The video above takes you on a tour through the city of Garland, Texas, starting with a walk around the historic downtown square and ending inside one of the most storied recording studios in the state. Garland is one of the larger cities in Dallas County, with a population around 240,000, sitting about 20 miles east of Dallas — roughly a 30-minute drive. It's heavily residential and has that established suburb feel, with older trees, older homes, and parks scattered throughout. One fun fact: this area, along with neighboring Richardson, is said to have inspired the setting for the sitcom King of the Hill. Garland also has deep roots as a manufacturing and industrial hub, and it's notably the home of Resistol cowboy hats.
Exploring Downtown Garland and the Historic Town Square
The historic Town Square is one of the oldest parts of the city and is clearly going through a period of revitalization. Walking around, you can see renovation work underway aimed at keeping the square relevant as a gathering spot. There's a music store, a coffee shop, restaurants, and bars — the kind of mix you'd hope to find in a small-town Texas square that's trying to hold onto its character. For Tex-Mex, Dos Banderas was the pick, and they also happen to feature live music. The square has a comfortable, low-key energy that makes it easy to spend an afternoon just wandering around.
What Live Music Venues Are in Downtown Garland, Texas?
The downtown square area has a handful of spots that regularly feature live music:
- Dos Banderas — A Tex-Mex restaurant right on the square that hosts live music alongside solid food
- Intrinsic Smokehouse — A barbecue joint on the downtown square known for pairing smoked meats with live performances
- The Tavern on the Square — A bar and gathering spot on the square that brings in live music acts
- Lakewood Brewing Company — Located a bit outside the historic downtown area, this brewery features live music and is close to the Audio Dallas recording studio
Audio Dallas Recording Studio and Its Place in Texas Music History
The real highlight of the visit was getting inside Audio Dallas Recording Studio, a historic facility with serious credentials. This is the studio where Willie Nelson recorded his legendary Red Headed Stranger album. It's also hosted sessions from artists like Kris Kristofferson, Jack Ingram, and Miranda Lambert. David Bridwell went in to record tracks from his Good Times album, and the video includes a listen to an early, unmixed version of one of the songs. The studio has a real sense of history to it, and the people running it clearly care about the craft. For anyone interested in where iconic Texas records were actually made, Audio Dallas is a legitimate piece of that story — and the fact that it's still operating and recording new music in Garland makes it worth knowing about.