# Gruene Hall

Gruene Hall, built in 1878 by Henry (Heinrich) D. Gruene and located in the historical town of Gruene, Texas (now a part of New Braunfels), bills itself as "the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas". By design, not much has physically changed since the hall was first built. The 6,000-square-foot (560 m$^2$) dance hall with a high-pitched tin roof still has the original layout with side flaps for open-air dancing, a bar in the front, a small lighted stage in the back, and a huge outdoor garden. Advertisement signs from the 1930s and 1940s still hang in the old hall and around the stage.
Under the current ownership, Gruene Hall has become internationally recognized as a destination tourist attraction and major music venue for up-and-coming as well as established artists. Gruene Hall has hosted such acts as Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, LeAnn Rimes, George Strait, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum, and Gregg Allman. A focus on original music has made Gruene Hall an iconic music venue, helping to jump-start the careers of Lovett, Townes Van Zandt, Ketchum, Bruce Robison, Nanci Griffith, Ryan Bingham, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, and many others.

## Films and photography

In 1996, the hall was used as a set for Michael, starring John Travolta.
In 2006, Gruene Hall was shown in the movie Coyote Funeral.
In 2009, George Strait's album Twang CD cover and insert photos were taken at Gruene Hall.
In 2019, ZZ Top did interviews and played live music for many parts of the documentary That Little ol' Band from Texas at the dance hall. At the end of the documentary, they walk out to the front of the dance hall in Gruene, with a clear view of some of the town, and drive off together into the horizon.
In 2021, Gruene Hall was featured in an episode of the TV show Landmarks: The Stages of Country Music (S01 E02).

## Album and music video recordings

In 1989, Jerry Jeff Walker recorded his live album Jerry Jeff Walker – Live At Gruene Hall.
In 1994, Wade Hayes shot his country music video "Old Enough to Know Better" at Gruene Hall.
On November 16, 2016, George Strait gave a private surprise show at Gruene Hall, to perform a nearly two hour set in celebration of his then new album, Strait Out of the Box: Part 2.
On February 16, 2019, LeAnn Rimes recorded Rimes: Live at Gruene Hall during a live concert at Gruene Hall, which was released on April 13, 2019.
In 2022, Scotty McCreery filmed his music video "Damn Strait" at Gruene Hall. It holds a special meaning to McCreery since he is a George Strait fan and its the venue is where George Strait started and where he got his record deal which launched his career. After the video was released George Strait gave it his approval. The song turned out to be a #1 on Country Radio for McCreery.

## List of past performers

* Josh Abbott Band
* Gregg Allman
* Asleep at the Wheel
* David Ball
* Pat Benatar
* Dierks Bentley
* Ryan Bingham
* Clint Black
* Garth Brooks
* Gatemouth Brown
* Junior Brown
* Johnny Bush
* Mark Chesnutt
* Guy Clark
* Guy Clark Jr.
* David Allan Coe
* Albert Collins
* Kevin Costner & Modern West
* Roger Creager
* Charley Crockett
* Rodney Crowell
* Charlie Daniels
* Bo Diddley
* Amber Digby
* Dixie Chicks
* Casey Donahew
* Steve Earle
* Melissa Etheridge
* Fabulous Thunderbirds
* Radney Foster
* Kevin Fowler
* Jimmie Dale Gilmore
* Pat Green
* Patty Griffin
* Nanci Griffith
* Arlo Guthrie
* Buddy Guy
* Merle Haggard
* Emmylou Harris
* Wade Hayes
* Levon Helm
* John Hiatt
* Hootie and the Blowfish
* Ray Wylie Hubbard
* Jack Ingram
* Chris Isaak
* Flaco Jimenez
* Wynonna Judd
* Robert Earl Keen
* Reckless Kelly
* Kentucky Thunder
* Hal Ketchum
* B. B. King
* Randall King
* Kris Kristofferson
* Miranda Lambert
* Jerry Lee Lewis
* Little Feat
* Lyle Lovett
* Loretta Lynn
* Los Lobos
* Los Lonely Boys
* Los Texmaniacs
* Taj Mahal
* Raul Malo
* Ziggy Marley
* The Mavericks
* Delbert McClinton
* Scotty McCreery
* Augie Meyers
* Midland
* Mike and the Moonpies
* Ronnie Milsap
* Keb Mo
* John Michael Montgomery
* Cory Morrow
* Michael Martin Murphey
* Kacey Musgraves
* Emilio Navaira
* Willie Nelson
* Aaron Neville
* Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
* Lee Roy Parnell
* The Peterson Brothers
* Poco
* Ray Price
* Charlie Pride
* John Prine
* Pure Prairie League
* Dennis Quaid and the Sharks
* Little Richard
* LeAnn Rimes
* Bruce Robison
* Charlie Robison
* Randy Rogers Band
* Todd Rundgren
* Leon Russell
* Doug Sahm
* Boz Scaggs
* Billy Joe Shaver
* Ricky Skaggs
* Marty Stuart
* George Strait
* Doug Supernaw
* Koko Taylor
* Three Dog Night
* Mel Tillis
* Texas Tornados
* Wayne Toups
* Randy Travis
* Travis Tritt
* Trombone Shorty
* Ernest Tubb
* Tanya Tucker
* The Marshall Tucker Band
* Turnpike Troubadours
* Jerry Jeff Walker
* Colter Wall
* The Wallflowers
* Aaron Watson
* Lucinda Williams
* Lee Ann Womack
* Dwight Yoakam
* Eli Young Band
* Townes Van Zandt
* ZZ Top