Austin's Backyard Ampitheater Announces Final Season

Direct Events and Backyard owner Tim O'Connor has announced the live oak amphitheater's final season, calling it quits after sixteen seasons in the hill country.

Situated at 71 W and RR620, the Backyard has hosted over 1 million guests and hundreds of live acts over the years, including Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, the Shins, Modest Mouse, Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakum, Chris Issak and many more.

O'Connor planned the venue with the peaceful hill country atmosphere as a centerpiece to the experience, and cites the Hill Country Galleria's expansion as the reason behind his decision. "The Shops at The Galleria development that now surrounds the Backyard has taken away from some of the venue's magic over the last few years," he said in a press release.

Though this will be the final season at that location, O'Connor and Direct Events have already proposed a new plan to the City of Bee Cave, and hopes to build a new location in that area which will not be compromised by ... shopping centers and parking lots.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Paige Maguire in Arts & Entertainment on April 24, 2008 1:11 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

deadflowers

I know that the Backyard and Glenn generate enough revenue for Direct Events for them to be able to adequately afford to move them.

Shame what happened to them. Seems that the later development next door did NOT like them very much. Last time I went to a concert out there was a couple years ago and it was just starting to get difficult then.

davetx

It's a shame what's happened to the Backyard. It used to be a great venue, and if it were allowed to co-exist with the shopping center it might have worked out, but the beauty of it had already been ruined. Damn shame, I've seen some of the best sounding shows in Austin out there.

Hopefully this is a case of "on to bigger (or at least better) things."

kenneth1

It's pretty ironic when people are complaining about "development" ruining a concert venue that was only reachable by car. Yeah, cars are only bad when other people drive them.

leggyblonde

but... i moved out to the country to get AWAY from the traffic and strip malls!

What do you mean there's no Best Buy here?!

helloali

oh, and i believe that event was part of an over-commercialized mtvu college concert series, which just made the whole thing more salient.

helloali

i think the time i went out there and took that pic above was the first time i realized the backyard was not the backyard i remembered. i definitely was a little shocked and saddened then, but now it does seem time for a move.

austinsoundcheck

I realized how wrong the situation had become when I got out of a concert at the Backyard and then walked across the parking lot of a strip mall to pick up a CD of a band I'd just heard.

pd

I would usually be upset with a move like this, however, the last couple times I went to the Backyard I had a horrible experience.

The parking setup was as frustrating as ever, the shopping center is not only visible from the stage, but you can hear it and see the light pollution spilling over. The owner is right--where they are now is not where they used to be.

I never thought I'd say it--but, good riddance.

Grape Ape

"new location in that area which will not be compromised by ... shopping centers and parking lots."

There is a space left in that area that is not already compromised by development?