Events at The Concourse Project, Austin

About The Concourse Project

The Concourse Project is a modern indoor/outdoor music venue in Austin, Texas, established in 2021 (concourseproject.com). Its massive, 18,000+ square-foot warehouse main hall is a flexible, “modular” space that can host anything from intimate dance nights to large-scale electronic festivals (concourseproject.com) (djmag.com). The venue is by the south terminal of Austin–Bergstrom Airport (at 8509 Burleson Road) (concourseproject.com), and it was built (literally from a blank warehouse shell) by local promoters Kelly Gray, Andrew Parsons and David Brinkley. With high ceilings and an industrial, raw finish, The Concourse Project’s design emphasizes high-tech sound and light production – co-owner Brinkley describes its PA as “very over-spec’d” and acoustically treated for the space (austin-reports.com). Within months of opening, the venue earned national acclaim: DJ Mag ranked it as one of the world’s top clubs (#27 globally and #4 in the USA for 2025) (concourseproject.com). It also drew praise locally (a 2023 Austin Chronicle Best Of nominee for “Best Large Music Venue”), underscoring its significance in Austin’s music scene (concourseproject.com).

Events and Programming

The Concourse Project specializes in electronic dance music (EDM) events, featuring world-class DJs alongside select live bands and genre-spanning concerts. The mainstage acts so far have run the gamut of dance music – trance legend Tiësto and party pioneer Carl Cox have headlined club nights here, as have Hacienda veterans Sasha & John Digweed (austin-reports.com). More recent sold-out bills include big names like Eric Prydz, RÜFÜS DU SOL and Charlotte de Witte (djmag.com). The venue’s calendar typically fills most weekends with dance and techno events, plus occasional indie-electronic artists. Local promoter RealMusic Events, which co-founded The Concourse Project, hosts its signature 3-day Seismic Dance Event festival here every November. Seismic 8.0 (Nov 14–16, 2024) featured dozens of top DJs including Disclosure, Carl Cox, and Gesaffelstein (kutx.org). In addition to these marquee events, the club hosts regular guest DJs in house, techno, and bass music (often starting around 9–10 PM) as well as special nights like all-ages live band shows or bass music raves. Ticket prices vary by show – local DJ sets might be in the $30–$50 range, while larger international acts or festivals can run $60-$100 or more, with VIP tiers higher. Because popular events routinely sell out well in advance, fans call early-bird presales (emails, social media updates) and often flock to the venue’s mailing list to grab passes as soon as on-sale dates are announced.

Tickets and Booking

Tickets for shows at The Concourse Project are sold online through the venue’s official channels and authorized ticket sellers. The venue does not publish hundreds of last-minute door sales – once an event is sold out online, typically no additional tickets are released at the door (concourseproject.com). If tickets are still available on event day, a very limited number may sometimes be sold at the box office (usually starting 1–2 hours before doors). Fans should subscribe to email lists for RealMusic Events or The Concourse Project to get advance notice of upcoming shows and any member or presale codes. Multi-tier pricing is common: for example, early-bird general admission (GA) might be cheaper, while later tiers or GA plus select privileges cost more (concourseproject.com). All ticket sales are final (no refunds) (concourseproject.com), so plan to attend the event you purchase. In general, expect mainstream club nights to range ~$30–$60, whereas festival passes or big-name concerts run higher. For sold-out shows, fans often check resale networks or official waitlists, but note that any resale transactions are unofficial and not controlled by the venue.

Seating and Layout

The Concourse Project’s layout is mostly open-plan. The main event hall is a big general-admission (standing-room) expanse. A raised stage at one end hosts the DJs, while the audience stands on the floor or patios under the sky. There is an upstairs mezzanine that runs along one side or rear of the hall – this mezzanine serves as a raised viewing area and VIP zone, but even this level is usually standing room only (no fixed seats) (concourseproject.com). In fact, venue staff note there is no “seated” in the building: all areas are either general admission or elevated viewing platforms. For the best view of the show, many fans head to the center of the dance floor or the mezzanine’s front edge. In practice, the entire room is acoustically tuned, so sound quality is strong anywhere – although the subwoofers are oriented front, the system is “over-spec’d” to fill the hall evenly (austin-reports.com). A few unique vantage points: right behind the sound booth (near center back of house) tends to be less crowded with solid sound quality; and along the mezzanine sides, one has a full overview of the crowd and stage. Note that professional photo/video rigs (DSLRs, boom-mounted cameras, etc.) are explicitly prohibited (concourseproject.com), though personal phone cameras are generally tolerated (just no flash photography, which is banned (concourseproject.com)). If you have VIP or wheelchair-access needs, the venue’s FAQ advises that wheelchair patrons with a VIP ticket can use the special VIP viewing platform behind the sound area (concourseproject.com); this area also has a lounge and bar. `}

Getting There and Parking

The Concourse Project is located at 8509 Burleson Road, Austin TX 78719 (concourseproject.com). This is just southeast of downtown Austin, near the airport’s South Terminal. By car, most visitors arrive via I-35 (take the Oltorf exit southbound) or from South Congress Road heading south, then turn onto Burleson. The venue shares its block with a few other businesses (including the Wayside restaurant/bar on site), making it fairly visible. There is a limited free parking lot directly at the venue entrance (concourseproject.com), but it can fill up quickly for big shows. When the lot is full, the venue operates paid overflow parking at the adjacent lot next door (at 8511 Burleson Rd) (concourseproject.com). Drop-off functions (Uber/Lyft/taxis) are allowed right outside the main entrance on Burleson Road; in fact, many concertgoers prefer rideshare or taxis if street parking is tight. Austin’s public transit provides some options: CapMetro buses run along Burleson Road. The #311 line (ACC Riverside/Airport route) passes nearby, and other routes toward downtown stop a few blocks away on South Congress. (Visitors often take the MetroRail Red Line to Downtown and transfer to a local bus, or simply use rideshare from central locations.) There is no light rail service directly to the venue, so most non-driving visitors rely on bus service or ride-hailing. For those flying in for a show, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport is just a few minutes north of The Concourse Project. From the airport’s terminals, one can take airport shuttle or rideshare downtown a short distance to Burleson and Wayside Roadhouse (the complex housing the club). Several hotels and motels line routes within 2-3 miles (e.g. on I-35 or Airport Blvd) if an overnight stay is needed.

Inside the Venue

Entering The Concourse Project, expect standard concert security checks. You’ll have your ticket scanned (mobile QR or print) and receive a wristband. Do not bring prohibited items (bags over ~10″×10″, outside food, water bottles, large cameras) – these will be confiscated or you’ll be turned away (concourseproject.com) (concourseproject.com). The venue does **not** allow re-entry: once inside, you can’t leave and come back (concourseproject.com). Inside, the atmosphere is industrial and nightclub-like but with lots of space. There is a fully-licensed bar serving beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. If you forget water, note that outside bottles are banned, but the club provides free drinking water from large dispensers inside (concourseproject.com). For snacks, you must plan accordingly: no outside food is permitted (concourseproject.com), and the venue has little in-house food service (some shows may feature a few food trucks or a small taco stand). Facilities include restrooms on the main floor and upstairs. The restrooms are clean and modern. There is no guaranteed coat check service of large items, so bring only small bags or none. Merchandise tables for each act are usually set up in the mix of GA floor or back lobby; fans often buy tour tees at these. Although cell reception can be spotty due to the thick concrete/metal structure, most people can text or request rides at the lobby just outside or under the open sky patio. Wi-Fi is not typically offered, so assume minimal connectivity. One inside bonus: when the weather is nice, you can step out to the open-air patio or adjacent lawn. On such nights a second DJ booth under cover may be playing outside, and local artists sometimes paint murals on the walls. Throughout the show, crowd etiquette is emphasized. The club enforces “good vibes only” rules: no moshing, no crowd-surfing, no intentionally blocking others’ views (concourseproject.com). The security and staff are attentive but friendly, letting the music fans dance freely while making sure everyone respects personal space and consent. If you need assistance or have accessibility needs, venues staff (with radios) are stationed near the front and upstairs. Wheelchair-accessible paths and ADA restrooms are available (concourseproject.com); wheelchair patrons are asked to stay on the perimeters of raised areas to keep aisles clear. In short: come prepared to dance, follow the simple rules posted by the entrance, and you’ll have a smooth time inside The Concourse Project.

Nearby Amenities

The neighborhood around The Concourse Project is mostly industrial/Warehouse District, so extensive dining or entertainment options are limited. However, one convenient advantage is the on-site “Wayside” restaurant and bar (in the same building complex) which often opens on event nights. It serves barbecue and Southern comfort food, and one can grab a bite on Wayside’s patio or lounge before or after a show. Adjacent to the club’s lot is a small taqueria stall (Mango Feliz) and sometimes food trucks during big events. For a bigger nightlife scene, the South Congress (SoCo) district is about 2 miles northwest – take a quick 10-minute drive to find dozens of bars, cafes and Tex-Mex restaurants (like Jo’s Coffee, Home Slice Pizza, or the iconic speakeasy The Continental Club) for pre- or post-show outings. If you’re staying overnight, a cluster of hotels lies east of the airport; options like Hilton Garden Inn or Fairfield Inn off Williams Drive are within 5–10 minutes’ drive and often offer shuttle service to the airport (which is very close by). Plan to arrive about 1–2 hours before showtime if possible. Evening traffic on Burleson can build up, and lots of fans will be converging. Nearby street parking is scarce, so buzzing out to eat and getting a ride in happens frequently. After a late show, CapMetro bus service is limited (buses stop running around midnight), so most guests rely on rideshare or taxis. Luckily, the area can be navigated quickly by car: downtown Austin is only about 6–7 miles north (Capitol complex in 15–20 minutes), and the airport code (AUS) is a 4-minute drive north on Presidential Blvd. Overall, just remember to factor in a bit of drive or cab time, and keep an eye on your car (as with any large event, don’t leave valuables in plain sight).

What Makes This Venue Special

The Concourse Project stands out for its sheer scale and production quality in a city known largely for bars and rock clubs. Architecturally, it’s a raw industrial space (concrete floors, exposed beams) that shines through technology – the lighting rig, video screens, and sound system are all world-class, giving even small shows a “festival-level” feel. The co-founders deliberately built it as a “living project,” upgrading the space as they go (djmag.com). Already plans have included adding a soundproof upstairs rehearsal studio for artists and cutting-edge stage effects like pixel strip lights and holographic projections (austin-reports.com). Culturally, The Concourse Project is special because it resurrects the dance-music vibrancy that Austin had largely lost. After early-2000s festivals were banned by law, underground rave culture went quiet for years. This venue (and the Seismic fest) have become a nexus for that community. Locals and new-comers alike talk about the “energy” on the floor – returning fans feel a warehouse rave spirit, with unpretentious crowds of bassheads and techno lovers (austin-reports.com) (kutx.org). Concertgoers often remark that visiting DJs – from local acts to global stars – appreciate Austin’s dedication; as Kelly Gray notes, “the Austin and Texas communities have been along for the ride with us as we consider the whole venue a project, ... and elevate together over time.” (djmag.com). In practical terms, it’s special because it delivers big-music experiences that other Austin clubs can’t. On any given night you might be seeing a DJ who skipped Austin for years – and here he is, in a club that virtually guarantees proper sound and production. The blend of indoor club space with an open-air patio also gives event designers flexibility (they can move parts of the party outside on nice nights). Finally, The Concourse Project has quickly gained a reputation as Austin’s “go-to” for dance music, attracting fans from across Texas and beyond. Every time a top-tier artist comes to town, many expect them to eventually play at The Concourse at least once (following acts like Eric Prydz and Odesza’s DJ set). That cachet – plus its high-tech vision – makes this venue not just another warehouse, but a key landmark in Austin’s modern music scene.

Visitor Tips and Information

• Age limit & ID: Everyone must be 18 or older to enter (concourseproject.com). Bring a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or military ID) (concourseproject.com). No minors or under-18 wristbands are allowed.
• What to bring: A small bag or backpack (no larger than about 10″×10″) is allowed (concourseproject.com). Phones and compact cameras are fine, but professional camera equipment (DSLRs with detachable lenses, video rigs) is prohibited (concourseproject.com). Wear comfortable shoes for dancing in a large, mostly standing crowd. Dress casually or in club attire; layers can help since the hall can get hot dancing but the outdoor patio is open to weather.
• Prohibited items: No outside food or beverages at all (concourseproject.com). No outside water bottles (they provide drinking water inside) (concourseproject.com). No large coolers, weapons, illegal substances, or even silly items like glow sticks or umbrellas inside (umbrellas only permitted for outdoor events). No flash photography, no smoking indoors (and no smoking necessarily in crowded areas – use outdoor designated areas) (concourseproject.com). Violating any of these rules can lead to ejection without refund.
• Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible with ADA-restroom stalls indoors (concourseproject.com). If you need accommodations (companion seating, etc.), email the venue before the event. Wheelchair users can position themselves at the risers along the back of the VIP platform (concourseproject.com) to enjoy the show. Note: VIP restrooms upstairs do not have wheelchair access, so use the main floor ADA stalls if needed.
• Arrival time: Doors usually open about 1 hour before showtime. Arrive early to queue up (lines are handled quickly by staff (austin-reports.com)). If you arrive late, you may still enter but could miss the opening sets. Also note that parking can take 10–15 minutes to sort on busy nights, so factor that into your schedule.
• Parking & transit: Use the free lot near the entrance if any spaces are available. Otherwise, use the lot next door (8511 Burleson) for a fee (concourseproject.com). Street parking is very limited on Burleson. If taking bus, CapMetro #311 and #228 run along Burleson Road, with a stop a short walk away. Rideshares can drop off at the venue’s main entrance. After events, a common mistake is underestimating travel time home – ride-hailing can surge at closing time, so budget accordingly or walk a half-block to a main road to find your driver.
• Crowd etiquette: The Concourse fan community prides itself on positive vibes. Respect personal space and consent (no groping, unwanted touching). Don’t try to surf or crowd-surf (it’s banned for safety) (concourseproject.com). Keep the dance area fluid – if you need a break, head to a side or upstairs lounge rather than blocking the middle. Security will warn or remove anyone being disruptive. If you see someone needing help, notify staff; they are generally friendly and quick to assist.
• Photography & filming: Personal cell-phone photos are usually tolerated, but flash photography is strictly forbidden (concourseproject.com). No selfie-sticks or tripod setups. Respect the artist’s request – if a performer asks for no photos/phones, follow instructions. Documenting memories is fine, but don’t block others’ view to do it, and don’t attempt professional-grade video recording (again, that’s disallowed (concourseproject.com)).
• Restrooms & amenities: Restroom facilities are located downstairs by the lobby doors and upstairs. Expect lines at peak times; try to go during an opening DJ set to avoid long waits. There are no lockers or coat check, so keep belongings on you. Tip: carry a (tiny) foldable fan or armband to wipe sweat – it can get humid with a big crowd.
• Weather: The indoor hall is climate-controlled, but the outdoor patio is open-air, so dress accordingly if you plan to step outside. In hot Texas summers, stepping out for a break can help cool off. In rainy weather, flooding is possible on Burleson – arrive a bit early to avoid puddles in the parking lot.
• Special shows: Check show details carefully. Some events at The Concourse Project use both indoor and adjacent outdoor stages or have multiple genres (e.g. a bass-heavy headliner paired with local DJs). If an event is labeled “Patio” or “Festival,” expect it to be at least partly outdoors. The tickets or event page will note if a show is 18+ only (it almost always is at this venue). There are no VIP seated options – “VIP” just grants access to an upper viewing deck and lounge area.

Frequently Asked Questions