STUBB'S

Stubb's Bar-B-Q at 801 Red River Street is one of Austin's most iconic venues, combining live music with barbecue in a way that has become synonymous with the city itself. The outdoor amphitheater in the back holds over 2,000 people for larger shows, while the indoor stage handles more intimate performances. The venue takes its name from Christopher B. Stubblefield, known as Stubb, who ran a legendary barbecue joint in Lubbock where musicians like Joe Ely, Terry Allen, and Tom T. Hall would play in exchange for food. The Austin location carries that tradition forward, pairing brisket, ribs, and sausage with a music calendar that brings in major touring acts alongside local favorites. The Sunday Gospel Brunch is a genuine Austin tradition, combining a buffet of barbecue and breakfast with live gospel music in a way that feels like church and a cookout at the same time. Stubb's has been a SXSW anchor venue for years and has hosted some of the festival's most memorable shows. The outdoor amphitheater has a natural, tree-lined feel that softens the concrete and gives shows a distinctly Austin atmosphere. The food is legitimately good, not just good for a music venue. Stubb's succeeds because it does two things well and does not try to be anything else: feed people and put on shows.