Fort Worth Texas — Live Music Venues, Honky Tonks & Neighborhood Guides
19 videos · Your guide to Fort Worth's live music scene, nightlife, and neighborhoods
Fort Worth is a city where live music is woven into the fabric of nearly every neighborhood, from the historic Stockyards to the walkable strips of Magnolia Avenue and the downtown energy of Sundance Square. The city is home to Billy Bob's, the world's largest honky tonk, but the scene runs far deeper than that single landmark. You'll find jazz in subterranean lounges, songwriter rounds at breweries, rowdy country at late-night saloons, and open mics scattered across every corner of the metro.
The videos on this page cover Fort Worth from multiple angles. Several are dedicated walking tours of specific neighborhoods — the River District, Magnolia Avenue, West 7th Street, Camp Bowie, and the Northside — showing what each area looks like, where to eat, and where to find music. Others zero in on the nightlife, documenting what happens after dark at the Stockyards, along Exchange Street, and across downtown. You'll also find a deep dive into Fort Worth's open mic scene featuring 24 different venues.
Whether you're planning a night out at the Stockyards, looking for a quieter songwriter event on a Sunday afternoon, or just trying to figure out which Fort Worth neighborhood fits your style, the guides on this page give you a street-level look at what to expect. Specific venues, artists, cover charges, and crowd vibes are all covered across these videos.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
Fort Worth neighborhood walking tour (River District vlog)
In Fort Worth neighborhood walking tour (River District vlog), the River District in northwest Fort Worth is explored on foot, covering its location along a two-mile bend of the Trinity River. The video highlights the area's growing residential developments, trail access, and new entertainment options including Crystal Springs Hideaway, a bar and beer garden in a 1920s bungalow, and Himim Barbecue, which has hosted live music. Jenny Mack and Glenn McGloin were performing at Crystal Springs Hideaway on the night of the visit.
Downtown Fort Worth Walking Tour (Sundance Square to the Courthouse)
Downtown Fort Worth Walking Tour (Sundance Square to the Courthouse) follows a walk up Main Street from Sundance Square to the Tarrant County Courthouse on a snowy day. The video points out the studio for 95.5 The Ranch radio (KFWR) right on Sundance Square, which hosts a free concert series in summer. Historic buildings along the route include the Knights of Pythias building (1881), the Domino building — once known as the casino of the wild west where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hung around — and the Plaza Hotel building, a former saloon and brothel dating to 1908. The Worthington Renaissance hotel is noted as an occasional live music spot.
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife: Stockyards, Bars, and Live Music Hotspots
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife: Stockyards, Bars, and Live Music Hotspots features 12 different venues across Fort Worth. In the Stockyards, the video covers Tannahill's in Mule Alley where Dylan Gossett performed, Billy Bob's where Wilder Blue played, and Rhinestone Saloon where Billy Joe Jones was on stage. Downtown, Sundance Square is shown with the Sundance Square Big Band performing, and nearby Flying Saucer had The Matthew Show. The video also visits Saddle Rock Wine and Beer featuring Songbird Jones, and Tulips in the South Main neighborhood, described as one of Fort Worth's more popular dedicated live music venues.
Top Fort Worth Neighborhoods: A Walking Tour of Magnolia Avenue
Top Fort Worth Neighborhoods: A Walking Tour of Magnolia Avenue walks the mile-long stretch of West Magnolia Avenue in the Near Southside neighborhood, just southwest of downtown. The video covers the strip's restaurants, dive bars, brew pubs, and craft cocktail spots, noting it is bordered by the Fairmount Historic District's bungalow homes on one side and large apartment buildings on the other. Maggie's RnR is highlighted as a popular live music spot along the avenue. The video also mentions seasonal street events including an open streets event in spring with live music and Arts Goggle in the fall, which takes over 18 city blocks with visual art and live performances.
A tour of the Northside neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas
A tour of the Northside neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas explores the Marine Commercial Historic District, a small stretch from Northside Drive to 20th Street with deep Hispanic heritage. The video points out the Original Mexican Eats Cafe, which has a history going back to 1916, along with murals featuring Latino baseball players and the History of the Vaquero statue honoring Mexican horsemen who helped drive cattle along the Chisholm Trail. The Rose Marine Theater, dating to the 1920s, is noted for its Hispanic performances, music, theater, and dance. The visit follows a gig at Panther Island Brewing Company.
What's going on at the Fort Worth Stockyards at night? Touring Texas vlog
What's going on at the Fort Worth Stockyards at night? covers a Saturday night bar hop along a 2.5-block section of Exchange Street during Labor Day weekend. The video starts at White Elephant Saloon, described as Fort Worth's oldest and most iconic saloon with a $10 cover, where Bubba Wesley was performing. Next is Filthy McNasty's, which had no cover charge, with Jack Waters playing. The video also notes that Cantina Cadillac had reopened after a fire. Miss Molly's Hotel, a famously haunted former brothel, and the Stockyards Hotel, where Bonnie and Clyde once stayed, are pointed out along the strip.
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 across the city. Billy Bob's is shown with a front-row experience seeing Jon Wolfe. Rhinestone Saloon had David Adam Burns performing at their 10 PM weekend show. Downtown at Sundance Square, the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival featured Summer Dean and Matt Hillyer. Scat Jazz Lounge is highlighted as a top jazz destination in a speakeasy-style subterranean space. Near the Cultural District, Bankhead Brewing Company had Larry Lamin and band, while Birdie's Social Club featured Breezy Branche.
Nightlife along West 7th Street in Fort Worth, Texas
Nightlife along West 7th Street in Fort Worth, Texas walks through the five-block West 7th Street District, a major late-night entertainment hub west of downtown near the Cultural District. The video explains that most venues here lean toward a DJ and nightclub atmosphere rather than live music, with Ampersand noted as a coffee shop by day and lounge-style nightclub at night. The Local is identified as one of the few spots on West 7th with live music, hosting a songwriter social on the last Sunday of each month. The nearby Artisan Circle area (formerly Crockett Row) is described as more upscale and restaurant-focused. Birdie's Social Club, a few blocks away, is where Bronson Lewis was performing.
Fort Worth Restaurants: Exploring Camp Bowie Eateries & More
Fort Worth Restaurants: Exploring Camp Bowie Eateries & More drives and walks through the Camp Bowie Boulevard area in southwest Fort Worth, known for its 2-mile stretch of 1920s Thurber brick-lined road with a tree-lined median. The video covers the area's bakeries, boutiques, restaurants, and 90-year-old churches, noting popular stops like King Cade's Burgers, Hudson House, and Lucille's. A Mediterranean-Mexican restaurant called Cairo Mex is visited for a meal. For live music, the video highlights the Bowie House, a new luxury hotel at the start of the brick stretch, and The Meat Board further along Camp Bowie Boulevard.
Fort Worth Stockyards & Mule Alley: Live Music and Restaurants
Fort Worth Stockyards & Mule Alley: Live Music and Restaurants covers a Sunday afternoon visit to the Stockyards during Christmas time. The video walks through Mule Alley starting at Hotel Drover, showing its shops and ranch-style architecture, then passes businesses like Biscuit Bar, Ala Suerte, Cow Town Winery, and Melt Ice Cream. Tannahill's is noted as the big live music venue along Mule Alley. Second Rodeo Brewing, a brewery and beer garden with multiple acts daily, had Copperhead Jones performing. Up the hill on Exchange Street, White Elephant Saloon was also featuring live music.
The Nightlife in Fort Worth Texas stockyards bars and nightclubs
The Nightlife in Fort Worth Texas stockyards bars and nightclubs opens at Billy Bob's with a sold-out Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen show on the Hold My Beer and Watch This tour, followed by Brian Lucas on the honky tonk stage. The video visits Hotel Drover where Kyle Red played on the back patio, Second Rodeo Brewing with Wesley Hannah, and White Elephant Saloon featuring Dusty Moes. Downtown Cowtown at the Isis, a theater dating to 1914 that reopened in 2021, is shown during a Supper Club event with Courtney Patton, Jamie Lynn Wilson, and Doug Stone. Rhinestone Saloon rounds out the Stockyards stops.
Uncovering Fort Worth's Music Open Mic Scene (Texas Vlog)
Uncovering Fort Worth's Music Open Mic Scene (Texas Vlog) covers 24 different open mic venues across the Fort Worth area. Sunday events include Rhinestone Saloon in the Stockyards hosted by Hayden Hilliard or Braden Stewart, and a songwriter event at Cicada in the South Main area hosted by Tommy Luke. The Local on West 7th hosts a songwriter social on the last Sunday of the month with Destiny and Bronson Lewis. Jam sessions are featured at The Poop Deck and Dirty Water Saloon, while Monday open mics include Poured Bev and Company. The video gives a broad overview of where performers can find stage time across the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find live music in the Fort Worth Stockyards?
The Stockyards have several live music venues concentrated along Exchange Street and Mule Alley. Billy Bob's is the world's largest honky tonk with daily hours and weekend bull riding. White Elephant Saloon has live music every day and has been open since the 1970s. Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the hill is a late-night hangout with popular acts at 10 PM on weekends. Tannahill's in Mule Alley books big ticketed artists, and Second Rodeo Brewing has multiple acts playing every single day.
What is Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stockyards?
Mule Alley is a mixed-use development located on an alley branching off from the main Stockyards area, across from Cowtown Coliseum. It was formerly horse and mule barns. Today it features brick-lined streets with restaurants like Biscuit Bar and Ala Suerte, shops, Cow Town Winery, Melt Ice Cream, and the live music venue Tannahill's. Hotel Drover sits at the end of Mule Alley and is a popular tourist destination with a back patio that hosts live music.
What is the best jazz venue in Fort Worth?
Scat Jazz Lounge is recognized as a top jazz venue in Fort Worth and holds its own against competing cities. It's a speakeasy-style club tucked into a subterranean space right off Sundance Square downtown. They feature live jazz from both local and national talent. A regular event includes the Black Dog Jam on Sundays.
Where are the open mics in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth has a wide open mic scene spread across the city. Rhinestone Saloon in the Stockyards hosts open mics on Sundays and Wednesdays. Cicada in the South Main area has a songwriter-style open mic hosted by Tommy Luke. The Local on West 7th has a songwriter social on the last Sunday of the month hosted by Bronson Lewis. The Poop Deck and Dirty Water Saloon run jam sessions, and Poured Bev and Company has a Monday open mic. In total, the open mic guide on this page covers 24 different venues.
What is the West 7th Street area like in Fort Worth?
The West 7th Street District is a five-block entertainment area west of downtown Fort Worth at the edge of the Cultural District. It draws a younger crowd and is primarily a late-night drinking and clubbing destination. Most venues are DJ-heavy nightclubs rather than live music spots. Ampersand operates as a coffee shop during the day and a lounge-style nightclub at night. The Local is one of the few places in the area that features live music. The nearby Artisan Circle (formerly Crockett Row) is a more restaurant-focused section.
What is there to do on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth?
West Magnolia Avenue is a mile-long walkable strip in the Near Southside neighborhood just southwest of downtown. It's considered one of Fort Worth's restaurant rows, with TexMex, barbecue, pizza, gastropubs, and ice cream. There are also dive bars, brew pubs, craft cocktail spots, coffee shops, and retail. Maggie's RnR is a popular spot for live music. The street hosts seasonal events including an open streets festival in spring and Arts Goggle in fall, which takes over 18 city blocks with art and live music.
What is Downtown Cowtown at the Isis in Fort Worth?
Downtown Cowtown at the Isis is a multi-hundred-seat theater in the Stockyards area that dates back to 1914. It sat empty for over 20 years before reopening in 2021. It now hosts big live music acts and special events. One event shown in these videos is a Supper Club night featuring Courtney Patton, Jamie Lynn Wilson, and Doug Stone.