Two-Step Across Texas Film Trail

It should come as no surprise that music - on-screen and off - is a fundamental component of Texas culture. What more could you expect from a state that claims the "Live Music Capital of the World" as it's state capital?

With that in mind, we've compiled a list of some of the most notable examples of music on the screen to come out of Texas from the past fifty-four years. From outlaw country to underground hip hop, new wave punk to R&B, Tejano jams to heartbreaking blues licks - we've got it all!

So, follow along as we guide you through the steps of our very own 'Texas Two-step'. It may feel a little different from the dance you know, but we promise once you get into the rhythm, you'll love every second of it!

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Movies Featured

The Blues Accordin' to Lightin' Hopkins (1969), Austin City Limits (1975), Chulas Fronteras (1976), Honeysuckle Rose (1980), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Songwriter (1984), Pure Country (1992), Michael (1996), Selena (1997), The Hottest State (2006), Cranes in the Sky (2016), Don't Touch My Hair (2016), Song to Song (2017), Yellow Rose (2019), Abilene (2022), N95 (2022), Pistol (2022), Miami (2023)

Locations Featured

Austin, Fischer, Corpus Christi, Spicewood, San Elizario, Houston, Kyle, Lubbock, Marfa, Fort Worth, Midlothian, Brownsville, Fredericksburg, Centerville, Waco

Texas Capitol Building | 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' (1982)

Austin, Texas (Travis County)

The Texas Capitol Building - one of the most iconic government buildings in the entire country - serves as backdrop for one of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' most memorable scenes, as The Governor (Charles Durning, in a scene-stealing performance) side-steps his way through the Capitol Rotunda and around several reporters' questions.

Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater | 'ACL Live' (1975-)

Austin, Texas (Travis County)

The Moody Theater has been the one and only home of Austin's own ACL Live for nearly 50 years - and for good reason!

Austin Motel | 'Miami' (2023)

Austin, Texas (Travis County)

The inside, outside and iconic neon sign of South Congress mainstay the Austin Motel play as much a role as stars Massima Bell or Caroline Rose in this video for Rose's song 'Miami'. 

Zilker Park | 'Song to Song' (2017)

Austin, Texas (Travis County)

Filmed during the actual ACL Festival, Cook (Michael Fassbender) and Rhonda (Natalie Portman) catch a performance from backstage, while Faye (Rooney Mara) and BV (Ryan Gosling) chat with performer Lykke Li. 

The Broken Spoke | 'Yellow Rose' (2019)

Austin, Texas (Travis County)

Texas country legend Dale Watson is joined onstage by newcomer Rose Garcia (Eva Noblezada) to perform "I Ain't Going Down" at Austin's iconic dancehall, The Broken Spoke. 

Willie Nelson's Pedernales Cut 'N Putt | 'Songwriter' (1984)

Spicewood, Texas (Travis County)

Doc (Willie Nelson) surprises his old singing partner Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson) with a new house with a surprising amenity: easy access to Nelson's real-life golf course. 

The Plant at Kyle | 'Cranes in the Sky' (2016)

Kyle, Texas (Hays County)

The Plant at Kyle, the city's own "cultural and educational amenity that expands awareness and appreciation of architecture and nature through content, conversations, celebrations, and retreats" plays the role of stage for a pair of ballerinas in this video by Solange Knowles.

Gruene Hall | 'Michael' (1996)

New Braunfels, Texas (Comal County)

It's no surprise to us that writer/director Nora Ephron chose to set John Travolta's iconic dance scene from 1996's Michael in Gruene Hall, Texas' oldest continually operating dance hall!

Edinburg | 'Going Varsity in Mariachi' (2023)

Edinburg, Texas (Hidalgo County)

The City of Edinburg is not just the epicenter of Going Varsity in Mariachi's emotional tale, but also the home of the film's stars - Edinburg North High School's vaunted Mariachi Oro.

Gladys Porter Zoo | 'Chulas Fronteras' (1976)

Brownsville, Texas (Cameron County)

Ever wanted to experience Brownsville's own Gladys Porter Zoo while listening to some top-shelf música norteña? Well thanks to documentarian Les Blank, you can!

Swantner Park | 'Selena' (1997)

Corpus Christi, Texas (Nueces County)

Swantner Park serves as a significant backdrop of the film. In the flashback scene located in the park, a young Selena Quintanilla (Rebecca Lee Meza) learns cumbia dancing (aka the "washing machine") from her mother (Constance Marie).

Del Mar College | 'Selena' (1997)

Corpus Christi, Texas (Nueces County)

That may look like Del Mar College - Corpus Christi's nearly 100 year old community college - but in 1997's Selena its actually home to the Grammy's ceremony where Selena (Jennifer Lopez) collects her much-deserved award for Best Mexican-American Album.

The Alley Theatre | 'Cranes in the Sky' (2016)

Houston, Texas (Harris County)

The unique and vibrant interior of Houston's beloved Alley Theatre appears in several stunning shots throughout Solange Knowles' music video for 'Cranes in the Sky', alongside several other Texas landmarks.

Centerville, TX | 'The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins' (1969)

Centerville, Texas (Leon County)

Centerville plays host in this groundbreaking documentary by Les Blank that offers a window into the mind of maverick blues guitarist Lightnin' Hopkins, as well as an incomparable view of Centerville's mostly black community at the tail end of the 60s.

ALICO Building | 'Pistol' (2022)

Waco, Texas (McLennon County)

Waco's famed ALICO Building - which first opened its doors over a century ago, in 1910 - plays the role of Los Angeles' Miyako Hotel in director Danny Boyle's TV series Pistol, an adaptation of the rise and notoriety of punk icons The Sex Pistols. 

NorthPark Center | 'True Stories' (1986)

Dallas, Texas (Dallas County)

"Shoppers here will go wherever the bargains are, wherever it's convenient to shop. They don't care if they shop in a funky old building downtown or in a clean modern place - like this." So says Co-Writer, Director, Composer and Narrator David Byrne before introducing viewers to the NorthPark Center (circa 1985), where they're treated to a one-of-a-kind fashion show in one of Texas' most idiosyncratic movies to date, True Stories.

The Fort Worth Water Gardens | 'N95' (2022)

Fort Worth, Texas (Tarrant County)

Kendrick Lamar takes a stroll through one of Fort Worth's most instantly recognizable locations midway through the music video for 'N95'.

Will Rogers Auditorium | 'Pure Country' (1992)

Fort Worth, Texas (Tarrant County)

It's no surprise that director Christopher Cain chose the historic Will Rogers Auditorium for at least one of the concert sequences in Pure Country - when you've got Texas legend George Strait starring in your movie, you go big!

Kimbell Art Museum | 'N95' (2022)

Fort Worth, Texas (Tarrant County)

"You outta pocket..." Kendrick Lamar intones, while playing a piano inside the Kimbell Art Museum in stunning black and white photography in the music video for 'N95'.

Texas Tech University | 'Don't Touch My Hair' (2016)

Lubbock, Texas (Lubbock County)

The Texas Tech Aquatic Center makes an appearance in the second of two Solange Knowles videos to make this list, as one of several backdrops seen throughout the music video for "Don't Touch My Hair".

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area | 'Song to Song' (2017)

Fredericksburg, Texas (Gillespie County)

BV (Ryan Gosling) and Faye (Rooney Mara) take a trip to one of the Hill Country's most beloved natural areas, Enchanted Rock, for a brief romantic detour in Terrence Malick's Song to Song.

Marfa | 'Abilene' (2022)

Marfa, Texas (Presidio County)

From the wide-open spaces to the definitively West Texas homes and everything inbetween, Plains 2022 music video 'Abilene' captures the unique beauty of Marfa like few others have.

San Elizario  | 'The Hottest State' (2006)

San Elizario, Texas (El Paso County)

San Elizario stands in for Mexico in The Hottest State, written and directed by Ethan Hawke, based off his 1996 novel.