The Growing Waco Music Scene
Keeping up with Waco’s evolving music scene is challenging in a good way. There are several websites that promote live music, musicians and musical groups, and venues that feature live music. More and more musicians are finding work in the Waco area. It’s all part of Waco’s natural development toward becoming a place that supports and welcomes creativity in all forms.
The great thing about music is that most everyone enjoys it. Locals and visitors alike. People of all ages, income levels, and walks of life feel better when they are listening to music. Music is part of the growing arts scene supported and nurtured by Creative Waco.
And in Waco, all kinds of music can be found. Country & western, of course, but also rock and roll, hip hop, pop, punk, jazz, R&B, rap, blues, acoustic, Christian, and classical. Did we miss any?
And how to keep up with it all, here in Waco, Texas? Luckily, there are some great online resources.
The Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau’s calendar lists many live music events. Musicians, fans, and venues are encouraged to add their events. Go to https://destinationwaco.org/events/. You can click on “music” to filter the calendar to list only musical events.
Don’t forget to look at festivals, too. Many festivals feature live music. Waco Cultural Arts Fest, Brazos Nights, Fourth on the Brazos, Bowen MusicFest, and many others.
Waco Symphony has been providing professional live music in Waco since the 1960s, including notables such as Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Botti. Baylor University and McLennan Community College offer regular live music performances, often at no charge. (Don’t miss the Halloween organ concert at Baylor!)
There is also a site dedicated solely to live music of all kinds, called the “Waco Live Music Scene”, at https://www.wacolivemusicscene.org/.
The Waco Tribune-Herald’s calendar can also be filtered with the key word music: https://www.wacotrib.com/calendar/.
Downtown Waco lists events happening downtown, including live music, at http://downtownwacotx.com/events/.
There’s even a new site, Keep Waco Loud, that focuses on hip hop and punk.
For musicians, there is the Music Association of Central Texas. Their Facebook page can be reached at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MusicaAssociationofCentralTexas/
There are probably many other sites where you can keep up with the Waco music scene. Feel free to comment with your favorites. That’s the great thing about Waco. It’s growing and changing, and new music, venues, and events are happening all the time.
- Blue Houdini Band at Waco Winery
- Byron Swann Band at Klassy Glass
- Gary Kyle at Smiley’s Country Club in Waco
- Gordon Collier Band at Austin’s on the Ave
- Jennifer Pisarcik & Jon Fox at The Hightop at the Hippodrome
- Johnny Joe Ramos at the Warehouse
- Lauren January and Josh Barnard at The Rusty Nail
- Married with Sea Monsters at Spin Connection
- Midnight Mustangs at Austin’s on the Ave
- Retonos del Rio at Club Junction 84
- Samantha Taylor at Kissing Tree Vineyards
- Walt Wilkins at the Waco Hippodrome
- Melinda Adams at Melody Ranch
- Bryce and Bethany Merritt at Common Grounds
- Drakula at the Backyard
- Rick Trevino at Melody Ranch