If you want a true Austin music experience tonight—not a festival, not a polished concert hall performance, but the real late‑night honky‑tonk heartbeat of the city—The White Horse is where it’s happening. And at 11:30 PM, outlaw country artist Tyler‑James Kelly takes the stage for a rare, ultra‑late set that taps directly into Austin’s grassroots nightlife culture.
EAST CESAR CHAVEZ
Interactive map with permits, restaurants, bars & development data
Below is everything you need to know before heading to the East Side’s most iconic honky‑tonk tonight, plus insider tips only regulars know. If this night gets you hooked on Austin’s live‑music scene, you can also explore deeper cuts like Free Week on Red River and other local venue initiatives later on.
THE ESSENTIAL DETAILS
• Artist: Tyler‑James Kelly (Outlaw Country)
• Venue: The White Horse, 500 Comal St, Austin, TX 78702
• Time: 11:30 PM tonight
• Age: 21+ only, no exceptions
• Reservations: None — walk‑in only
• Best arrival window: Before 10:00 PM for space and easy bar access
• Venue hours: 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM daily
For the most breathing room at the bar and on the dance floor, aim to roll in between 9:30 and 10:00 PM—after 11 PM it turns into a shoulder‑to‑shoulder honky‑tonk.
Bring a valid physical ID (not a photo on your phone). Staff are strict about the 21+ rule and Texas bars commonly reject expired IDs.
If you want to double‑check set times or what’s coming up later this week, the official White Horse calendar keeps a nightly live‑music schedule updated.
WHY TONIGHT MATTERS
Shows starting after 11 PM at The White Horse have a specific magic to them: the crowd shifts local, the dance floor gets looser, and the bands lean into the gritty, unvarnished side of Texas country. Tyler‑James Kelly’s outlaw sound fits this time slot perfectly — raw vocals, pedal steel muscle, and the kind of two‑step‑ready rhythm that fills the floor instantly. If you’re curious what “outlaw country” actually means in the broader genre, this overview of outlaw country’s history and sound gives useful context for what you’ll hear tonight.
INSIDER INTELLIGENCE
These are tips from regulars, musicians, staff, and longtime East Siders who have watched hundreds of nights unfold here:
• The biggest crowd surge hits between 10 PM and midnight. If you want room to dance, arrive early.
• The venue is famous for selling more Lone Star Beer than almost anywhere else in Texas — order one and you immediately blend in. Longtime patrons and visitors say the same thing in reviews that call The White Horse “real Austin”.
Ordering a Lone Star is the quickest way to get served and to blend in with the regulars—consider it the unofficial house drink.
• Thursday–Saturday dance lessons happen at 7 PM. Not applicable tonight, but good to know for future visits. The bar’s own dance‑lesson listings and local teachers like Dancin’ Austin’s two‑step classes are perfect if you want to level up before your next night out.
• Bartenders move fast but the lines grow long after 11 PM. If you love cocktails, order them before 10:30 PM; after that, stick to beer or whiskey.
Start the night with your “fancy” drink order, then switch to easy pours (beer or a shot‑and‑a‑beer combo) once the bar gets slammed.
• Bring cash or Venmo if you want to tip instructors, the band, or buskers outside.
• Parking around East 6th is limited. Expect to circle or walk a few blocks, and check the City of Austin’s parking guidance if you’re unsure about meters, paid lots, or late‑night rules.
Street parking enforcement around East 6th is active, even late. Leave extra time to find a legal spot and double‑check signs to avoid a tow.
WHY THE WHITE HORSE IS STILL THE EAST AUSTIN STANDARD
Even as East Austin evolves, The White Horse remains a constant. Cheap beer, a legendary dance floor, and nightly live music keep it full every day of the week. It’s one of the last true honky‑tonks where locals dominate the room — you’ll see construction workers, musicians, grad students, cowboys, tattoo artists, and tech transplants all two‑stepping together. For a broader look at how spots like this define the city’s identity, Austin’s official music guide on the local live‑music and bar scene helps explain why places like The White Horse get treated as cultural touchstones.
This venue isn’t a backdrop. It’s a cultural institution that shows up again and again in coverage of Austin’s legacy music venues and preservation efforts.
- Authentic East Austin honky‑tonk vibe
- Nightly live music
- Big dedicated dance floor
- Affordable drinks
- Strong local crowd and community feel
- Great for two‑stepping and people‑watching
- Gets extremely crowded late
- Limited parking nearby
- 21+ only
- Loud and sweaty—tough if you prefer low‑key bars
One of Austin’s essential late‑night rooms: if you want to feel the real East Side honky‑tonk heartbeat, a Tyler‑James Kelly set at The White Horse is as pure as it gets.
TONIGHT’S LATE‑NIGHT VIBE
Expect the dance floor full. Expect sweat. Expect a room that moves as one when the band hits their first downbeat. Tyler‑James Kelly’s sound leans into the newer wave of outlaw country — gritty, emotional, and made for a wooden floor with boots on it. If you catch yourself wanting to learn the steps, a quick beginner’s guide to the Texas Two‑Step will have you ready to jump in next time.
If you’ve been wanting a night that feels like Austin before it became a buzzword, tonight is the night to show up. And if immersive nights are your thing, you might also love offbeat experiences like Austin’s Beatles full‑moon concert in the dark or sunset social dance events like Zouk & Lambada in the park on a different weekend.
INTERNAL LINKS FOR FURTHER DISCOVERY
• Inside Free Week Austin 2026: The Insider Guide to Red River’s Most Iconic No‑Cover Music Festival
• Inside the Dick Chalmers Music Venue Program: The Insider Guide to Red River’s Newest Legacy‑Building Initiative
• Inside Zouk & Lambada in the Park: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Free Sunset Dance Wellness Event
• Inside the Beatles Full Moon Concert in the Dark: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Most Immersive Music Experience of the Weekend
For more on the venue itself, you can also skim its official FAQ or cross‑check details on event and listing sites that feature The White Horse.
If you want the Austin experience tourists don’t know to look for — the kind you remember, the kind you sweat through — Tyler‑James Kelly at The White Horse tonight is it.
Related Austin Data
Inside Tonight at The White Horse: The Insider Guide to Tyler‑James Kelly’s Late‑Night Outlaw Country Set
Choose how to share
