Live Music in Dallas — Venues, Neighborhoods & Nightlife Guide
4 videos · Video guides to Dallas's best live music spots, from Deep Ellum dives to dance halls and songwriter stages.
Dallas has a deep and layered live music scene that stretches well beyond any single neighborhood. Deep Ellum gets most of the attention — and for good reason, given its history as a major center for blues and jazz going back to the 1800s — but the city's live music map extends into Lakewood, the Bishop Arts District area, McKinney, Sachse, Denton, Rockwall, and points east toward Royse City. The range of music you can find on any given night covers Texas country, singer-songwriter rounds, blues, jazz, R&B, punk, and rock, with venues that range from small songwriter-in-the-round rooms to large concert halls.
The videos on this page cover more than 40 different locations across the Dallas area, including dedicated live music venues, honky tonks, dance halls, saloons, breweries, kava bars, and open mic nights. You'll get a look at places like Trees, The Kessler Theater, Adair's Saloon, Poor David's Pub, The Balcony Club, Southern Junction, Hank's Texas Grill, Cowboys Red River, and many more — along with the artists performing at each spot and what to expect when you walk in the door.
Whether you're looking for a weeknight open mic, a Saturday night dance floor, or a seated concert from a touring songwriter, the guides on this page will give you a real sense of what Dallas looks and sounds like after dark. The videos also cover food options, neighborhood context, and practical details like which open mics happen on which nights of the week.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
What to do in Deep Ellum, Dallas
In What to do in Deep Ellum, Dallas, the video walks through 20 different spots in the Deep Ellum neighborhood, starting with a songwriters social at Adair's Saloon and food at Hawker. Venues covered include Reno's Chop Shop Saloon, Club Dada, Three Links, Trees (which has hosted acts like Radiohead, Nirvana, Arcade Fire, Deftones, Tool, and Erykah Badu), Twilight Lounge, and Rodeo Dallas. The video discusses Deep Ellum's history as a significant African-American cultural hub once called the Harlem of the South, its connection to legendary musicians like Robert Johnson, Lead Belly, and Bessie Smith, and current concerns about gentrification, crime, and construction in the area.
Dallas nightlife: The best Clubs, Bars and Restaurants
Dallas nightlife: The best Clubs, Bars and Restaurants features 12 different locations across the Dallas area. It starts at Hank's Texas Grill in McKinney, where artists like Guy Clark and Mark Chesnutt have performed and where Jeremiah and Blue Haze were playing that night. The video visits The Ranch House in Sachse, Southern Junction in Royse City (where Brandon Bamberg was performing), The All Good Cafe in Deep Ellum during an open mic night with Scarlett Deerling and Milo, Adair's Saloon with Kirk Holloway performing, and Deep Ellum Art Company. The video highlights the range from intimate songwriter shows to large dance floors with steak dinners.
Where to go in Dallas for live music
Where to go in Dallas for live music covers six venues across different Dallas neighborhoods. It begins at Cowboys Red River, a dance hall with two-step dancing and a house band called Running Behind playing popular country songs. The video visits Adair's Saloon in Deep Ellum, where Red holds a weekly residency, and The Kessler Theater near the Bishop Arts District, where Todd Snider was performing in a historic venue once owned by Gene Autry. Other stops include The Balcony Club in the Lakewood area, where the Special Edition Band was playing blues, jazz, and R&B, and Poor David's Pub near downtown, which has its own history with Townes Van Zandt and a Guy Clark green room.
The open mics of Dallas, Texas (Dallas music scene vlog)
The open mics of Dallas, Texas features 16 different open mics across the Dallas area, organized by day of the week. Sunday spots include Six Springs Tavern (hosted by Tim Travis with a show by Picard and Pitts) and Point After North in Flower Mound (with Chris Babler and Warren Dunleavy Jr.). Monday open mics include Poor David's Pub (hosted by Bob Case, with an original songwriter focus) and Buzz Brews Kitchen in Lakewood (an open mic with Michelle Rose Dom that includes comedians). Tuesday spots include Sideways in Rockwall (hosted by Zac Romo), Guitars and Growlers in McKinney (hosted by Jeff Gross), and Cavaculture Kava Bar in Denton, which doesn't serve alcohol but does have kava rituals and delta-8 THC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best live music venues in Deep Ellum, Dallas?
Deep Ellum has a dense concentration of live music spots. Trees is one of the most well-known, open since 1990 and having hosted acts like Radiohead, Nirvana, Erykah Badu, and Arcade Fire. Adair's Saloon is a staple for country-style music with a weekly residency by Red and famous burgers. Club Dada has been hosting all-ages live music on a large outdoor patio since 1986. Three Links is a punk rock-driven dive bar, and Deep Ellum Art Company hosts larger concert-style shows. The All Good Cafe offers intimate performances and open mic nights.
Where can I go two-stepping or dancing in Dallas?
Cowboys Red River is a major nightclub for Texas two-step dancing, with a house band called Running Behind playing popular country songs and a high-energy dance floor. The Ranch House in Sachse is a country bar and dance hall that also features dancing, sometimes with a DJ. Southern Junction in Royse City has a large dance floor surrounded by tables and hosts live country acts like Brandon Bamberg.
What is the history of Deep Ellum in Dallas?
Deep Ellum's history goes back to the 1800s when it was one of Dallas's first commercial districts and a historically significant African-American community. It was referred to as the Harlem of the South and became a major center for blues and jazz, attracting musicians like Robert Johnson, Lead Belly, and Bessie Smith. Today the area features murals, galleries, bars, restaurants, and live music venues, though it faces ongoing concerns about gentrification, crime, and construction affecting local businesses.
Where are the best open mic nights in Dallas?
Dallas has open mics running every night of the week across the metro area. On Sundays, Six Springs Tavern hosts a brunch open mic with Tim Travis. Mondays feature Poor David's Pub (once a month, songwriter-focused, hosted by Bob Case) and Buzz Brews Kitchen in Lakewood. Tuesdays include Sideways in Rockwall (hosted by Zac Romo) and Guitars and Growlers in McKinney (hosted by Jeff Gross), which is known for its appreciation of songwriters. Hank's Texas Grill in McKinney has open mics on Wednesdays.
What is The Kessler Theater in Dallas and where is it located?
The Kessler Theater is a historic concert venue near the Bishop Arts District area of Dallas. It was once owned by Gene Autry and was abandoned for a period before being restored. It hosts seated shows from touring and Texas-based artists — Todd Snider is one notable performer featured in the videos on this page. The area around the theater has tacos and other food within walking distance.
What is Poor David's Pub in Dallas known for?
Poor David's Pub is a long-running venue near downtown Dallas with deep roots in the Texas songwriter scene. It's named after David Card. The venue has a Guy Clark green room and a famous story about Townes Van Zandt getting a last-minute gig there and being so drunk that they paid him not to play. It also hosts a monthly open mic on Mondays with an original songwriter focus, hosted by Bob Case.
Where can I find live music outside of Deep Ellum in Dallas?
Several strong venues sit outside Deep Ellum. Hank's Texas Grill in McKinney books well-known Texas artists and has had performers like Guy Clark and Mark Chesnutt on its stage. Southern Junction in Royse City has a large dance hall with live country acts. The Balcony Club in the Lakewood neighborhood features blues, jazz, and R&B and has been open for over 30 years. Cowboys Red River is a dedicated dance hall, and Six Springs Tavern is a legit full-size venue hosting Sunday brunch open mics. Guitars and Growlers in McKinney and Sideways in Rockwall are also solid spots for catching live music on weeknights.