The state of live music in the city of Austin, Texas is currently at a tipping point. Austin, the self-proclaimed "Live Music Capitol of the World", is known not only for its large-scale annual festivals like South By Southwest or Austin City Limits, but for its status as a robust hub of live music for touring and local bands alike. This is in large part due to the Red River district, a handful of blocks downtown featuring clubs like Stubb’s, Mohawk, Beerland, and more. On a given night, one could walk three blocks down the street and patron as many as 15-20 clubs providing a wide variety of artists, genres, and traditions. Currently, that area, as well as many other musical aspects of the city, are in danger of losing ground to a combination of gentrification, big business, and city policies.

Two years ago, the city proclaimed Red River as a cultural district, a designation that was supposed to provide support for the clubs that operate there. Now, rather suddenly, the area is facing some of its most formidable challenges. First came the news of construction commencing on a new Hyatt downtown along with a parking garage that will be located directly next to two of the district’s most beloved venues, Mohawk and Cheer Up Charlies. Cheer Up owners say the construction would affect the natural limestone backdrop that has become an integral part of its outside stage, and that they weren’t made aware of the beginning of the Hyatt development until the week before it started. Approximately fifty members of the local music community protested, which halted construction by a day or two. Cheer Up ownership were able to open up communications with Hyatt’s construction company to try to reach a solution.

-=-=-=-Due to the construction and development, the city asked both venues to stop using their alley, which also includes parts of Mohawk’s upper deck, a necessary component of the club. Transmission Entertainment, the company that owns Mohawk, voiced their concerns to the city and are hopeful that a resolution can be reached. While there are many factors in place and possible outcomes, it’s likely that whatever scenario plays out will permanently alter the landscape of the area.

That same week, it was announced that Holy Mountain, a nearby club a few blocks down, would be closing once its current lease expires in October due to rent increases of nearly 50%. The club next door, Red 7, is currently in the midst of fighting the doubling of their rent as well. While a decision is expected to be reached soon, if Red 7 closes alongside Holy Mountain the combination could be a huge blow for both local and touring bands, fans, and the festivals that the clubs anchor. The venues are mainstays of Austin’s music scene and the loss of them would be impactful to both SXSW and Fun Fun Fun Fest.

The Red River district has been a vital part of Austin music history for decades, stretching back to when Emo’s was one of the most important clubs in the still-nascent American touring circuit. Now developments, rising rents, and an influx of residential properties near these venues are pushing them out. While clubs open and close all the time, the Music & Entertainment Division recently published the results of a census that explored the obstacles faced when launching a venue in the city. Close to 20 permits from multiple city departments are required, and noise ordinances were found to be inconsistently enforced throughout the town. If the Red River clubs get pushed out due to big business, there aren’t many viable options for a music community with the same size and infrastructure to pop up in another part of Austin.