Gruene Hall, San Antonio

Only about a 30-minute drive from downtown San Antonio, this hall's tiny stage has hosted more legendary musicians than anywhere else. It is also not uncommon to encounter a film crew using the historic hall as a backdrop for a major motion picture or music video. The hall is basic, with its wooden floor, long bar, cold beer, guys in cowboy hats and girls in tight jeans, but it is also authentic. The building was constructed in the late 1880s as the social center of a small cotton farming community. In the 1970s it was saved from sure decimation by its current owners, and it has since become an institution in Texas music. Past performers have included Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Kelly Willis, Marty Stuart, Joe Ely and many, many more. Cover charges vary.

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