ABOUT

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It's been the kind of life where most people say, “Wait…what?”  

I started acting as a kid in Chicago, got my SAG card at thirteen, and spent the next few decades bouncing around every corner of entertainment, theater, modeling (embarrassingly), improv, voiceover, filmmaking, producing, scoring film, stand-up, and now hosting and producing Local Sets ATX.  I moved to L.A. in 2001 to chase acting. Two days later, the world shut down after 9/11. I ended up joining the Marine Corps and deploying to Iraq in Gun One, which was the first HUMVEE across the border into the Rumaila Oil Fields in RCT5. That was… an experience.  When I got out, I tried culinary school, became a private chef, nearly opened a restaurant, and worked corporate gigs to pay the bills. Eventually I found my way back to film, co-founding Two Ties Productions and making a feature called Thank You 5, which is finally streaming on Amazon after COVID blew up the festival circuit.  Chicago lost a lot of its creative pulse during the pandemic, so I packed up and moved to Austin, sight unseen. That’s where Local Sets ATX was born, a live music show and podcast built to give emerging artists a place to be heard and hopefully launch into something bigger.  After thirty years of chasing my own creative path, I’ve realized the most important work I’ll ever do is in service to someone else. Local Sets ATX is hands-down my favorite thing I’ve ever built. 

Ultimately, I’m just the guy making sure the lights and cameras are on, the mics are hot, and the room feels like the coolest spot in Austin.

 We believe in collaboration over competition. Local Sets ATX is proud to be part of a growing network of artists, educators, producers, venues, and organizers who are working to support the Austin music scene from the ground up. Below are just a few of the incredible people and organizations we trust, believe in, and want you to know about.

Each one brings something powerful to the table — and if you’re a musician looking for support, connection, or opportunities, we hope you’ll explore what they’re doing.

Big love to Ronnie Hall for generously hosting Local Sets ATX at his incredible music studio. Ronnie isn’t just a powerhouse musician, he’s a soulful storyteller, a dedicated educator, and one of the most supportive people in the Austin scene.

If you’re a singer-songwriter looking to level up, this is your guy. Whether you need vocal coaching, music lessons, or studio time to bring your songs to life, Ronnie creates space that’s welcoming, creative, and deeply rooted in experience. His programs reflect the same intention and passion he brings to his music.

Check him out and see why we’re so lucky to call his space home for the show!

Working with Jason Bradford has been one of the absolute highlights of the Austin music scene. He’s helped multiple Local Sets ATX artists bring their music to the next level, and every time he touches a track, the results are magic. Jason has that rare ability to elevate a song without ever losing the artist’s voice — he listens deeply, creates with intention, and always brings out the heart of the performance.

Beyond his incredible production chops, he’s also just a phenomenal human, grounded, generous, and genuinely supportive. Whether he's in the studio or slinging a guitar live, Jason shows up with skill, soul, and zero ego. If you’re lucky enough to work with him, you’re in for something special!

A fair, free, and musician-first marketplace for live gigs.

Hire More Musicians is flipping the script on how local artists get booked — and we’re here for it. Created by Austin musician and Austin Music Love founder John Filippone, this live musician marketplace is completely free to use, with no transaction fees, no pay-per-lead gimmicks, and no membership charges.

The platform makes it simple for buyers to discover and hire musicians in their area, while putting performance media (not follower counts) front and center. It’s a merit-based system designed to highlight talent over algorithms — and as of September 2025, over 250 Austin-area musicians have already joined the movement.

Whether you're a venue, event planner, or just someone who needs great live music, we highly recommend giving it a look — and if you're a musician, create your free listing and get in the mix.

Community-first. Artist-driven. Built by musicians, for musicians.

JAM is one of our favorite collaborators in the Austin scene. They’re not just talking about community, they’re building it, one meaningful connection at a time. From empowering artists with accessible tools and resources to hosting collaborative showcases, JAM is creating real momentum for musicians at every stage of their journey.

If you're a musician in Austin (or want to be more connected to the community here), take a second to check out their platform and consider signing up. There’s no catch! It's just a growing network of artists and music industry pros trying to help each other thrive.

Musicians always come first. And it shows. Explore their work and consider joining the community.