Fort Worth Nightlife — Live Music Venues, Honky Tonks & Dance Halls Across the City
8 videos · Video guides to Fort Worth's live music scene, from the Stockyards to Sundance Square and beyond.
Fort Worth has a deep and spread-out live music scene that runs from the Stockyards in the north down through Sundance Square, the South Main Village neighborhood, the Magnolia Village area, and the West 7th Street District. The Stockyards alone are packed with venues — from the massive Billy Bob's Texas, which bills itself as the world's largest honky tonk, to smaller spots like Rhinestone Saloon, White Elephant, Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon, and the newer Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall on Mule Alley. Beyond the Stockyards, you'll find dedicated live music rooms like Tulips, Magnolia Motor Lounge, Cicada, and jazz at Scat Jazz Lounge downtown.
The videos on this page walk through dozens of Fort Worth venues in detail, covering what each place looks like inside, what kind of music you'll hear, which nights are best for dancing, and what the crowds are like. You'll get a sense of the differences between neighborhoods — the tourist-heavy, bar-hopping energy of the Stockyards versus the more local and laid-back feel of places like Boiled Owl in Magnolia Village or Distribution Bar in South Main Village. The guides also cover the West 7th Street District, which is more of a nightclub and DJ scene than a live music destination, though a few spots like Birdie's Social Club and The Local do feature live performers.
Whether you're looking for a big ticketed show, a free open mic, a Monday night jazz jam, a Sunday songwriter showcase, or a rowdy Friday night at a Stockyards saloon, the guides on this page will help you figure out where to go and what to expect when you get there.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas
In What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas, the video starts at the Stockyards with a visit to Billy Bob's Texas, covering its merch, barbecue, pool tables, live bull riding arena, two stages, and a performance by Ned LeDoux. It then moves to Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon to see Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition playing western swing, visits Filthy McNasty's Saloon where the Squeezebox Bandits were performing, and checks out Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall on Mule Alley for a JJ Grey and Mofro show. The video also heads to the South Main Village neighborhood to visit Distribution Bar during their Monday night open jazz jam and stops at Boiled Owl in the Magnolia Village neighborhood.
Where to hear live music in Fort Worth, Texas
Where to hear live music in Fort Worth, Texas features 10 different venues across the city. It starts at Magnolia Motor Lounge, where Spencer Wood was celebrating his first album release, then visits Tulips to see Claire Hinkle and her band. The video covers Bearded Lady in the South Main Village neighborhood where Gabby Hinton was performing, the grand opening of Our Tap House with the Squeezebox Bandits, and a full day of music at Cicada during their Save the Cicada event featuring a band called Darstar. It also visits Boiled Owl in Magnolia Village and McFly's, a Back to the Future-themed bar known for its open mic nights.
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife: Stockyards, Bars, and Live Music Hotspots
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife covers 12 venues plus a bonus look at a Fort Worth recording studio. It opens at Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall on Mule Alley with a Dylan Gossett show, then walks to Billy Bob's Texas to see Wilder Blue. The video heads up the hill to Rhinestone Saloon for a Billy Joe Jones set, visits Saddle Rock Wine and Beer in a renovated 1800s home along the Trinity River to hear Songbird Jones, and goes downtown to Sundance Square for the Sundance Square Big Band. It also stops at Flying Saucer beer garden and Tulips in the South Main neighborhood.
Fort Worth Nightlife: Live music from the Stockyards to Sundance Square downtown
Fort Worth Nightlife: Live music from the Stockyards to Sundance Square downtown features 12 venues. It opens at Billy Bob's Texas with a Jon Wolfe performance, then visits Rhinestone Saloon to see David Adam Byrnes. Downtown, it covers the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival at Sundance Square with Summer Dean and Matt Hillyer performing, and heads underground to Scat Jazz Lounge, described as a speakeasy-style club in a subterranean space, during their Black Dog Jam on a Sunday. Near the Cultural District, the video visits Bankhead Brewing Company for a Larry Lampkin set and Birdie's Social Club where Breezy Branche was performing.
Nightlife along West 7th Street in Fort Worth, Texas
Nightlife along West 7th Street in Fort Worth, Texas walks through the West 7th Street District, a roughly five-block entertainment hub located west of downtown Fort Worth at the edge of the Cultural District. The video explains that the area is heavily nightclub- and DJ-focused, with most venues catering to a younger crowd on weekend nights, and that live music is relatively scarce in the district itself. It does highlight The Local, which hosts a songwriter social on the last Sunday of the month, and nearby Birdie's Social Club, where Bronson Lewis was performing. The video also mentions Ampersand, which operates as a coffee shop by day and a lounge-style nightclub at night, and notes the adjacent Artisan Circle area (formerly Crockett Row) as more restaurant-heavy.
The Nightlife in Fort Worth Texas stockyards bars and nightclubs
The Nightlife in Fort Worth Texas covers Stockyards bars and nightclubs, starting with a sold-out Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen show at Billy Bob's Texas during their Hold My Beer and Watch This tour, followed by Brian Lucas on the honky tonk stage. The video visits Hotel Drover at the end of Mule Alley where Kyle Red was playing the patio, then Second Rodeo Brewing for a Wesley Hannah set. It features a rowdy Friday night at White Elephant with Dusty Moes, then visits Downtown Cowtown at the Isis, a theater dating back to 1914 that reopened in 2021, where Courtney Patton, Jamie Lin Wilson, and Doug Stone played a Supper Club event. The video also covers Rhinestone Saloon for late-night weekend shows.
Where to go country dancing in Fort Worth, Texas (stockyards nightlife)
Where to go country dancing in Fort Worth, Texas covers 10 locations and breaks down which nights are best for dancers at each spot. At Billy Bob's Texas, it notes that Thursday is college night and gets busy around 10:30 p.m. with a nightclub feel, and that events like a Red Clay Strays show also bring out a lot of dancers. At White Elephant, the video recommends Sundays with John Hope and Wednesdays with the Chickadee Dicks as strong dance nights. Rhinestone Saloon is highlighted as a more comfortable option for dancing on crowded Friday and Saturday nights in the Stockyards.
Where to listen to live music in Fort Worth, Texas
Where to listen to live music in Fort Worth, Texas opens with a detailed look at Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall, including a VIP backstage tour that reveals two hidden speakeasies inside the venue, and a performance by Grady Spencer and the Work. The video then visits Billy Bob's Texas, explaining how the ticketed main stage works (individual seats at tables next to strangers) and featuring a Red Clay Strays show. It moves to White Elephant, noting that this famous Stockyards venue has live music seven nights a week, making it a reliable option when nothing else is going on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best live music venues in the Fort Worth Stockyards?
The Stockyards have a high concentration of live music spots. Billy Bob's Texas is the biggest, with two stages, bull riding, and major ticketed acts. Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall on Mule Alley is a newer large venue hosting big shows. White Elephant has live music seven nights a week. Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the hill is a good late-night spot with strong weekend acts around 10 p.m. Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon features country music with vintage rodeo décor, Second Rodeo Brewing has solo artists daily, and Hotel Drover hosts live music on its back patio.
What nights are best for country dancing at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth?
Thursday is college night at Billy Bob's Texas and tends to get busy around 10:30 p.m. with a nightclub feel. The crowd skews younger later in the evening. Big ticketed events also draw a lot of dancers — the dance floor stays active even while the main act plays, and another band takes the smaller honky tonk stage after the headliner finishes. Many of the dancers at Billy Bob's also frequent Red River, a nearby nightclub.
Where can I find jazz in Fort Worth?
Scat Jazz Lounge downtown, right off Sundance Square, is the top spot for jazz in Fort Worth. It's a speakeasy-style venue in a subterranean space featuring live jazz from local and national talent. They host the Black Dog Jam on Sundays. Distribution Bar in the South Main Village neighborhood also hosts a Monday night open jazz jam.
What is the West 7th Street District in Fort Worth like at night?
The West 7th Street District is a roughly five-block entertainment area west of downtown Fort Worth at the edge of the Cultural District. It's one of the most popular nightlife areas in Fort Worth, but it's primarily a nightclub and DJ scene rather than a live music destination. The crowd skews younger, and many patrons live in the surrounding apartment complexes. The Local is one of the few spots in the district with live music, hosting a songwriter social on the last Sunday of the month. Ampersand operates as a coffee shop by day and a lounge-style nightclub at night.
What is Downtown Cowtown at the Isis in Fort Worth?
Downtown Cowtown at the Isis is a multi-hundred-seat theater in the Stockyards that dates back to 1914. It sat dormant for over 20 years before reopening in 2021. It hosts big live music acts and special events like Supper Club nights. One featured performance included Courtney Patton, Jamie Lin Wilson, and Doug Stone.
Where can I find live music in Fort Worth outside the Stockyards?
Several strong venues sit outside the Stockyards. Tulips and Magnolia Motor Lounge are two of the most popular dedicated live music rooms in Fort Worth, both hosting ticketed shows with touring and local acts. Cicada supports songwriters and up-and-coming bands with music multiple nights a week. Boiled Owl in the Magnolia Village neighborhood is a locals bar with regular live music and karaoke. Distribution Bar in South Main Village hosts a Monday night jazz jam. Downtown, Sundance Square has live music on the plaza Wednesday through Sunday evenings, and Scat Jazz Lounge is just off the square. Bankhead Brewing Company near the Cultural District also features live performers.
Does Sundance Square in Fort Worth have live music?
Yes. Sundance Square is a community plaza in the heart of downtown Fort Worth that features live music Wednesday through Sunday evenings during the summer. They also host events — the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival is one example, which has featured performers like Summer Dean and Matt Hillyer along with a UTA Maverick main stage. Flying Saucer, a beer garden right next to the square, also has live music on its patio.