Austin's Band of the Year 1963- 2022

Plus a 50-song playlist of the best in local recordings

Here are the bands that made the biggest splash, had the most captivating stories, or had the biggest impact on the music scene. Significance takes precedent over popularity. Reading the names from beginning to end gives you a great timeline and a sense of the breadth of live, original Austin music through the years.

We’ve also provided a playlist for those who don’t think Spotify is evil or, like me, think they’re assholes for ripping off musicians, but hasn’t the music biz always done that? I’m not going to stop listening to “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” because Morris Levy stole the publishing.

The list is bands only, not solo artists. And, yes I know Beto y los Fairlanes and the Lotions put Liberty Lunch on the map in the late ‘70s, but there was a lot of competition.

AUSTIN BAND OF THE YEAR

1976’s band of the year Balcones Fault at Liberty Lunch. Photo by Nancy E. Goldfarb LeNoir. That rare comedic jazz showband, Balcones was one of the few local acts that could fill the Armadillo.

1963: Bobby Doyle Three
1964: Geezinslaw Brothers
1965: (tie) Baby Cakes, the Wig
1966: 13th Floor Elevators
1967: Conqueroo/ Shiva’s Head Band
1968: Lavender Hill Express
1969: Mexican Revolution
1970: Kenneth Threadgill and the Hootenanny Hoots
1971: Krackerjack
1972: (tie) Freda and the Firedogs, Greezy Wheels
1973: Doug Sahm Band/s
1974: (tie) Too Smooth, Electromagnets
1975: (tie) Cobras, Asleep at the Wheel
1976: Balcones Fault
1977: (tie) Lost Gonzo Band, Fools
1978: Uncle Walt’s Band
1979: Fabulous Thunderbirds
1980: Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns
1981: Joe Ely Band
1982: Big Boys
1983: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
1984: (tie) LeRoi Brothers, Dino Lee and the White Trash Revue
1985: (tie) True Believers, Zeitgeist
1986: Timbuk3
1987: Butthole Surfers
1988: Wagoneers
1989: (tie) Poi Dog Pondering, Twang Twang Shock-a-Boom
1990: (tie) Dangerous Toys, Two Hoots and a Holler
1991: The Arc Angels
1992: Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra
1993: Don Walser and the Pure Texas Band
1994: Soulhat
1995: (tie) Sincola, Storyville
1996: (tie) Sixteen Deluxe, the Derailers
1997: (tie) Damnations, Vallejo
1998: Fastball
1999: The Scabs
2000: Gourds
2001: Bob Schneider and Lonelyland
2002: (tie) Del Castillo, Trail of Dead
2003: Explosions in the Sky
2004: Los Lonely Boys
2005: Spoon
2006: Ghostland Observatory
2007: (tie) Okkervil River, Grupo Fantasma
2008: Band of Heathens
2009: Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
2010: (tie) Black Angels, Nick Curran and the Lowlifes
2011: Bright Light Social Hour
2012: Wild Child
2013: White Denim
2014: Brownout
2015: Riders Against the Storm
2016: The Sword
2017: A Giant Dog/ Sweet Spirit
2018: Shinyribs
2019: Sir Woman
2020: Black Pumas
2021: Spoon
2022: BLK ODYSSY