The video above takes you on a walk through Allen, TX, a fast-growing Dallas suburb about 25 miles north of downtown. It's a good look at what the city has going on — the shopping, the restaurants, the parks, and a few spots where you can catch live music. The footage focuses heavily on Waters Creek Village, which is one of the more popular hangout areas in town, with a village green, public art, waterfront views, and a mix of retail and restaurants. Allen has a population of over 110,000 and sits in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, surrounded by McKinney to the north, Plano to the south, and Frisco to the west.
What Live Music Venues Are in Allen, TX?
Allen isn't exactly a honky-tonk destination, but there are a few spots worth knowing about if you want to hear live music while you're in town. Both of these are within walking distance of each other around the Waters Creek Village area:
- The Lion and the Crown Pub — A British-style pub near Waters Creek Village that hosts live music nights alongside a solid food and drink menu. Good atmosphere for catching a set in a relaxed setting.
- Lucy's Yard — A casual hangout spot just steps from The Lion and the Crown that also features live music. It's got a laid-back outdoor vibe that fits the Waters Creek Village feel.
If you're looking for a bigger live music scene, Plano and Frisco are right next door and have more options, but these Allen spots are worth checking out, especially if you're already spending time around the village.
Life in Allen Beyond the Music
Allen's roots go back to the late 1800s when it was farming country. Today it draws families and professionals who want suburban life with easy access to Dallas. The city has a goal of putting a park or outdoor facility within a half mile of every residence, which says a lot about the kind of place it's trying to be. Communities like Twin Creeks, Cypress Meadows, and Saddle Ridge Estates come with golf courses, swimming pools, clubhouses, tennis courts, and trails. High school football is a big deal here — the stadium holds 18,000 seats and looks like it belongs at a Division I university. The city also has a solid job market with employers in financial services, IT, telecommunications, and electronics. One standout company is Billings Productions, also known as the Dinosaur Company, which designs and manufactures animatronic exhibits.
A Recording Detour in Garland
The trip to Allen happened alongside a recording session at Audio Dallas recording studio in nearby Garland. David Bridwell laid down some tracks there, and you can hear a bit of the music in the video — a song with lines about border towns, energy from the sun, and living like you're flying. It's a good reminder that the Dallas-Fort Worth area has recording infrastructure scattered across its suburbs, not just in the city center.