This weekend, Austin gets one of its most significant live comedy moments in years as Steve Martin and Martin Short bring their acclaimed show, “The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short,” to Bass Concert Hall for two nights only—Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31, both at 8:00 PM. For fans of high-craft comedy, music, and theatrical performance, this is a rare chance to see two icons whose 30-year chemistry has evolved into one of the sharpest, fastest, and most inventive live acts touring today, as their current dates on the official tour site make clear.
WESTGATE
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ESSENTIAL DETAILS
• Location: Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX
• Dates: Friday, January 30 & Saturday, January 31
• Time: 8:00 PM (arrive by 6:15–6:30 PM)
• Duration: About 1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission
• Openers: The Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko
• Tickets: Available through Texas Performing Arts, AXS, and SeatGeek
Bass Concert Hall
$$$Plan to arrive on campus by 6:15–6:30 PM to handle parking, security, and concessions—this show tends to start right on time.
At about 1 hour 45 minutes with no intermission, this feels more like a tightly produced concert than a casual stand-up night—hit restrooms and bars before you sit down.
WHAT THE SHOW IS LIKE
The performance blends comedy, musical numbers, bluegrass instrumentation, character sketches, and spontaneous crowd-focused banter. Martin and Short’s signature rhythm—rapid-fire jokes, celebrity roasting, and absurdly theatrical bits—creates a hybrid format: part stand-up show, part Broadway sendup, part bluegrass concert.
Steve Martin brings virtuosic banjo performances and original compositions, while Martin Short delivers big theatrical energy, vocal characters, and improvisational attack. Jeff Babko directs the musical elements, and depending on the night, The Steep Canyon Rangers join for bluegrass collaborations that echo their long-running work with Martin documented on his official site.
WHY THIS AUSTIN STOP MATTERS
Martin is a Mark Twain Prize and Honorary Oscar recipient; Short is a Tony-winning and longtime comedy innovator. Their touring partnership, launched in 2015, remains selective and limited—making this weekend one of the few times Austin audiences can see a legacy comedy pair performing at the peak of their craft, similar in scale to other marquee nights like Hi, How Are You Day at the Paramount Theatre.
THE INSIDER INTELLIGENCE
• Material changes each night, so Friday and Saturday won’t be identical shows.
• They tailor jokes to the city, so expect Austin references, UT nods, and crowd interaction—much like the hyper-local improv style covered in our guide to The Improvised Shakespeare Company in Austin.
• Their formal stage aesthetic—dark tailored suits, polished shoes—signals an old-school, elevated performance style rather than casual stand-up.
• Parking near Bass Concert Hall fills fast; arrive early or use UT garages, and consider brushing up on local hacks from our Hidden Park ATX parking guide.
• Doors typically open 60–90 minutes prior, and lines move slowly when the show is sold out.
• Expect merchandise but minimal intermission opportunities—plan before seating.
If you’re deciding between Friday and Saturday, know that they swap in different bits and adjust local references each night—fans sometimes grab both nights for the full experience.
On sold-out nights, UT garages and exits can back up 20–30 minutes after the show. If you’re on a tight schedule, consider rideshare, walking from a farther garage, or planning a post-show drink nearby while traffic thins.
If you’re looking to make a full night of it, you can pair the show with nearby food or drinks and then keep your culture streak going with upcoming Austin events like Disney’s Frozen near Austin or a return trip to the UT campus area for another performance at venues featured on the Texas Performing Arts calendar.
Make dinner reservations in the campus or downtown area before the show, then walk or rideshare to Bass Concert Hall—parking is easier if you arrive early and leave a bit later after a post-show drink or dessert.
For fans of world-class comedy and live performance, these two nights at Bass Concert Hall are as close as Austin gets to witnessing a masterclass in timing, musicianship, and stagecraft. If you want the rare combination of genius-level comedic improvisation and concert hall polish, this is the weekend to be there, and the official Steve Martin tour page is the best way to confirm future dates if you miss it.
- Legendary co-headliners with 30+ years of chemistry
- Hybrid of stand-up
- sketch
- and bluegrass
- High-production concert hall setting
- Austin-specific jokes and crowd work
- Rare limited tour stop in the city
- Parking and traffic can be challenging near UT campus
- No intermission for restrooms or concessions
- Entry lines can be long for sold-out shows
- Back-to-back nights will share some material if you attend both
A must-catch, high-craft comedy event in one of Austin’s premier venues—well worth planning ahead for parking, timing, and logistics to fully enjoy the experience.
Related Austin Data
Inside Steve Martin & Martin Short at Bass Concert Hall: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Rarest Comedy Event
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