Step Inside: Emo’s Austin in Texas

Emo’s Austin is a music venue and nightclub in Austin, Texas. Located at 2015 E Riverside Dr. across the Colorado River from downtown Austin, the venue first gained notoriety as an epicenter of the city’s punk music scene. It now hosts artists of all genres, from pop and hip-hop to R&B and alternative. Artists who’ve recently performed at Emo’s Austin include The Killers, Sky Ferreira, Bombay Bicycle Club, Old 97’s and Local H.

Emo’s Austin History

Emo’s Austin first opened in 1992 on Red River St. as the second location of a Houston punk club. Originally known as The Back Room, Emo’s Austin is an official venue of the South by Southwest Music Festival — each year it accommodates four different stages during the fest — and hosted the final year of the now-defunct Emissions from the Monolith festival in 2007. Emo’s Austin moved to its current location on E Riverside Dr. in 2011.

Get to Know Emo’s Austin

Venue Features

Emo’s Austin is a 6,500 square-foot venue featuring a main Music Hall, outdoor patio, custom food menus and mixology and more. The venue utilizes state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems for concerts and other private events.

Seating and Viewing Options

Emo’s Austin holds a standing room capacity of 1,600 or close to 500 seated. The venue is general admission flanked by three different bars, with a reserved ADA section for patrons with disabilities (see below). Check out the layout of Emo’s Austin (by upcoming concert) here.

Venue Accessibility

While Emo’s Austin is generally standing room only, the venue offers an ADA section for qualified concertgoers, as well as ramp access into the building and ADA accessible restrooms. The venue strongly encourages patrons to arrive early for the best viewing experience in the ADA section. (Be sure to select the ADA option when purchasing tickets via Ticketmaster.)

Parking and Admission at Emo’s Austin

Parking for shows at Emo’s Austin is available on side streets near the venue off of Royal Crest Dr. and Burton Dr. However, the venue encourages patrons to use ridesharing apps such as Lyft or Uber, with drop-off and pick-up directly in front of the security screening lanes at the entrance. If concertgoers choose to drive their own vehicles, stay aware of tow-away zones in the area and nearby parking lots that actively boot cars parked in the evenings and late at night. Age restrictions for shows at Emo’s vary by event.

 

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Nearby Attractions

Food & Drink Near Emo’s Austin

Below are a number of additional dining options within a short distance of Emo’s Austin:

• Taco More, 2015 E Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78741
• Raising Cane’s, 2109 E Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78741
• Pueblo Viejo, 2410 E Riverside Dr. Ste. H-8, Austin, TX 78741
• Chi’Lantro, 1414 Shore District Dr. #102, Austin, TX 78741
• Sabor a Honduras, 2538 Elmont Dr., Austin, TX 78741
• Het Say Vietnamese Kitchen, 2121 E Oltorf St. #12B, Austin, TX 78741
• P. Terry’s Burger Stand #12, 1800 E Oltorf St., Austin, TX 78741
• La Catedral del Marisco #2, 1605 E Oltorf St., Austin, TX 78741

Hotels Near Emo’s Austin

Below are a number of hotel options near Emo’s Austin:

• Heywood Hotel, 1609 E Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702
• Holiday Inn Austin-Town Lake, 20 N Interstate Hwy. 35, Austin, TX 78701
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Austin Downtown, 76 East Ave., Austin TX 78701
• Hotel Van Zandt, 605 Davis St., Austin, TX 78701
• Austin Marriott Downtown, 304 E Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78701
• Four Seasons Hotel Austin, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
• Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown, 68 East Ave., Austin, TX 78701
• W Austin, 200 Lavaca St., Austin, TX 78701