On July 15, 1975 - Clifford Antone officially opened the first music venue on Austin’s Sixth Street, tapping into his Gulf Coast roots with an inaugural performance by Clifton Chenier (The King Of Zydeco) and his Red Hot Louisiana Band. 50 years and countless groundbreaking sets later, Antone’s fittingly celebrates another milestone tonight with The Red Hot Louisiana Band on stage - now led by C.J. Chenier - who began performing at Antone’s with his late father as a young musician in 1978. Chenier will be joined by artists integral to Antone’s across its 50 year history, from John Primer (who served as bandleader and guitarist for Muddy Waters) to longtime club staples like Lou Ann Barton, Derek O’Brien and Marcia Ball. Ultimately, the night serves as a testament to the vibrant music community who have helped sustain Antone’s as “the birthplace of a blues revival” (NPR) and as the club that “put The Live Music Capital Of The World on the map” (Austin American Statesman). For more information about tonight’s Antone’s 50th Anniversary Bash visit: https://antonesnightclub.com/calendar/#tw-event-dialog-3979
Antone’s 50th anniversary week has also included an exhilarating Saturday night of music from Texas icon Jimmie Vaughan and his Tilt-a-Whirl Band and surprise guest Gary Clark Jr., with nearly $20,000 in proceeds from that show benefitting the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. To donate directly to relief efforts, please visit: www.communityfoundation.net. The previous night (Friday July 11), festivities kicked off with a birthday bash for Antone’s favorite Bigg Robb - joined by Gypsy Mitchell, who was recently named to Rolling Stone’s “Best Of SXSW 2025” list. Coming up this weekend, Kim Wilson & The Fabulous Thunderbirds return to the Antone’s stage that they helped make legendary, for a special 50th anniversary performance on Friday July 18. For a full list of upcoming Antone’s 50 festivities, visit: https://antonesnightclub.com/50th-anniversary/
As part of these anniversary celebrations, next month will see the arrival of Antone’s: 50 Years Of The Blues - a five-disc, 41-track box set celebrating the club’s rich history and enduring spirit. Arriving in full on August 22 via New West Records, the set was previewed last month by Rolling Stone, who shared contributions from Gary Clark Jr. (a 2004 live recording he made as an unsigned 20-year-old) and Los Lobos (who covered Howlin Wolf’s “Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy,” in honor of Clifford Antone). Today, another peek at Antone’s: 50 Years Of The Blues arrives with GRAMMY winner Ruthie Foster’s interpretation of the Bobby “Blue” Bland classic - and Miss Lavelle White composition - “Lead Me On.”
Throughout the track, which was captured live in just a couple takes, Foster guides an expanded ensemble of Antone’s 50th Allstars: Derek O’Brien and Anson Funderburgh’s intertwined guitars, a six-piece horn section playing the late Dr. James Polk’s arrangement, and a triumphant organ solo by Lynn August, on his final recording session before passing in early 2025. In addition to the music included within the box set, Antone’s: 50 Years Of The Blues will also feature rare and unseen photographs, an updated hardcover edition of Picture the Blues by Susan Antone and a new, definitive Antone’s history - written by revered Texas music historian Joe Nick Patoski with fresh interviews.
Listen to Ruthie Foster’s take on Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Lead Me On” here: http://newwst.com/leadmeon
Pre-order Antone’s: 50 Years Of The Blues here: http://newwst.com/antones50
Previous celebrations of Antone’s 50th have included an Allstar night of music at New York’s hallowed Lincoln Center, where local public radio station WBGO concluded: "Antone’s blues club in Austin is to the blues what The Stone Pony is to the ‘Jersey Sound’ and what the Blue Note is to jazz.” Other recent activities involved a series of special jams at Austin Blues Fest in April - led by Gary Clark Jr. and Jimmie Vaughan - plus SXSW shows praised by Rolling Stone for “pointing the way towards the future of the blues.” Later this year a special episode of Austin City Limits will air on PBS nationally, celebrating Antone’s 50th - including performances from many of the artists listed above.
