Austin’s Outdoor Venues Battle with the Heat: The Impact of a Changing Climate on the City’s Live Music Scene.
As the early evening thunderstorm subsided on a sweltering evening in Austin, Texas, hundreds of fans hoped to witness legendary musician Neil Young along with Crazy Horse at the Germania Amphitheater, were left disappointed. Despite being a ‘rain or shine’ concert, the event was cancelled due to the weather conditions. This unfortunate incident portrays a grim picture of the growing challenges posed by the changing weather on outdoor music events in Texas.
Climate Change – A Threat to the Music Industry
Climate change is not only a global crisis that poses serious challenges to the natural environment and human lives but is also threatening industries across the board—including the live music scene. For anyone hailing from Central Texas, the intensifying crisis needs no explanation. The city of Austin suffered a record 80 days with temperatures over 100 degrees last summer, with 45 of those days experiencing a punishing 105 degrees or even more.
A New Climate Reality: Hotter for Longer
The grim reality facing Texas today is a far cry from its past when summer heat was a manageable challenge. The historic Armadillo World Headquarters, a Seventies icon that once drew droves of music lovers to its un-airconditioned space, is unimaginable in the current scorching heat. The drastic rise in temperature is linked to the increasing amount of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution.
Heat Impacting Live Performances
Historically, summer has never been a prime touring time for many artists in the south, particularly those reliant on college audiences. However, Austin’s exponential growth has brought about changes, attracting older legacy acts that are less concerned about school schedules. But are these shows sustainable in the face of Austin’s blistering summers?
The Future of Outdoor Music Shows
Facing an even hotter future, Austin’s live music scene is contending with a new norm. With Austin’s famed resilience, some changes are already kicking in. Stubb’s, the significant outdoor Red River venue and BBQ restaurant, is considering measures to combat the heat. One solution is pushing back the start times of their events, waiting for the sun to go down and the earth to cool before letting audiences in.
Adjusting to New Realities
Despite the heat, fans remain committed to their love for music. UT sophomore and KUTX staffer, Maile Carballo, sums up the prevailing resilient spirit, “Honestly, I have a whatever mentality. I’m a pretty practical person, so I’m to the point now where I’ll just sweat, you know, stay hydrated and come prepared. It’ll be okay.”
Towards Sustainable Solutions
While Austin’s live music scene grapples with these challenges, it’s crucial to remember that climate change is a global issue that calls for long-term, sustainable solutions. Transitioning our electricity sources, promoting renewable energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions can make a significant difference. But even with these measures in place, Austin’s battle with increasing heat is just one of the many complex challenges that the live music industry—in the city and beyond—will need to contend with in a warming world.
As we navigate these new realities, mitigating strategies such as shade structures, misting, and later concert start times become necessary upgrades for Austin’s outdoor venues. The universal love for music in Austin demands no less.
