‘South by San Jose’ celebrates Austin’s iconic music history
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More than 32 years ago, the Armadillo World Headquarters—an iconic downtown Austin music venue—shut its doors.
But for the past 15 years, the South by San Jose Music Festival has paid tribute to the vintage vibe of the former hot spot.
With country heavyweights like Willie Nelson and Billy Joe Shaver on the artist list, it represented a moment in Texas history. Imagine a ticket to a Willie concert in the early 1970s going for just $2.
"Willie was there, so there were kickers there. The long hairs--the long hairs who were kickers,” Austinite Brian Bergoyne said.
It didn’t matter if you were a cowboy, a hippie or a politician, the hall became a place of beer, music and a good time.
Co-organizer of the event Eric Webber says while SXSW helps pave the way for young talent, the Armadillo did the same for 40 years straight.
"They were bringing in then unknowns like The Police, Elvis Costello, Jerry Garcia, Bruce Springsteen,” he said. “It was the mirror of the eclectic nature of Austin."