\/p>\n

10. Soul Shake \u2013 Angela Strehli \u2013 1988<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A noted Texas Blues historian and successful blues musician herself, Angela Strehli is a cornerstone of the Austin music community. She has released six studio albums over a career stretching multiple decades.<\/p>\n

11. Just to Hear Your Voice \u2013 Toni Price \u2013 2012<\/strong><\/h2>\n

An Americana blues singer-songwriter from Pennslyvania, Toni Price stopped in Nashville on her way to success in Austin. However she felt the Nashville musical community to be too rigid and stodgy and after stopping in Austin for a music festival, she permanently established herself in the city. She has released seven studio albums and is one of the city\u2019s most popular and sought out performers.<\/p>\n

12. Getting By \u2013 Kathy Valentine \u2013 2005<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the original members of the Go-Go\u2019s (the first female led band to go number one in the United States), Kathy Valentine has an impressive musical pedigree that includes over a dozen albums and a career spanning over forty years. She operates within the landscape of blues rock and pop rock.<\/p>\n

13. Follow Your Arrow \u2013 Kacey Musgraves \u2013 2013<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before she was a glamorous Grammy winner, Kacey Musgraves was one of the most insightful songwriters known for a biting criticism of traditional country and Southern norms. Her song Follow Your Arrow<\/em> was critically acclaimed and universally praised as one of the most important country songs for drawing attention towards negative Southern cultural norms, as well as mistreatment of the LGBT community. Follow Your Arrow<\/em>\u2019s 2014 CMA Award for Song of the Year is often cited as one of the most pivotal moments in country music history.<\/p>\n

14. Mamas, Don\u2019t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys \u2013 Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings \u2013 1972<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A country music legend, Willie Nelson is best known for essentially originating outlaw country. Outlaw country is a counter cultural country genre focused on the folk and rock traditions of the 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s. For his anti-authoritarian views and behaviors, Nelson was banished by the established Nashville community, however in Austin Nelson would grow to mythical status. He is now considered by many to be one of the most influential country artists of all-time.<\/p>\n

15. Piece of My Heart \u2013 Janis Joplin, The Big Brothers Holding Company \u2013 1968<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the original flower children of the 60\u2019s, Joplin\u2019s flame didn\u2019t burn long, but it did burn bright. One of the most influential blues and folk singers of all-time, Joplin paved the way for generations of other female singer-songwriters to choose their own paths in music and performance.<\/p>\n

16. Manhattan \u2013 Eric Johnson \u2013 1996<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the most respected living guitarists on the planet, Eric Johnson is an Austin all-time great. He\u2019s released nine studio albums, several of which were certified platinum. Johnson is also critically acclaimed with several Grammy nominations in several categories.<\/p>\n

17. My Texas Home \u2013 W.C Clark \u2013 2004<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The godfather of Austin blues, W.C Clark has been an active player in the blues scene since the 60\u2019s. He is an accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter with six studio albums and countless tours.<\/p>\n

18. Speed of the Sound of Loneliness \u2013 Nanci Griffith \u2013 1993<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Raised in Austin, Texas, Nanci Griffith is a country folk icon with over a dozen albums. She\u2019s been awarded a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album as well as awards from the Americana Music Association.<\/p>\n

19. Stay \u2013 Johnny Goudie \u2013 2005<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Multi-instrumentalist, producer, recorder, singer-songwriter Johnny Goudie has been creating music for over forty years. He is the recipient of multiple Austin music awards and is a fixture in the Austin live music scene.<\/p>\n

20. Harder Way \u2013 Jamestown Revival \u2013 2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jamestown Revival is a rock duo that combines elements of Southern rock, folk rock and rock and roll to create a unique Americana sound that is one of the most popular emerging duos in the country. They have been profiled by major publications such as the Wall Street Journal<\/em> and performed at major festivals such as South by Southwest<\/em> in Austin.<\/p>\n

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