Sirius XM is officially in the Live Music Capital of the World! Broadcasting from some brand spankin’ new digs right next to the new ACL Live at 2nd and Guadalupe, the satellite radio giant has established a physical presence with an eye toward channeling what makes Austin special.

Rancho Alegre was there at the big Grand Opening wing-ding on October 12, which featured some great food, drink, and elbow-rubbing with some of our favorites. Everyone from Kinky Friedman to Junior Brown to Melissa Etheridge to the man himself, Willie Nelson, was on hand. AND we got to spend some time with one of our idols, Texas music author and Conjunto fan Joe Nick Patoski.

Sirius refers to the Austin music scene as “unpredictable but influential,” and also acknowledges the “amazing array of artists” we have here. And we would have to agree. To that end, we hope that Sirius explores even more of what Austin has to offer. A major component of this is, of course, Tejano and Conjunto music.

An Austin studio gives Sirius XM a unique opportunity to, as we say, “Get to Know Tejano,” and we hope they do just that. Willie, for example, has frequently collaborated with Little Joe, one of the genre’s most popular, successful, and beloved icons, and even appears on Joe’s latest album.

For more information on programming, and to subscribe, visit the Sirius website. We’re big fans of Howard Stern (big surprise there, I know), E-Street Radio (another shocker!), as well as Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country, both of which will broadcast from the new Austin studio.