Old news clippings in a side room trace the brief rise and fall of the Urban Cowboy–era honky-tonk boom. Broken Spoke endured, operating as a no-frills dance hall and restaurant serving Southern comfort food. Since opening in 1964, the venue has hosted country music figures including Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff, Willie Nelson and George Strait. Terri White teaches two-step lessons Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Cash cover.

At The White Horse, standing near the dance floor often leads to an invitation to dance. On weekends and many weeknights, the East Austin honky-tonk fills with couples two-stepping in boots and denim. The 21-and-up crowd ranges in style, from dressed up to laid-back. Beth Coffey of Dancin’ Austin teaches two-step lessons Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. Cash cover.

A 1970s-era dancehall, Donn’s Depot is a former train depot relocated to West Fifth Street. The venue is known for its dance-forward crowds and steady live music. Double or Nothing’s Vanessa Vaught teaches beginner two-step lessons on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Weekend cover.

Five miles north of downtown, Little Longhorn is a chapel-shaped dive bar dating to 1963. Chicken Shit Bingo is part of the bar’s lore, alongside a live music calendar that continues six days a week. Hill Country Two Step hosts two-step lessons every Wednesday at 7 p.m. No cover.

South Austin live music joint Sagebrush hosts up-and-coming bands alongside established cult-favorite acts. Double or Nothing offers two-step lessons on Tuesdays, with beginner classes at 6 p.m. and intermediate lessons at 7 p.m. Hill Country Two Step hosts intermediate lessons on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and advanced lessons on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Country Fried Dance brings queer line dancing on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Cash cover.

Fiddler Warren Hood draws a loyal crowd to Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (ABGB) every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., where his high-energy sets regularly fill the room. The South Austin gastropub’s Western-leaning calendar has made it a reliable stop for live country and roots music. No cover.

Sam’s Town Point, a favorite hangout for local musicians, is tucked into a residential neighborhood just off the beaten path. Ramsay Midwood plays weekly, drawing a two-stepping crowd to the often-packed dance floor. Cash cover.

Uptempo tunes from The Bluegrass Outfit on the outdoor deck at Radio on Menchaca are so popular that seats are usually claimed by the 7 p.m. start for the weekly bluegrass Monday. Shows move indoors in bad weather. Arrive early to navigate the dirt parking lot or find neighborhood parking, order from Veracruz All Natural, Short Wave Diner, Wow Poke or other trailers, and grab a drink at the bar. No cover.

The weekly Grassy Thursdays event at St. Elmo Brewing Co. is an indoor or outdoor jam, dependent on weather, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with many players hopping in. With ice cold beer and a Spicy Boys food trailer, it’s a hootenanny that’s hard to beat. No one breaks into clogging, but a few people dance along. No cover.