Austin Music Hall is a medium-sized venue on Third and Nueces just a few blocks from our apartment. The converted warehouse is basically a two-story shell with a stage, ground floor and upstairs balcony. Each floor has restrooms and bar areas.

The building was upgraded in 2007 so that now seating capacity is 3,000 and general admission capacity is 4,400. Oversized music-themed artwork decorates the inside walls. 

Bill and I have gone to some concerts at Austin Music Hall, but the acoustics aren’t very good: the sound is too “live” in the center of the hall and too muffled under the balconies. (We would guess that performers now prefer the newer ACL-Live/Moody Theater with its excellent sound and light systems.) A few years ago we had fourth row seats for Willie Nelson and last December we watched The National from under the balcony here (just a few feet away from Craig Finn of The Hold Steady!). 

This venue seems better suited for activities other than concerts. The Austin Music Awards are presented here during SXSW week and area high schools rent the building for dances. Two weeks ago, TedxAustin convened here. Last weekend Bill and I attended the annual “Make a Difference” dinner/dance, benefiting the New Life Children’s Center, at Austin Music Hall.