South Central Austin Edition | March 2023

BUSINESS FEATURE

MOON MUSIC’S SERVICES BY DARCY SPRAGUE

Store oerings: • New and used guitars • Ukuleles • Pedals • Ampliers • Additional accessories Instrument repairs

• Restringing • Basic setup • Additional repairs and services Lessons Guitarist Kice Simko oers 30-minute, weekly classes for $160 per month. For lessons: geetaraustin@gmail.com

Matt Mouton started buying and selling guitars online before opening Moon Music.

FABIÁN REY MURAL Local artist Fabián Rey created the Moon Music mural to celebrate local business, Austin’s music scene and its diversity. Both Rey and Figueroa are from Puerto Rico, so the character is playing a cuatro— which is

From left, Julio Figueroa, and Sarah and Matt Mouton own Moon Music.

Julio Figueroa specializes in guitar repairs.

PHOTOS BY DARCY SPRAGUECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Moon Music Local musicians sell and repair instruments in North Austin shop J ulio Figueroa and Matt Mouton

used in Puerto Rican

will come from farther away for that.” The pair said there are plenty of musicians in the neighborhoods around the store, and it attracts customers from neighboring cities. “We get guys that just like collecting guitars, and we get lots of musicians and just hobby guitar players. We’re starting to see more and more beginners,” Figueroa said. Both Figueroa and Mouton are longtime Austin residents. While they have seen the city change, they said it is still a good place for musicians. “As far as the music scene, stu has moved o the beaten paths,” Figueroa said. “There’s just as much of a music scene here; you just have to look for it.”

what we do. This is what we love.” The shop oers new and used guitars and ukuleles as well as pedals and other accessories. Mouton said used guitars are popular because they are typically more aordable. The store sells items suitable for beginners to professionals. Mouton said the team will help shoppers nd an instrument that suits them by learning about their intended use and playing style. Figueroa oers tuning and repair services. He said guitars should be serviced about once a year due to wear and changes in the weather. “The word is really getting out about the quality of repairs we’re doing here,” Mouton said. “People

folkloric

have been involved in the Aus- tin music scene for decades. After the pair met, they decided to open their own guitar store. Moon Music Pro began as an online shop in November 2019 before opening behind Lone Star Kolache on Anderson Lane in Austin in May 2022. Previously, Figueroa was doing guitar repairs from his home, and Mouton was working at Tito’s Handmade Vodka and selling used equipment on the side. “We’ve all just been playing music our whole lives,” Mouton said. “I’m 40 years old. I’ve been playing guitar for 32 years, and [Figueroa] has prob- ably similarly been playing music since he was a small child. This is

music.

Moon Music 2210 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. B, Austin 512-291-3913 www.moonmusicpro.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. noon-5 p.m.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM