Dallas Texas — Live Music, Nightlife, Neighborhoods & Venue Guide
11 videos · Your guide to Dallas-area live music venues, honky tonks, open mics, and neighborhoods worth exploring.
Dallas is one of the largest and most spread-out music cities in Texas, with live music scattered across distinct neighborhoods, suburbs, and satellite towns throughout the Metroplex. From the historic blues and jazz roots of Deep Ellum to the cocktail bars and upscale dining rooms of Uptown, and from the dance floors of Cowboys Red River to the songwriter rounds at Poor David's Pub, the Dallas area covers a wide range of music styles and settings. The guides on this page walk through dozens of specific venues, bars, breweries, and neighborhoods where you can find live music on any given night of the week.
The videos above cover not just the city itself but also surrounding communities that are part of the broader Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. You'll find walking tours of neighborhoods like the Bishop Arts District, Lower Greenville, Uptown Dallas, and Fair Park, as well as trips to nearby towns like Waxahachie, Ennis, and Highland Park. Each video highlights specific venues, their histories, and what kind of music and atmosphere you can expect. There's also a dedicated guide to 16 different open mics across the Dallas area, covering everything from songwriter-focused nights at Poor David's Pub to rock-oriented jams at Point After North in Flower Mound.
Whether you're looking for a honky tonk dance floor, an intimate listening room, a jazz club, or just a brewpub with a guitarist on a Friday night, these videos lay out concrete options across the Dallas area with real footage and firsthand visits.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
Ennis Tx: Walking the Historic Downtown & Small Town Charm
In Ennis Tx: Walking the Historic Downtown & Small Town Charm, the video covers a visit to Ennis, a historic railroad town about 35 miles south of Dallas with a population of around 24,000. The walkthrough covers the eight-block historic downtown area, including a performance at Ashley's Downtown Kitchen and Bar. The video also discusses Ennis's Czech heritage and its annual National Polka Festival held over Memorial Day weekend, as well as the official Bluebonnet Trail — 40 miles of trails for viewing bluebonnets in April.
Waxahachie Tx: A Dallas suburb with a historic downtown, live music, breweries & things to do
Waxahachie Tx covers a tour of this fast-growing suburb located about 30 miles south of Dallas along Highway 35, with a population that has climbed to around 50,000. The video highlights the historic downtown with approximately 120 local businesses and the landmark Ellis County Courthouse from the late 1800s. Live music venues covered include The Texas Theater, College Street Pub, Cork House Winery, Southern Roots Brewing Company, and Railport Brewing Company.
Highland Park, Texas: The Beverly Hills of Dallas and the Richest Town in Texas
Highland Park, Texas explores the small incorporated town of nearly 9,000 people located just north of downtown Dallas, known as the Beverly Hills of Dallas because its landscape was designed by the same designer who did Beverly Hills. The video walks through Highland Park Village, regarded as one of the first shopping centers in the United States, built in 1931 with architecture resembling Spain, Mexico, and California. A performance at Casual Friday Wines in the area is also mentioned.
Fair Park, Dallas: Walking around the location of the State Fair of Texas
Fair Park, Dallas walks through the 277-acre recreational and educational complex just east of downtown Dallas that hosts the annual State Fair of Texas each fall. The video covers landmarks including the Texas Star ferris wheel (the tallest in North America), the Cotton Bowl stadium, the Hall of State, the Fair Park Esplanade reflecting pool built in 1936, and the African-American Museum with the largest African-American folk art collection in the United States. The video also notes Fair Park's one of the world's largest collections of 1930s art deco architecture and mentions the Music Hall as a venue on the grounds.
Bishop Arts District, Dallas: A walking tour of a vibrant and historic Dallas neighborhood
Bishop Arts District, Dallas tours one of the most popular and eclectic neighborhoods in Dallas, located about 10 minutes southwest of downtown. The video walks through the area's murals, independent shops, and historic architecture, noting connections to Bonnie and Clyde and Lee Harvey Oswald. Live music venues highlighted include Revelers Hall (focused on jazz and swing dancing), Bishop Exchange, Oddfellows, Baron's Creek Vineyards tasting room, and 12 Barrels Brewing, which calls itself the official Bonnie and Clyde Bar of Dallas. Food at Vera Cruz Cafe is also covered.
Lower Greenville, Dallas: A tour of a neighborhood and nightlife spot in Dallas Tx
Lower Greenville, Dallas covers one of Dallas's oldest and most popular nightlife neighborhoods, located about 10 minutes northeast of downtown along Greenville Avenue. The video walks from the southernmost area around Ross and Belmont (Lowest Greenville) up to the Mockingbird area (Upper Greenville). Live music spots mentioned include Son of a Butcher, Avenue Sports Grill, Terrell's Restaurant (with live jazz), and Sundown at Granada in Upper Greenville. The video also discusses the neighborhood's famous St. Patrick's Day parade, which draws around 150,000 people.
Uptown Dallas: A walking tour of a popular neighborhood and nightlife spot
Uptown Dallas walks through the dense, walkable neighborhood just north of downtown Dallas, home to about 22,000 residents and known for its nightlife and young professional scene. The video covers Clyde Warren Park and its skyline views, the McKinney Avenue strip up to the West Village area, and mentions the free trolley and DART light rail. Live music spots noted along McKinney Avenue include Haywire, Avanti Restaurant, and The Standard Pour.
What to do in Deep Ellum, Dallas
What to do in Deep Ellum, Dallas profiles 20 different nightlife and live music spots in Dallas's most famous entertainment district, located just east of downtown. The video covers the neighborhood's history as a major center for blues and jazz that attracted musicians like Robert Johnson, Lead Belly, and Bessie Smith. Specific venues featured include Adair's Saloon, Club Dada, Three Links, Trees (which has hosted Radiohead, Nirvana, Arcade Fire, Deftones, and Erykah Badu), Reno's Chop Shop Saloon, Twilight Lounge, and the restaurant Hawker.
Dallas nightlife: The best Clubs, Bars and Restaurants
Dallas nightlife: The best Clubs, Bars and Restaurants features 12 different locations across the Dallas area. The video visits Hank's Texas Grill in McKinney (known for hosting acts like Guy Clark and Mark Chesnutt), The Ranch House in Sachse, Southern Junction in Royse City, The All Good Cafe in Deep Ellum, Adair's Saloon, and the Deep Ellum Art Company. Also covered are Cowboys Red River for dancing, The Kessler Theater near the Bishop Arts District (where Todd Snider was performing), The Balcony Club in Lakewood, and Poor David's Pub with its Guy Clark green room and a story about Townes Van Zandt getting paid not to play.
Where to go in Dallas for live music
Where to go in Dallas for live music highlights six specific venues across the city. The video covers Cowboys Red River as a dance hall with their house band Running Behind, Adair's Saloon in Deep Ellum where Red holds a weekly residency, The Kessler Theater near the Bishop Arts District for a Todd Snider show, The Balcony Club in Lakewood with the Special Edition Band playing blues and jazz, and Poor David's Pub near downtown with its history connected to Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark.
The open mics of Dallas, Texas (Dallas music scene vlog)
The open mics of Dallas, Texas features 16 different open mic nights across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Sunday spots include Six Springs Tavern (hosted by Tim Travis) and Point After North in Flower Mound (with Chris Babler and Warren Dunleavy Jr.). Monday options include Poor David's Pub (hosted by Bob Case, original songwriter focus) and Buzz Brews Kitchen in Lakewood (comedy and music, hosted by Michelle Rose Dom). Tuesday features Sideways in Rockwall (hosted by Zac Romo) and Guitars and Growlers in McKinney (hosted by Jeff Gross). The video also visits Cavaculture Kava Bar in Denton.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best live music venues in Deep Ellum, Dallas?
Deep Ellum has dozens of live music venues. Some of the most notable include Trees, which opened in 1990 and has hosted major acts like Radiohead, Nirvana, and Erykah Badu. Adair's Saloon has been around for over 50 years and is known for country music and burgers, with Red holding a weekly residency. Club Dada is an all-ages outdoor patio venue that's been running since 1986 featuring local bands. Three Links is a punk rock-driven dive bar, Reno's Chop Shop Saloon has a biker-dive vibe, and Twilight Lounge offers New Orleans-inspired cocktails with live music nights.
Where can I find open mic nights in Dallas?
Dallas has open mics running every night of the week across the Metroplex. On Sundays, Six Springs Tavern hosts a brunch open mic with Tim Travis. Mondays include an original songwriter-focused open mic at Poor David's Pub hosted by Bob Case (once a month). Tuesdays feature Sideways in Rockwall and Guitars and Growlers in McKinney, which is known for appreciating songwriters. Opening Bell Coffee in the Bishop Arts District also hosts open mics. There are 16 different open mics covered in the Dallas open mics video on this page.
What is the Bishop Arts District in Dallas and what live music is there?
The Bishop Arts District is located about 10 minutes southwest of downtown Dallas. It's a walkable, eclectic neighborhood full of independent shops, murals, and restaurants with roots going back to the 1920s. Live music venues include Revelers Hall (jazz-focused with swing dancing), Bishop Exchange (a neighborhood pub with cocktails and live music), Oddfellows (a rustic coffee house and diner with music), Baron's Creek Vineyards tasting room, and 12 Barrels Brewing. The Kessler Theater, a historic venue once owned by Gene Autry, is also nearby.
What is there to do at Fair Park in Dallas outside of the State Fair?
Fair Park is a 277-acre complex just east of downtown Dallas. Outside the annual State Fair of Texas, you can walk the Fair Park Esplanade, a 700-foot reflecting pool with three fountains built in 1936. The park has one of the world's largest collections of 1930s art deco architecture and is one of the only intact World's Fair sites from before the 1950s. The Hall of State, the Cotton Bowl stadium, the African-American Museum (with the largest African-American folk art collection in the US), and the Music Hall are all on the grounds.
What is Lower Greenville in Dallas like for nightlife?
Lower Greenville is one of Dallas's oldest nightlife neighborhoods, about 10 minutes northeast of downtown along Greenville Avenue. The strip runs north-south with dive bars, cocktail bars, restaurants, and outdoor patios. It's generally more chill and social than a nightclub scene. Live music spots include Son of a Butcher (sliders and live music), Terrell's Restaurant (live jazz with Italian cuisine), and Sundown at Granada in Upper Greenville. The neighborhood is also famous for its St. Patrick's Day parade, which is 2 miles long and draws around 150,000 people.
Where can I go two-stepping or country dancing in the Dallas area?
Cowboys Red River is a major nightclub and dance hall in Dallas with Texas two-step dancing and a house band called Running Behind playing popular country songs. The Ranch House in Sachse is a country bar and dance hall where bands play while working their way up to larger venues. Southern Junction in Royse City is a bigger space with a large dance floor, tables, and steak dinners alongside live country bands like Brandon Bamberg.
What Dallas suburbs near the city have live music and things to do?
Several Dallas-area suburbs have their own live music scenes. Waxahachie (30 miles south) has The Texas Theater, College Street Pub, Cork House Winery, Southern Roots Brewing Company, and Railport Brewing Company. Ennis (35 miles south) has Ashley's Downtown Kitchen and Bar in its eight-block historic downtown. McKinney has Hank's Texas Grill, known for hosting Texas artists, and Guitars and Growlers for open mics. Rockwall has Sideways with a Tuesday open mic, and Flower Mound has Point After North for Sunday night open mics.