Houston is home to a wide variety of music venues. From rodeo-loving stadiums to Tex-Mex backyards, whatever music you’re into, the city has got a venue for you. The city’s most unique venue, however, is right under your feet.
Over the years, the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern has hosted a variety of live performances ranging from holiday-themed light installations to Two Star Symphony sounds. Recently, Buffalo Bayou Partnership announced its 2025 Program for its 10-year anniversary.
What is the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern?
The Buffalo Bayou Cistern is a historic water reservoir built in 1926. In addition to featured tours and art events, the Cistern also provides a subterranean venue for live music.
Who will be performing at Underground Sounds this year?
The third season of the Underground Sounds music series will feature four international ensembles composing music intentionally designed for the Cistern space.
Returning this spring, Underground Sounds first shows will feature Australian trumpet player, Sam Nester, performing with a brass ensemble.
Houston Cistern concerts will also feature composer and vocalist, Sarah Grace Graves performing Three Names from June 19 – 22; Creole ensemble Les Cenelles performing Echo Change: Resistance and Reverb from September 11 -14; and Houston composer, Kurt Stallman, from November 13 – 16.
“Each artist brings their unique perspective, style, and inspiration to the Cistern through compositions evoking a range of topics and themes, including the power of water, the experience of vastness, connections to spirituality, and sensory explorations of Buffalo Bayou,” the organization writes on its website.
How to get tickets to the Houston Cistern concerts
Tickets for Underground Sounds concerts at the Cistern go on sale a month ahead of performances, beginning with the ticket release for Sam Nester available on February 14 at 9 pm. Due to high demand and limited capacity, Cistern concert tickets regularly sell out quick, so be sure pencil in ticket release times to your calendar.