Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater

Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater stands at 801 Red River Street in Austin’s Red River Cultural District, on a site whose structures date to the 1850s. The venue opened in 1996—a year after the death of founder C.B. Stubblefield, the Korean War veteran and beloved pitmaster whose Lubbock barbecue shack drew Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Muddy Waters in the 1970s. Friends, family, and talent buyers honored his vision by building a world-class outdoor stage in his name.

The venue’s most distinctive feature is its natural terrain: the ground slopes gently toward Waller Creek, forming an organic bowl that delivers excellent sightlines toward a parabolic bandshell from almost anywhere in the yard. With a capacity of about 2,500 standing concertgoers, Stubb’s serves as a perennial proving ground where artists like Adele, Lady Gaga, and Foo Fighters played before reaching stadium-level fame, and it remains one of the most sought-after stages on the SXSW circuit each spring.

Stats at a Glance

Location: 801 Red River St, Austin, Texas
Type: Open-air outdoor amphitheater
Opened: 1996
Outdoor Capacity: About 2,500
Indoor Stage Capacity: About 300
District: Red River Cultural District
Owner (since 2022): C3 Presents / Live Nation
Famous for: SXSW showcases and career-making performances

A Natural Stage on Waller Creek

The Waller Creek Amphitheater owes much of its reputation to geography. The terrain between Red River Street and Waller Creek drops naturally, creating a gradual rake across the standing yard. A parabolic bandshell focuses sound back toward the audience, giving the outdoor setting acoustics that rival purpose-built indoor halls. Fans at the back of the yard still enjoy clear sightlines and well-projected audio—a rarity for an open-air venue of this size.

Before Stubb’s reclaimed it, the site had lived many lives: private residence, nightclub (including the storied One Knite in the 1970s), used-furniture warehouse, and bookstore. The transformation into a music venue carries forward the spirit C.B. Stubblefield pioneered in Lubbock, where he fed and hosted musicians across racial lines at a time when segregation still shaped much of Texas.

Legacy, SXSW, and the Live Nation Era

Stubb’s cemented its place in Austin lore through decades of SXSW showcases and major headline concerts. Artists including Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Snoop Dogg, Weezer, The Killers, Arcade Fire, and Spoon have all played the outdoor yard, and the venue served as the recording location for several live albums, including sets by Matisyahu (2005) and Khruangbin (released 2023). The Black Pumas sold out five consecutive nights at the amphitheater in 2021, marking the venue’s triumphant return to full operation after the pandemic.

In late 2021, Austin concert promoter C3 Presents and parent company Live Nation acquired Stubb’s outright—including the full city block from Eighth to Ninth Street along Red River. C3 had been the venue’s primary booking partner since the mid-2000s, and the acquisition included the underlying land stretching to Waller Creek’s bank. The new owners announced renovations to improve the artist and fan experience while preserving the unpretentious, community-rooted character that made Stubb’s one of the most recognizable mid-capacity venues in the country.

Explore more: Live Music venues.