The Backyard is DONE

[Mr.Wizard]

I really liked this venue back in 1999, but now it is a cluster.

Not sad to see it gone.

Hope they "rebuild" in a better location.

The Link

The Backyard will close this fall after its 16th season, which kicked off March 14 and 15 with Willie Nelson’s usual two-nights-during-SXSW stand, owner Tim O’Connor announced today.

“I built the Backyard to produce events in an atmosphere that signifies Austin,” O’Connor said in a statement. “When the venue opened we were in the middle of the Hill Country and it was a true experience. The Shops at The Galleria development that now surrounds the Backyard has taken away from some of the venue’s magic over the last few years.”

The development has taken away a lot of parking, which has been a sore spot with Backyard patrons since it opened next door in 2006.

The 5,000-capacity Backyard, at Texas 71 West and RM 620, opened it doors in 1993. A second venue on the same property, the 2,200-capacity Glenn, was opened in 2005.

O’Connor said in January that he was looking for a new location for the Backyard, likely in a more rural spot within the City of Bee Cave.

Upcoming shows include ZZ Top May 15, the Steve Miller Band June 1, and 311 with Snoop Dog Aug. 2 and 3.

 

[kevwun]

Even better news is that tow truck drivers will suffer.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

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[GHoward]

Are there any other good outdoor venues now? SouthPark measdows is now a pets/wal/officemart. This is gone.

 

[ballrific]

good

 

[UTViking]

I saw Sheryl Crow and Eric Johnson play there when I was in school. I really enjoyed both shows and I'm upset that it's necessary for them to close the place. Hopefully they can find a location to start up again.


Is there room next to The Salt Lick??

 

[The Madcap]

there goes the only mid-size venue in town. we desperately need a good outdoor venue that can support the larger touring acts. Stubbs just isn't big enough.

 

[DRAG69]

Another place in Bee Cave that the same thing will happen to. A big assed shopping center of concrete and asphalt will come along eventually.

When will it stop ?
We cannot keep paving every inch of open land in this state.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

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[Dark Star 1973]

my first concert at the Backyard was in 1994, as I tagged along with some guys who were from the east coast attending school at UT. They were psyched about seeing some band named fish that they used to see back home all the time. I found it funny in the lot before the show that the band was actually spelled "Phish" and they were some hippie dudes from Vermont. That night changed my life forever, and I will always be grateful for the Backyard for completely changing the way I appreciate and listen to music. good times.

I thought Cedar Park was going to build an outdoor amphitheater, with two stages, a 4K max stage, and a 8-12K stage area. Guess i'm still waiting on that ice rink they were going to build as well.

 

[LITNIN HORN]

inside info says Tim is looking at a location around the corner, close to the Home Depot...larger space, better parking situation and off of 71.

one more spot bite the dust...I've been going there since it was the Branding Iron, thirty odd years ago.

 

[l00p]

I got to meet and have a meal backstage with Tito Puente there. Almost two hours of facetime with one of my hero's. I won't ever forget it. He then went on to perform and played a song we had discussed that was not scheduled to be played. I was deeply touched, still am.

That is always to be my memory of the Backyard which was once my favorite venue in Austin. It has not been that way since the Dallas moved nearby.

 

[MaduroUTMB]

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[HOOKMD]

It was done when they opened a fn mall next door. I hope they move it out to the middle of nowhere and recapture how it used to look.

 

[NativeTXchic]

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[Basketball Jones]

The report on KXAN last night said it was moving to 620, about a mile away, and will expand seating to 7500.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

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[l00p]

You think correctly.

 

[axle hongsnort]

what a f-in shame. i was in austin from the early to mid 90's when the jam band scene was peaking. widespread, phish, dave matthews, etc at the backyard was the tits. i can't fathom that place surrounded by a shopping mall.

man, i read texas showdown is closing and that is where i had my first legal drink.

what's next, a dixie chicken on the drag?

 

[achooloco]

good, the place ******* sucks. yeah, it used to be great dont get me wrong but saw modest mouse there and it was the worst ******* music experience i have ever had in austin. **** that parking, the crowds, the traffic, the small *** winding road to get to the parking, the damn big box place. i swore after that one time i would never go to the backyard again no matter who was playing. i know the snoop dogg concert will be great but the traffic will make it suck. no point going to a two hour show when it takes 3 hours to get out of the place.