The Austin Blues Festival is rolling back into Waterloo Park's Moody Amphitheater on April 25 and 26, packing two days of music that stretches from Parliament Funkadelic to homegrown brass bands. Co‑presented by Antone’s Nightclub and the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, the fest is pitched as a way to carry Clifford Antone’s legacy out of the club and into the park, with long sets and genre‑mixing bills meant to put veteran blues heads and newer festivalgoers on the same lawn.
When And Where
The festival takes over the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park on April 25 and 26, with gates opening in the late morning each day, according to Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. The conservancy frames the event as a revival of a tradition dating back to 1999 and notes that the weekend lines up with Antone’s recent push to secure its long‑term downtown footprint.
Lineup Highlights
Headliners on the bill include Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton and Jimmie Vaughan & Friends, alongside BADBADNOTGOOD, Eric Johnson, Larkin Poe and others, per Austin Blues Festival. Student and brass ensembles like the Huston‑Tillotson Jazz Orchestra and New Breed Brass Band are in the mix too, rounding out a lineup that runs from roots blues and funk to jazz and more contemporary sounds.
Antone's And The Long Game
Antone’s, founded in 1975, has leaned on the festival as part of a broader preservation strategy after securing a 50‑year lease and announcing plans for an on‑site blues museum. Co‑owner Will Bridges described the moves as a way to protect Clifford Antone’s legacy and to “graduate into this more preservation and development mindset,” according to the Austin Chronicle.
How The Fest Uses The Park
Organizers told KXAN they are sticking with a single‑stage setup, longer sets, and planned “park breaks” so crowds can stroll the greenway between performances. Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, the conservancy's chief executive officer, said festival weekends “transform the park into a space wrapped in music and magic,” a description organizers say helps cement Waterloo’s role in Austin’s live‑music ecosystem.
Tickets, Access And What To Bring
One‑ and two‑day tickets are on sale now. Gates open at about 11 a.m., and the main festival entrance sits on Red River Street between 12th and 15th, according to the Austin Blues Festival FAQ. The venue enforces a clear‑bag policy, operates cashless, and offers ADA access at 1401 N. Trinity. Paid parking and ride‑share drop‑offs are available nearby.
Why It Matters
Beyond the headliners, the Austin Blues Festival doubles as a public outreach and preservation play. It pulls Antone’s stories out of a downtown nightclub and into a public park while channeling attention toward the venue’s museum and education projects. National and trade outlets have already zeroed in on the lineup and the partnership, a sign the festival could widen the audience for Austin’s music traditions, according to Relix.
