Rice University is home to the Houston Folk Music Archive, an ongoing initiative created to document Houston’s vital role as an American folk music incubator. Through archival collections of photos and show posters, oral histories, and a free online exhibit, the Houston Folk Music Archive helps tell and preserve fascinating pieces of Houston’s music story.

One of the archive’s most compelling projects is the interactive Story Map of Houston Folk Music Venues, focusing on 1961-1990. Song clips, vintage posters, candid photos, and contextualizing, chronological anecdotes and facts bring historic spaces, culture, and people back to life.

Explore it all here.

Live Music HTX isn’t just sharing Houston’s music story: They’re helping write it. Originally launched by Alayna Steinman in 2019, Live Music HTX has grown into a multi-faceted powerhouse dreamed up to serve working musicians. Through live shows, streaming, and creative, philanthropic, and marketing support, Live Music HTX highlights Houston’s best, underscoring the city’s breathtaking artistic depth and diversity along the way.

Live Music HTX carries out its mission through an ever-expanding group of initiatives. Produced by Live Music HTX, Circle Chair Sessions channel is an acclaimed, ongoing YouTube series capturing live performances by local and touring artists in front of a studio audience. Recent guests include Matt Harlan, Mary Hammer and Betsy Lee, Q, and so many more.

The Place Next Door is another Live Music HTX gem. A pop-up venue nestled in the heart of Montrose, the Place Next Door brings intimate performances to attentive audiences. Partnerships also allow Live Music HTX connect artists to events and opportunities at other venues, such as House of Blues’ Foundation Room.

Lastly, in Houston’s enormous and long-segmented music scene, Live Music HTX’s Instagram feed has become a trusted, consolidated resource for show listings and local arts news.

Ultimately, everything Live Music HTX does works toward one overarching goal: to cultivate a community that supports artists as they create on their own terms.

Explore Live Music HTX here.

Start watching Circle Chair Sessions here.

BB’s Tex-Orleans is a Houston institution. At BB’s, classic cajun food is celebrated and reimagined through a distinctly Texan lens. Dishes are always executed with superior ingredients––and the confidence that only comes with trusting a grandmother’s recipes. The results? Downright delicious: Giant po’boys and baskets brimming with fried Gulf Coast delicacies, hot queso and creole-style boudin, plus pounds and pounds of crawfish, fill tables at the brand’s 14 locations, which include 12 in Houston, 2 in San Antonio.

Mouthwatering menus and expertly stocked bars are the main draw, but BB’s also regularly hosts live music––heavy on the zydeco.

Launched by Brooks Bassler in Montrose in 2007, BB’s is a testament to entrepreneurial spirit and family. Brooks’ grandmother, Maw Maw, inspired much of the menu, while his own work ethic, generosity, and high standards continue to drive the brand’s growth.

Explore menus, locations, hours, and more here.

Family-owned and operated, Bojangles Music School has connected Houstonians to music lessons and other events since 2007. The school offers one-on-one instruction on rock-and-roll instruments to students of all ages and skill levels. An emphasis on industry-leading pay for teachers and the ideal blend of joy and fundamentals for students sets Bojangles apart. 

Founded by Shawn Parks, Bojangles began as a one-man guitar school, traveling from home to home in Houston, specializing in lessons for beginners. As Shawn’s client roster grew, he welcomed additional instructors, whom he recruited from Houston’s local music scene. Bojangles found its own home at Rockin’ Robin in November 2014. In August 2022, Bojangles opened its second location in the Heights.

A Night for Guy is produced by Bojangles Presents, the arm of Bojangles Music School dedicated to creating events that highlight Houston’s rich local music scene, showcase aspiring performers, and connect people of all ages to the dynamic music history rooted in the Bayou City.

Learn more about lessons and other opportunities here.

Fiora’s Bottle Shop is a lot like the wines that line its walls: bright, chic, and utterly charming. Nestled in the heart of Montrose, Fiora’s is an expertly curated wine bar and shop, gourmet nosh haven, and breezy cafe, rolled into one.

Thick sandwiches occupy menu space alongside snacky bites ranging from luxe tinned seafoods to seasoned potato chips with lemon aioli or harissa spread. The international wine selection spans grapes and locales, with a nice collection of Texas vintners in tow. Arched floor-to-ceiling windows and a shaded back patio help blur lines between outdoors and in, while pops of color, shades of rose, and earthy tans collaborate inside. And the staff? Knowledgeable, easy going, and kind.

Visit Fiora’s at 888 Westheimer Rd Suite 107, Houston, TX 77006.

Explore menus and more at fiorasbottleshop.com.

New Magnolia Brewing Co. makes award-winning craft beer right here in the heart of Houston. In a world saturated with messaging and marketing, New Magnolia’s beer speaks loudly––and deliciously––for itself.

But there’s more to New Magnolia’s mission. The family-owned and operated business celebrates Houston’s rich beer history not just by telling the story, but by brewing it. Recipes from the original Magnolia Brewery, nestled on Buffalo Bayou from 1895 to 1935, come bubbling back to life under New Magnolia’s expert care. New brews like the Heights Light Lager also shine, and become explorations of how taste is connected to place.

Then there’s New Magnolia’s role in Houston music. The city’s finest singer-songwriters play the brewery’s stage, sometimes in billed shows, sometimes as part of the beloved open mic night.

Comfortable, dog-friendly, and an easy hang for families, New Magnolia has quickly become a favorite gathering spot.

Visit the taproom at 1616 Bevis St., Houston, TX, 77008.

Explore New Magnolia Brewing Co. beers, events, and more here.