Live Music in Fort Worth — Venues, Stockyards Nightlife & Where to Go Guide
10 videos · Video guides covering Fort Worth's best live music spots, from honky tonks to jazz lounges.
Fort Worth has a deep and active live music scene spread across several distinct neighborhoods. The Stockyards area is the most well-known destination, home to Billy Bob's Texas (the world's largest honky tonk), Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall, the White Elephant Saloon, Rhinestone Saloon, and Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon. But the music doesn't stop there — neighborhoods like South Main Village, Magnolia Village, the Cultural District, West 7th Street, and Sundance Square downtown all have their own bars, venues, and scenes worth exploring.
The videos on this page walk through dozens of Fort Worth venues, covering everything from major ticketed concert halls to neighborhood bars hosting open mics and jazz jams. You'll see what each place actually looks like inside, hear the music being played, and get a feel for the crowds and atmosphere on different nights of the week. Several videos focus specifically on the Stockyards and how to navigate the bar-hopping scene there, while others branch out to spots like Tulips, Magnolia Motor Lounge, Scat Jazz Lounge, Cicada, and Boiled Owl in other parts of the city.
Whether you're looking for country dancing on a Thursday night, a songwriter round on a weeknight, a jazz jam, or a big-name Texas act on a main stage, the guides on this page cover where to go and what to expect. There's also a dedicated video on Fort Worth's open mic scene featuring 24 different venues — useful if you're a musician looking to play or just want to find a low-key night of original music.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas
In What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas, the tour starts at Billy Bob's Texas in the Stockyards, showing the bull riding arena, dance floor, pool tables, and dual stages where Ned LeDoux was performing. The video continues to Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon to see Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition playing western swing, then crosses the street to Filthy McNasty's Saloon where the Squeezebox Bandits were sharing the stage with other local artists. It also visits Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall on Mule Alley for a JJ Grey and Mofro show, Distribution Bar in South Main Village for a Monday night open jazz jam, and Boiled Owl in Magnolia Village for late-night local music.
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 moves to Tulips to see Claire Hinkle and her band. The video covers Bearded Lady in South Main Village where Gabby Hinton was playing, 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 the band Darstar. It also visits Boiled Owl in Magnolia Village and McFly's, a Back to the Future-themed bar hosting open mic nights.
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife: Stockyards, Bars, and Live Music Hotspots
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife covers 12 venues plus a bonus recording studio. It opens at Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall on Mule Alley for a Dylan Gossett show, then hits Billy Bob's Texas to see Wilder Blue. The video goes up to Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the Stockyards hill for a Billy Joe Jones set, visits Saddle Rock Wine and Beer on the banks of the Trinity River for Songbird Jones, and heads downtown to Sundance Square for the Sundance Square Big Band. It also stops at Flying Saucer beer garden for The Matthew Show, Tulips in South Main, and several other spots around the city.
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 starting at Billy Bob's Texas with a front-row John Wolf show. The video visits Rhinestone Saloon to see David Adam Burns, then heads to Sundance Square for the Main Street Fort Worth Art Festival with Summer Dean and Matt Hillyer performing. It also features Scat Jazz Lounge, described as a top jazz destination in a speakeasy-style subterranean space, Bankhead Brewing Company in the Cultural District with Larry Lampkin and band, and Birdie's Social Club with Breezy Branche performing.
Where to go in Fort Worth for live music
Where to go in Fort Worth for live music covers 13 venues across the city. It starts at Tulips for a Cor Blond show (a band from Canada), then visits Magnolia Motor Lounge for Drayton Farley and Summer Dean. The video features Pinky Champagne Room and Velvet Jazz Lounge for a Thursday jazz jam, Southside Preservation Hall at the historic Rose Chapel building (dating to 1911) to see Dana Cooper, and Fort Brewery for a Kelly Willis performance. It also stops at Bourbon and Shine in the Cultural District for Brad Johnson, Grand Cru Wine Bar on Magnolia Avenue for Andrew Sullivan, and Texas Whiskey Ranch.
The Nightlife in Fort Worth Texas stockyards bars and nightclubs
The Nightlife in Fort Worth Texas covers Stockyards bars and nightclubs and beyond. It opens with a sold-out Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen Hold My Beer and Watch This tour show at Billy Bob's Texas, followed by Brian Lucas playing at the honky tonk stage. The video visits Hotel Drover on Mule Alley with Kyle Red on the patio, Second Rodeo brewery with Wesley Hannah, and White Elephant Saloon on a rowdy Friday night with Dusty Moes. It also covers Downtown Cowtown at the Isis, a multi-hundred-seat theater dating to 1914 that reopened in 2021, where a Supper Club event featured Courtney Patton, Jamie Lin Wilson, and Doug Stone.
Where to see live music in Fort Worth
Where to see live music in Fort Worth features 12 venues starting in the Stockyards. The video covers Billy Bob's Texas with a William Beckmann headlining show on the main stage and dancing to the Texas High Road Band and JD Myers on the honky tonk stage. It visits the White Elephant Saloon to catch John Hope on Sundays and the Chickadee Dicks on Wednesdays, with Paul Val playing Texas blues rock and soul on a Friday night. The video also covers the Love Shack next door and Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon, still in the Stockyards.
Uncovering Fort Worth's Music Open Mic Scene (Texas Vlog)
Uncovering Fort Worth's Music Open Mic Scene features 24 different venues with open mics and jams across Fort Worth. It starts at Rhinestone Saloon on Sundays (hosted by Hayden Hilliard or Braden Stewart, with a new Wednesday session added), then covers Cicada in South Main hosted by Tommy Luke. The video visits The Local on West 7th Street for a songwriter social hosted by Destiny and Bronson Lewis, the Poop Deck for a daytime jam session, Dirty Water Saloon for their regular band jam and Wednesday campfire picking event, and Poured Bev and Company for Monday open mics.
Where to go country dancing in Fort Worth, Texas (stockyards nightlife)
Where to go country dancing in Fort Worth features 10 locations with specific advice on which nights are best for dancing. At Billy Bob's Texas, Thursday is noted as a popular college night that gets busy around 10:30 PM, and dancing also picks up after main stage events like a Red Clay Strays show. The video recommends the White Elephant Saloon for Sundays with John Hope and Wednesdays with the Chickadee Dicks, and suggests Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the Stockyards hill as a more comfortable weekend option for dancing even when the Stockyards get crowded.
Where to listen to live music in Fort Worth, Texas
Where to listen to live music in Fort Worth, Texas starts at Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall with a VIP backstage pass, exploring two hidden speakeasies inside the venue and watching Grady Spencer and the Work from different vantage points. The video then covers Billy Bob's Texas, noting its famous live CDs recorded on-site, with footage of Red Clay Strays performing. It moves to the White Elephant Saloon, highlighting that they have music seven nights a week, making it a reliable fallback option any night of the week in the Stockyards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best live music venues in the Fort Worth Stockyards?
The Stockyards area has the highest concentration of live music in Fort Worth. Billy Bob's Texas is the world's largest honky tonk with two stages, bull riding, and major ticketed acts. Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall on Mule Alley hosts big-name artists on a large stage. The White Elephant Saloon has live music seven nights a week. Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the hill is a late-night hangout with popular acts on weekends around 10 PM. Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon, Second Rodeo brewery, and Filthy McNasty's Saloon round out the main options for bar-hopping in the Stockyards.
What night is best for country dancing at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth?
Thursday is one of the most popular nights for dancing at Billy Bob's Texas — it's college night and the crowd starts filling in around 10:30 PM with a nightclub feel. Dancing also picks up during and after ticketed main stage events, when a band plays on the honky tonk stage in front of the dance floor. Two bands noted as especially good for dancing there are the Texas High Road Band and JD Myers.
Where can I find jazz in Fort Worth?
Scat Jazz Lounge downtown near Sundance Square is considered a top jazz venue, located in a speakeasy-style subterranean space with local and national jazz talent. They host events like the Black Dog Jam on Sundays. Pinky Champagne Room and Velvet Jazz Lounge features local jazz musicians and hosts a Thursday open jazz jam. Distribution Bar in the South Main Village neighborhood hosts a Monday night open jazz jam as well.
Where is live music in Fort Worth outside the Stockyards?
Several neighborhoods have active music scenes. In South Main Village, Tulips is one of the city's most popular venues for ticketed touring acts, and Cicada supports songwriters and up-and-coming bands. Magnolia Motor Lounge on Camp Bowie hosts touring Texas acts most nights. Boiled Owl in Magnolia Village is a locals bar with late-night music and karaoke. Downtown, Sundance Square has live music on the plaza Wednesday through Sunday, and Scat Jazz Lounge is nearby. In the Cultural District, Bankhead Brewing Company, Birdie's Social Club, and Bourbon and Shine all feature 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 that dates back to 1914. It sat dormant for over 20 years before reopening in 2021. They now host big live music acts and special events like the Supper Club, which has featured artists including Courtney Patton, Jamie Lin Wilson, and Doug Stone.
Where can I find open mics in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth has a large open mic scene with at least 24 venues hosting regular events. Rhinestone Saloon has open mics on Sundays and Wednesdays. Cicada in South Main hosts a mellow open mic run by Tommy Luke. The Local on West 7th Street has a songwriter social on the last Sunday of the month. McFly's hosts open mic nights. The Poop Deck and Dirty Water Saloon run jam sessions where musicians sign up by instrument, and Poured Bev and Company hosts a Monday open mic.
Does Sundance Square in Fort Worth have live music?
Yes, Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth has live music on the plaza from Wednesday through Sunday evenings during the summer. Acts like the Sundance Square Big Band perform while people dance in the open square. The area also hosts special events like the Main Street Fort Worth Art Festival, which has featured artists such as Summer Dean and Matt Hillyer. Nearby, Flying Saucer beer garden and Scat Jazz Lounge offer additional music options within walking distance.