An Intercultural History of Blues in Austin: From the Negro District to the Global Rock Circuit Articles uri icon

publication date

  • April 2016

start page

  • 66

end page

  • 81

issue

  • 1

volume

  • 14

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1478-8810

abstract

  • This paper conceptualizes the blues scene in Austin through three distinct yet related and overlapping sub-scenes that constitute different construction stages: a black music sub-scene in East Austin (1945-1975); a folk-psychedelic sub-scene (1960-1980); and the Antone's club sub-scene (1975-2014). Considering Austin's blues history as marginocentric due to its groundbreaking development from the city margins to the center of global blues-rock, the article traces an intercultural account that examines individual and collective identity constructions, diverse musical appropriations, and enriching yet conflictual dialogues between different social and racial groups.

keywords

  • blues; austin; music scene; intercultural history; race; globalization