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Antone’s, the legendary Austin club that has been called “the birthplace of a blues revival” (NPR) and the venue that “helped put the Live Music Capital Of The World on the map” (Austin American Statesman), will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, a milestone that will be marked with an ambitious slate of live performances, historical exploration, new releases and much more.

Founded by Clifford Antone as the first live music venue on Austin’s now-famous Sixth Street, the club will celebrate its past, present and future with an upcoming boxed set of rare, long-lost and new material in collaboration with New West Records – as well as performances, both inside its hallowed walls and in partnership with institutions like Lincoln Center, SXSW and the Austin Blues Festival.

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First established in 1975, Antone’s quickly became ‘home away from home’ for a Mount Rushmore of blues musicians including Muddy Waters, Albert King, Otis Rush, Willie Dixon and B.B. King - as well as a broader tapestry of American roots music. The force behind this all was Clifford Antone, a native of Texas’ Gulf Coast region who spent much of his youth roadtripping through the juke joints of nearby Louisiana, where he developed a deep love of Creole music, RandB, zydeco and, above all, the blues.

Initially opening a sandwich shop in Austin (the ‘family business’ of his Lebanese-American relatives), it wasn’t long before Antone felt called to pursue his musical passions. “Clifford knew as much about the blues as I did,” Buddy Guy would later reflect on their decades of friendship. Under Clifford’s guidance, the club would soon become “one of the most important blues joints in the country and a must-visit stop” (Texas Monthly) - and he’d establish Antone’s Records as an independent home for many club regulars to release their music. The venue and label shared a guiding philosophy: “Clifford Antone was known for his generosity to musicians,” as the New York Times put it.

In the venue’s five decade run, Antone’s has continued to define the present and shape the future of blues music, bolstering the careers of internationally-renowned artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Doug Sahm, Charlie Sexton, Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton and many more. Today, it remains a vital presence in the live music scene, with its influence carried forward by a new generation of trailblazing artists including Gary Clark Jr., Kam Franklin, Jackie Venson and McKinley James. Longtime Antone’s supporter Willie Nelson has noted: “I play the blues every night…I think Johnny Gimble said there’s only two kinds of music, the Star Spangled Banner and the blues.”

A testament to its place as the leading ambassador for Austin’s rich live music culture and history, Antone’s will open its first satellite location this year at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (including a performance stage) and will establish one of the world’s preeminent blues museums upstairs at the venue, fulfilling a lifelong dream of Clifford Antone. In all, Antone’s 50th anniversary celebrations will include:

* Antone's 50th anniversary boxed set coming this summer in collaboration with New West Records; featuring rare live recordings from throughout the club's history, out-of-print material from the Antone's Records catalog, and brand-new recordings from Antone's staples across generations.

* Official panel at SXSW 2025 celebrating the club, its role in the Austin music scene and the milestone anniversary; followed by a day party and 50th Anniversary showcase at the venue.

* This year's Austin Blues Festival, taking place April 26 and 27, will celebrate Antone's 50th, including a series of all-star jams with musicians essential to the club's past, present and future.

* Antone's will head to New York City this June for a curated day of music as part of Lincoln Center's Summer For The City series, which will include performances from friends and all-stars on one of the world's most prestigious stages.

* The opening of a satellite Antone's location in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, featuring a performance stage and historically-significant artifacts from the club.

* The club will realize founder Clifford Antone's lifelong dream by opening a permanent Blues Museum upstairs at Antone's this year, with items donated from Billy F Gibbons (of ZZ Top), Willie Dixon, Susan Antone, Clifton Chenier and many more.

* Special shows at the club throughout the month of July, including the official anniversary party on July 15 (the original date of the very first gig hosted at Antone's in 1975).

* The release of an extended and updated version of the documentary "Antone's: Home Of The Blues" (originally released for the club's 30th anniversary in 2005, shortly before Clifford's passing) and Susan Antone's "Picture The Blues" photobook (originally released for the club's 10th anniversary in 1985).

More information on each element of Antone’s 50th anniversary celebration will be announced soon, full information will be available at https://antonesnightclub.com/