Most of the members of Austin folk band Cast Iron Shoes are all gathered on a black leather couch in Waterloo Record's green room. They're waiting for their bass player, who is running late.
It's the band's first time playing the Waterloo stage — an exciting step for any local Austin group.
Nicole Ridgewell, lead singer and multi-instrumentalist, spoke to the artistry of their music — highlighting the many stringed instruments that the band plays on.
"I hope that the sounds that I make inspire people to connect, and I think what we do with these wooden boxes is really special," she said. "We're making sound waves, and if you go to a show you can feel it; they hit your body, dance with other people and look people in the eye."
Waterloo Records has provided free, live in-store performances with local and established bands since 1982.
Many legendary artists have graced the store's stage, including The Zombies, Nirvana, and The Stooges.
In 2025, two new owners, Caren Kelleher, founder and CEO of Gold Rush Vinyl, and Trey Watson, CEO of Armadillo Records, took over ownership of the store.
"I've been a fan of Waterloo for a long time," said Kelleher. "I used to live right down the street from the old location."
Waterloo Records recently moved after being at their previous location for over a decade. The relocation brought the store down the street to 1105 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin.
Kelleher said the move has brought in new customers.
"We've been blown away by the growth in sales and foot traffic at this new store location," she said. "I think the move, which, after being at the same location for 36 years, kind of put Waterloo back into conversation."
The new store location has a bar on the right side of the store and a podcast studio on the left side. In the back of the store, there are also CDs, movies and cassette tapes. Vinyl records are scattered all over the store, with tables by the bar to enjoy drinks with friends.
As the audience begins to gather to watch Cast Iron Shoes perform, Kelleher highlighted the importance of a place like Waterloo Records in the Austin community.
"It reminds me why spaces like this are so important, why it's so important to have physical places for people to gather, to commune over music, especially with the swell of AI," Kelleher said. "Like it is this human connection that matters so deeply."
John, a longtime supporter of Waterloo, has been attending in-store events for a decade.
"I've been coming to Waterloo's events for about 10 years, or maybe a little more, but just once in a while," he said. "Sometimes I have a friend in the music scene who's playing on Friday evening, and I try to catch that. And sometimes I can't, because it's so popular that it would be crowded."
Ridgewell isn't alone in Cast Iron Shoes' performance. Bobby G's bass guitar solo has everyone on their feet.
"To be able to share what you do with somebody else who accepts it is, I think, really powerful," Bobby G said. "And to kind of be on that same wavelength with an audience is what has made my greatest shows the greatest shows I've ever played."
Doing what you love is vital to Ridgewell, especially as a performer, and she appreciated the people who attended the show. Several people lined up to purchase records after the show.
"It means so much that this many people came to the release show and came to buy a record and to hold something in your hands that's physical," Ridgewell said.
It's a feeling many bands have shared in the 44 years Waterloo Records has been open and welcomed artists to play within its walls — both old and new.
It's a space that helps artists like Ridgewell bring their passions to new audiences.
"It's a labor of love," said Ridgewell.
Copyright 2026 KUT News