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Avery Moore’s Top 5 Austin Comedy and Arts Venues

Did y’all know we have a few comedy legends on our team? Avery Moore, one of our Super Experience Hosts, is an amazing standup comedian who has headlined comedy clubs, performed at comedy festivals, and recently had an amazing showing at Moontower Comedy Festival.

She’s also nominated for Best Comedian by the Austin Chronicle! Can you tell we’re proud? Here are Avery’s Top 5 Comedy and Arts Venues:

  1. The Paramount Theatre –  To me the paramount is the heart of Austin. A lot has changed here, but the old movie palace and neon fan still stands. The Paramount is a great place for families with their famed Summer Film Series (celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer!) and the Story Wranglers (an interactive literary youth theatre program) and incredible live programming all year long. The film series is my preferred way to beat the heat in the summer, and performing at the theatre and seeing comedy there is one of the joys of my life! Moontower! Wow!
  2. The Velveeta Room – standup comedy in downtown Austin is rooted on the intersection of Sixth and Red River. Open since 1988, The Velveeta Room or The Velv gets its name from muralist and comedian Kerry Awn’s lounge act character, Ronnie Velveeta. So no, cheese cannot be found there, just funny jokes. Texas comedy legends like Bill Hicks, Ron White, and Johnny Hardwick have all performed on the legendary stage, and every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday you can see the funniest local and touring acts light up the stage.
  3. KMFA Studios – tucked away on the east side are the KMFA studios where I frequently catch the beautifully curated theatre, jazz and classical performances in their very cool space. Ticket prices range from Free to like 40 bucks, but there are TONS of free events. Just go to KMFA.org/events and get your mind blown.
  4. The Fallout – I love it here. My incredibly talented friends banded together to create an artists owned community driven haven for weird weird people. It’s in the fallout shelter of a Masonic lodge.  Ash I think you can elaborate on this one.
  5. East Austin Comedy Club – started over in the pedi cab warehouse district over on the east side by the recycling plant in the back of an art space in a hidden velvet clad speakeasy type joint called the tiger den. They were challenged with licensing by the city and have since moved to their new home at 2505 E 6th St suite d, Austin, TX. This club is run by comics and I just think they do good stuff :)
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National Tourism Week: Jax’s Top 5 Austin Music Venues

 

In honor of National Tourism Week, we’re highlighting our team’s favorite spots that truly make Austin an international destination. Every day this week, we’re bringing you ways to enjoy the Live Music Capital of the World.

 

Jax Washington, our Super Senior Experience Guide and music expert, was given the impossible task of picking out her top music venues in Austin. We say this is hard for her because she goes out almost every night to catch live music. From collecting set lists to making SXSW spreadsheets, Jax is a hotbed of music knowledge (and we are so lucky to have such an expert curate our Live Music Crawls with such precision and care).

 

Without further ado, here are Jax’s picks:

My Top 5 Favorite Austin Music Venues

5 – Saxon Pub

Feels like old Austin and it’s so beloved by locals, a documentary was made about it that premiered at SXSW in 2019. This venue truly is a listening room where guests know good music and every act that takes the stage is amazing. Most acts are local, blending Blues, Country, Roots, Rock and Americana.

4 – Sahara Lounge

A hidden gem in the Northeast that specializes in World music from Latin to African and every band will make you wanna get up and shake it out on the dance floor.

3 – ACL Live

Stellar acoustics and none of the 2,750 seats are more than 75 feet away from the stage. A truly ideal place to catch bigger touring acts in all genres or attend a live taping of Austin City Limits.

2 – Hotel Vegas

Very authentic Eastside Austin vibe and shows on their patio always feel like a festival. They host mostly local acts in all genres, including regular cumbia nights.

1 – Mohawk

Intimate rock venue w/two stages, a tiered balcony for better viewing and a capacity of 900 guests. My advice is always to get there early so you can snag a space on the first row of the balcony and enjoy the clearest view.

My Top 5 Favorite Local Bands:

5 – Star Parks – Experimental Pop
4 – Black Pumas – Psychedelic Soul
3 – The Octopus Project – Indietronica
2 – Spoon – Indie Rock
1 – The Black Angels – Psychedelic Rock

Thanks to Jax for putting together these lists, and keep posted on what else we have lined up for you this National Tourism Week!

#WeCreateFun

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Guide Spotlight: Sunny Fairly

An Austin Detours family favorite right here! Sunny has a way of brightening up even the cloudiest of days with the nonstop pep in his step! Having Sunny as your guide on any of our tours is truly a unique and inclusive experience. We took a bit of time to learn a little extra about this fun-loving guy for you.

 

Favorite Austin Detours tour to lead?

I have two favorites, and for different reasons. First, Texas History Tour, because I am a born and raised Texan and I love discussing our history with people who share the interest. Second, Street Art Tour, because not only in street art a major part of our city’s beauty, but many of them tell a story. I share a perspective on the city that is fading away with the rapid growth. Austin is unique because of its creative flow, and I love that we are here to help locate and feature it!

Can’t miss local gem in Austin?

I’m going to shout out to one of my favorite music venues, The Skylark Lounge. Johnny and Mary have created such a great place for music and social setting. It’s cozy, beautifully decorated (awesome patio), and has great food and amazing music!! They have been so welcoming to every guest I bring to them, and Terry even meets them with some jokes and says goodbye when we leave. I will always consider the Skylark as an Austin gem – the city’s blue diamond!

Most interesting story about a tour or an Austin Detours event you worked?

I once had two guests on a public tour that were both from New York City. I asked what part of the city, and they both said “Upper West Side”. They turned to each other and said, “Which building?” Turns out, they lived in the same building only two floors apart and had for several years! They met in Austin, and seemed to become well acquainted by the end of the tour. Our  motto is Come As Strangers, Leave As Friends, but…that was quite the coincidence!

What are your creative outlets?

I consider myself a pretty creative person. I play guitar, as well as a few other instruments. I’m a singer-songwriter. Mostly the blues, with some folk influence. When I moved to Austin, I soon started hosting the Austin Songwriter Showcase which was started by my great friend and co-guide, Jason Weems. I hosted for four and a half years before handing it off to another song-writer. I also like to make glass marbles and ornaments using a torch. Glass is one of the most amazing mediums for art. Watching it change is entrancing, and has a very calming effect.

Craziest thing that’s ever happened on a tour?

Since I am a singer-songwriter, some groups have asked me to sing for them. This is always very flattering, and I always oblige even though it’s acapella. One particular time, I sang a tune, and the group was so into it, they asked for another one, and a sing-along. Fifty-five people on a bus at 11:30pm, singing songs and laughing at my banter with the guests. I felt like a late night talk show host! One of my favorite nights! Can you believe I make a living doing this stuff?

Want Sunny to show you around town? Our private and corporate Street Art Street Food Tour or Texas History Tour are available to book on a private basis any date and time, based on our availability.

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Guide Spotlight: Ike Eickstaedt

Welcome to the Austin Detours team, Ike! Ike started with us about three months ago, and we are so happy to have his positive energy on our team. Ike has an acronym for his name that is a mantra he lives by daily: Imagine Kindness Everywhere. We took a moment to get to know what Ike loves about Austin! Read more

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Guide Spotlight : Steven McFarlin

Veteran tour guide Steven McFarlin has been with Austin Detours since the early days. We took a moment to ask him what he loves about Austin and being a tour guide in such a weird and wonderful city.

How did you wind up in Austin, TX?

I lived in Austin until my late teens. My entertainment career took me to a brownstone in Manhattan, a beach house in LA, and a canal-flat in Amsterdam, but Austin was the only city I ever regretted moving from. I was reminded of my affection for this special city several times a year when I would visit family. 9 years ago I got a place here part-time, splitting time between here and NYC, and 3 years ago I made Austin my full-time home. I’ve not had a second of regret.

Favorite local artists/musicians?

My top three fave club musicians (in no particular order) are Bob Schneider, Carolyn Wonderland, and Guy Forsyth. My fave local large venue musician would have to be Willie Nelson (although if they were still living, Janis Joplin and Stevie Ray Vaughan would rank right up there).

Steven on tour with a couple folks who love the holiday season so much, they wanted to wear it .

What is your favorite part about tour guiding in Austin?

I’ve had a lifelong love affair with this city, and being able to turn people on to what makes it so special thrills me to no end.

What neighborhood in Austin is your hang out place?

Clarksville is where I call home. After decades living an urban lifestyle in New York City, the thought of having to get in a car to go buy a newspaper terrified me. With Clarksville everything I need is steps away: great grocery, dry cleaners, drug store, and about a half dozen wonderful restaurants. Love this place!

Craziest thing that’s ever happened on a tour?

The other guides tease me as being the “King of Bodily Function Tours.” I’ve had tours that featured many different bodily function mishaps, most notably a woman’s water breaking. Fortunately, every one of those tours had a happy ending!

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While the Austin Detours schedule changes from time to time, Steven often leads the public Live Music Crawl tour on Fridays and the Real Austin tour on Sundays.

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