Antone’s 50th SXSW Anniversary Showcase Brings Together a History of Blues in Texas
- Shunya Carroll
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 16
From every wall, you can feel the rich history that Antone’s nightclub brought to the Austin music scene. From the 30-foot-long tryptic of blues legend Muddy Waters to a poster of their first anniversary showcase in 1976 of legendary musicians. An opposite wall hangs a poster, yellowed from age, of Antone’s second anniversary with a performance from the king and originator of zydeco, Clifton Chenier.
Chenier’s son, CJ Chenier continues that legacy and has had a long relationship with the venue. He performed here for his 21st birthday in 1978 and again at Antone’s 50th anniversary SXSW showcase with the Louisiana Hot Band.
“I’m not quitting in 10 minutes ladies and gentleman – I’m not quitting in 10 minutes,” Chenier said. His set time was almost up but the crowd was not ready to stop the party.
The pearl keys of his Baldoni accordion directed the crowd. He took the final 10 to play Bob Marley’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” their way – the zydeco way – fast and playful. The audience joined the band at the chorus, filling the room with unified joy.
People come to clubs like this to be entertained and put distance from the outside world. But, South by Southwest this year had political undertones and a nervous uncertainty was always nearby. Presenters, musicians and casual conversations I had tiptoed around the elephant in the room.
But Chenier – he unified people under one chorus and excised that energy.
His performance was church.
CJ Chenier and the Louisiana Hot Band was only the opening act for four other performances. A good party peaks and valleys where each valley was the soundcheck between sets, we were all talking about how good the last one was. This 50th anniversary showcase was one celebration of many happening this year.
“Clifford’s vision was to celebrate the people that didn’t get their flowers,” Antone’s retail and brand manager Sam Boland said. We sat down and discussed the venue’s history, the SXSW showcase and their future museum.
Clifford Antone opened the venue in 1975 and became the biggest best nightclub in America at the time and hosted B.B. King, Jimmy Reed and more.
“People who built the foundation of what would become rock n’ roll and funk – and then funk turns into hiphop. You know, everything kind of grows. And then the blues really is the roots of modern music. American music. So many people just don’t get enough credit,” Boland said.
Performers Suzanne Santo, John Primer, Ian Moore and the Rumble with feat. Chief Joseph Bouderaux Jr. all have a special connection to Antone's nightclub and roots in American music.
Suzanne Santo
Suzanne Santo blends genres, but ultimately lands on Americana. Santo performing after CJ Chenier’s southern roots music set a precedent for authentic, high energy soul for the night. She moved to Austin from Los Angeles and brought a gritty, heartful, sound that Antone’s many musical identities resonate with.
You could see her violin’s bow hairs breaking, trying to keep up with her energy.
John Primer
John Primer carries the torch of Chicago blues that defined Antone’s signature sound. He was inducted into the Chicago Blues hall of fame in 2017 and played guitar in Muddy Water’s band. You can see him playing with Muddy Waters in a legendary 1981 performance where blues met rock with the Rolling Stones.
Primer became the connection between Texas and Chicago blues that opened doors to many other artists. Primer gave Antone’s a roadway for Texans to meet their blues heroes.
Ian Moore
Ian Moore belongs to a generation of artists who grew from musicians like Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson and Jimmie Vaughan. He grew up playing at Antone’s and his 50th anniversary performance felt like a homecoming.
Moore blends rock n roll with blues in his long form solos and gritty vocals. Halfway through the set he paid tribute to venue founder Clifford Antone with Muddy Water’s song “Champagne and Reffer.” He joked Antone would try to cut the rock n roll out of his playing, but would spin rock in anyways.
“I had so much respect for [the blues],” Moore said in an Instagram message, “I was a young Austin kid and had all these other influences that were also in my music. I remember being really torn because I wanted to show my respect to the beauty and depth of the music but I also had to do my own thing.”
The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Bouderaux Jr
The New Orleans band The Rumble rounded off the showcase with roots music that Antone’s is known for blending together. Founder Clifford Antone grew up in Port Arthur, Texas along the Louisiana boarder and would road-trip across the South’s various juke venues. The Rumble is unmistakably a Louisiana band that blends tradition and innovation through funk.
Their grammy nominated album, Stories from the Battlefield, brings the past, present and future of Mardi Gras to our ears.
The nightclub is celebrating its 50th anniversary all year long with special events including the Austin Blues festival and New York City’s Lincoln Center Summer for the City. Their largest effort may be curating their artifact collection for their very own museum.Their collection includes instruments, Clifford’s personal items, performers’ outfits and historical documents.
“There are 50 years worth of posters and hats and harmonicas, amplifiers, organs and boxes. It’s actually been hard to boil down,” Boland said.
Although plans aren’t final, the museum may rotate items between seasons to share different eras of Antone’s story.
A special performance will be held on July 15, exactly 50 years after the first show in 1975. It will showcase artists that are part of Antone’s history and future.
“This is what we’ve done and we’re gonna keep doing it,” Boland said.
