6 Best Residencies

Music is Always Moving In

Words Deven Wilson | Photo of Soul Man Sam

Eastside venues and bars continue to keep Austin music alive, with artists-in-residence performing nightly across our vibey neighborhoods.

Assorted Chocolates at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard
Mondays, 7-10pm
The soul of Old Austin lives on as Assorted Chocolates plays the blues at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard. Set up on a stage every Monday night, the food truck park turns into a jazzy outdoor hangout for anyone walking past East 11th. Even as the neighborhood around the yard changes, the sounds wafting from this part of town remain the same. For a taste of Austin’s old soul, music lovers can expect to find Darius Jackson on vocals & guitar, Willie Johnson on guitar, Craig Williams on sax, Trevor Villwock on keys, and Harold McMillan on bass.
1106 E 11th St.

Butter ’n Jam at The Skylark Lounge
Wednesdays, 8pm
Bringing good vibes to Skylark every Wednesday night, CJ Edwards, a.k.a. Shorti C, D Madness, and a crew of creatives invite their fellow musicians to come out between gigs to jam out and riff into the night. Celebrating the massive impact Black artists have across music genres, Butter ‘n Jam sessions are a lighthouse for the community to enjoy.
skylarkaustin.com | 2039 Airport Blvd.

Afro Jazz at Sahara Lounge
Saturdays, 7:30pm
Pay a $12 cover and get access to a free buffet with vegan options, free parking, and a priceless night of live music at the Sahara Lounge. Afro Jazz kicks the evening off at 7:30pm with a lineup of rotating bands like Huerta Culture or Bamako Airlines, while Zoumountchi always closes the show at 11pm.
saharalounge.com | 1413 Webberville Rd.

Jackie the Robot at Coral Snake
Saturday, 6-8pm
Taking over the old Long Play Lounge space, a new iteration of good music and vibes comes alive on East Cesar Chavez. The Coral Snake shakes things up with Jackie the Robot, the remix, tech loving alter ego of Jackie Venson. Audiences are enraptured by the electric venom of rhythms this residency lovingly sinks deep into their psyche every Saturday night.
thecoralsnakeaustin.com | 1910 E Cesar Chavez St.

Soul Man Sam & The SMS Band at The Skylark Lounge
Sundays, 8pm
Another space keeping soul alive at Skylark, hosting weekly sessions, is legendary Soul Man Sam, a Memphis-made maverick of soul. Given his nickname after a stint playing and living in Alaska, Soul Man Sam carries the legacy of blues music in the south with his weekly performances at Skylark. skylarkaustin.com | 2039 Airport Blvd.

Orion Garcia at Volstead Lounge
Saturdays, 10pm-2am
Dance the night away for free at Volstead Lounge on East 6th. Bringing the heat to the dance floor, DJ Orion Garcia is out-of-this-world with the ability to take the dancers to outer space.
texashotelvegas.com/volstead | 1502 E 6th St.