Written by Shelby Schulz | November 29, 2025

In Austin, there is a popular saying: “Keep Austin Weird.” It is a motto that encourages creatives to express themselves and not be afraid to do so. Creatives need a space where they feel comfortable putting themselves out there, especially when they have just started their creative journey.

On the lower floor of the Union Building at the University of Texas at Austin is a well-beloved room. This room is known as the Cactus Cafe. The Cactus Cafe has been around since 1979. Over the years, many well-known artists have performed there, some of whom include Lucinda Williams, Nancy Griffith, Townes Van Zandt, and Bill Monroe. The Cactus isn't just a place of history; it's a place of new beginnings and a second home to much of Austin’s music community. Seasoned musicians perform at the open mic as a way to promote upcoming shows. Up-and-coming musicians perform after writing their first song. Sometimes you will even hear the first half of a song, as it is still a work in progress.

While there is no shortage of open mic events in the Austin area, the one at the Cactus is quite unique. Most open mics allow musicians to perform covers and don’t necessarily go out of the way to encourage visitors to listen closely. On top of that, Jake Farr also makes the selection process of who gets to perform very fair. Instead of it being first-come, first-served, Farr guarantees a spot to anyone who did not get to play the previous week but stayed the entire night.

There are many who gather at the Cactus once a week to pour their hearts out to an entire room of people there to listen. The room is a diverse place, not just for college students, but for all people, no matter their age or background. At the Cactus, it's like everybody knows each other. As the room fills, people eagerly greet their friends and introduce themselves to new faces. It’s hard to feel alone there.

The doors open at 7 p.m. with the show starting half an hour later after sign-ups. Every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m., Farr gets up on stage. He encourages the audience to stay the whole evening in order for each performer to get an equal amount of support. More importantly, he asks that everyone listen closely to the lyrics of each artist on stage.

The open mic runs for two hours, and at the end of the evening, Farr gets back up on stage one last time. He tells everyone that before they go they must find one person whose song they loved, and tell them that they loved it.

It’s easy to see how important the Cactus Cafe is to those who attend the weekly open mic nights. Especially when someone gets up on stage and sings about, “these precious Tuesday nights.” For absolutely anyone who is looking for a welcoming place to express themselves through music, the Cactus Cafe is it.