Things to Do in Fort Worth — Live Music, Nightlife, Neighborhoods & Walking Tours
15 videos · A video guide to Fort Worth's best honky tonks, dance halls, bars, restaurants, and neighborhoods.
Fort Worth is a city built on cattle, railroads, and cowboy culture, and that heritage runs through every corner of its nightlife and live music scene. From the honky tonks and saloons of the Stockyards to the songwriter stages of the Near Southside, Fort Worth has a deep and varied lineup of places to hear live music, go dancing, eat well, and explore on foot. The city's neighborhoods each have their own character — the West 7th Street District draws a younger clubbing crowd, Magnolia Avenue is a walkable strip of restaurants and dive bars, and the Cultural District puts world-class art museums within steps of each other.
The videos on this page cover all of that in detail. You'll find walking tours of downtown Fort Worth, Saturday nights at the Stockyards, guides to country dancing destinations, explorations of the South Main Village dining and music scene, and tours of Magnolia Avenue and the Cultural District. Several videos focus specifically on the live music you can find on particular nights of the week — which bands play where on Wednesdays, what the Stockyards look like on a Sunday afternoon, and where to find open mics and songwriter swaps around the city.
Whether you're planning a night out at Billy Bob's, looking for a Tuesday songwriter series at Wishbone and Flint, or trying to figure out where to catch a jazz jam on a Monday, the guides on this page will walk you through the venues, the neighborhoods, and the music with real footage from the ground.
Videos
What These Videos Cover
What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas
In What's happening in Fort Worth, Texas, the tour starts at the Stockyards with a visit to Billy Bob's, the world's largest honky tonk, where Ned Leoo was performing on the big stage. From there, the video visits 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 to catch Squeezebox Bandits. The tour continues to Tannahill's on Mule Alley for a JJ Grey and Mofro show, then moves to the South Main Village neighborhood to check out the Distribution Bar and its Monday night open jazz jam, and finishes in the Magnolia Village neighborhood at Boiled Owl, a locals bar with live music and karaoke.
Fort Worth Stockyards Station: trains, live music, food and shopping
Fort Worth Stockyards Station: trains, live music, food and shopping takes a walk through the Stockyard Station area, a narrow strip of shops along historic train tracks dating back to the late 1800s. The video highlights Chief Records, which has a large collection of country and western vinyl and sometimes hosts live music, as well as Riscy's Barbecue at the entrance. It also covers live music at the rodeo stage at Cowtown Coliseum, an afternoon stop at Hotel Drover for their backyard unplugged music series featuring David Trible, and a visit to The Post, an intimate new music venue in Fort Worth where a performance at their open mic takes place.
Ft Worth Stockyards: What happens at night?
Ft Worth Stockyards: What happens at night? documents the chaos of a Saturday night on Exchange Avenue, the main strip through the Stockyards. The video walks through White Elephant Saloon, lined with cowboy hats on the walls with a small dance floor, then moves to PR's, described as the spot where many people get their formative nightlife experiences — referencing Casey Donahew's lyric about drinking his first beer on the corner of North and Main. Star's Basement Bar is featured with Tommy Luke performing, and the video also covers Filthy McNasty's, Armadillo Den (which turns into a DJ club later at night), and Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon. A separate segment shows a visit to Roy Pope Grocery where Adrien Garza was playing.
Fort Worth Cultural District Walking Tour: Museums, Art, and More (Texas Vlog)
Fort Worth Cultural District Walking Tour covers the Cultural District located a few miles west of downtown Fort Worth, just south of Camp Bowie Boulevard and next to the West 7th Street District. The video tours three world-class art museums: the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Kimbell Art Museum (home to the only known Michelangelo painting in the Americas, plus works by van Gogh), and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth with its Andy Warhol pieces and Cafe Modern restaurant. The video also covers the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo at Dickies Arena, a 23-day event across January and February, including pro rodeo competition, and mentions major concerts at the arena like Alan Jackson.
Downtown Fort Worth Walking Tour (Sundance Square to the Courthouse)
Downtown Fort Worth Walking Tour walks Main Street from Sundance Square up to the Tarrant County Courthouse on a snowy day. The video points out the studio for 95.5 The Ranch radio (KFWR) on Sundance Square, which hosts a free summer concert series. Along Main Street, notable buildings include the Knights of Pythias building from 1881, the Western Union building with Reata (Razu River Cafe), the Sid Richardson Museum featuring paintings by Frederick Remington and Charles M. Russell, and the Domino building that was once a gaming house frequented by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Worthington Renaissance hotel is noted as a spot that sometimes has live music.
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife: Stockyards, Bars, and Live Music Hotspots
Explore Fort Worth Nightlife features 12 different live music locations across Fort Worth. In the Stockyards, the video covers Tannahill's with a Dylan Gossett show, Billy Bob's with Wilder Blue performing, and the Rhinestone Saloon with Billy Joe Jones playing late-night sets. Moving out of the Stockyards, the video visits Saddle Rock Wine and Beer along the Trinity River where Songbird Jones was performing, then heads to Sundance Square downtown for the Sundance Square Big Band and to Flying Saucer beer garden where The Matthew Show was playing. In the South Main neighborhood, Tulips is featured as one of Fort Worth's most popular live music venues.
Top Fort Worth Neighborhoods: A Walking Tour of Magnolia Avenue
Top Fort Worth Neighborhoods walks the length of West Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth's Near Southside neighborhood, a roughly mile-long strip bordered by the Fairmount Historic District's bungalow homes. The video covers the area's restaurant scene, dive bars, brew pubs, and craft cocktail spots, and highlights live music at Maggie's RnR. The video also mentions seasonal events: an Open Streets event in spring with live music and vendors, and Arts Goggle in the fall, which partners with Lost and Sound to take over 18 city blocks featuring hundreds of visual artists and live music.
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 on Labor Day weekend, starting from the Stockyards sign and heading up the hill to Ellis Avenue. The video visits White Elephant Saloon, noting it was featured as CD's Bar and Grill in the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger, and catches Bubba Wesley performing there. Filthy McNasty's is next, with no cover charge and Jack Waters on stage. The video also points out Miss Molly's Hotel, a famously haunted former brothel, and the Stockyards Hotel where you can stay in a room Bonnie and Clyde once occupied. A stop at Cantina Cadillac, which had reopened after a fire, rounds out the tour. The day started with an afternoon gig at Panther Island Brewing Company.
Nightlife along West 7th Street in Fort Worth, Texas
Nightlife along West 7th Street in Fort Worth covers the five-block West 7th Street District, located west of downtown Fort Worth at the edge of the Cultural District. The video describes the area as one of Fort Worth's most popular entertainment destinations, skewing younger with a heavy DJ and nightclub atmosphere. Ampersand, which serves as a coffee shop by day and a nightclub at night, is highlighted. The Local is noted as one of the few spots with live music, hosting a songwriter social on the last Sunday of the month. Nearby, the video visits Birdies, where Bronson Lewis was performing. The area formerly known as Crockett Row, now called Artisan Circle, is described as more upscale and restaurant-focused, with Kintaro ramen on its edge.
Near Southside, Fort Worth: South Main Village | Live Music, Restaurants & Things to Do
Near Southside, Fort Worth covers the South Main Village area, a revitalized mixed-use district just south of downtown. The video walks the strip and names live music venues including Tulips, Distribution Bar, Wishbone and Flint with its Tuesday songwriter series, Bearded Lady, Panther City Barbecue, and Pouring Glory. The walk ends at Cicada, where a First Wednesdays event was hosted by Tips and Amber Miller, with Molly Denmead also sharing the stage. The video highlights Buena Via for tacos and notes the neighborhood's walkable, community-oriented character.
Downtown Fort Worth at Night: Live Music at Red Goose Saloon & Walking Houston Street
Downtown Fort Worth at Night features a walk down Houston Street at night, starting at Thompson's Bookstore, a cocktail bar set in a former bookstore and pharmacy described as the last building in downtown Fort Worth's Hell's Half Acre area. The video covers the Cowtown Showcase of local and visiting artists at Red Goose Saloon and stops at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar for Wednesday night entertainment. The video explains Fort Worth's Panther City nickname — originating from an insult about the city being so quiet that a panther could sleep undisturbed downtown — and how the arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s transformed the city.
Fort Worth Stockyards & Mule Alley: Live Music and Restaurants
Fort Worth Stockyards & Mule Alley tours the Stockyards on a Sunday afternoon around Christmas. The video starts at Hotel Drover and walks through Mule Alley, a recent mixed-use development built in former mule and horse barns, pointing out businesses like Biscuit Bar, Ala Swerte, Cowtown Winery, and Melt Ice Cream. For live music, Tannahill's is highlighted as the major venue on Mule Alley, while Second Rodeo Brewing, a brewery and beer garden, had Copperhead Jones performing. Further up the hill, White Elephant Saloon was also featuring live music, noted as having live acts every single day of the week since the 1970s.
Things to do in Fort Worth: A live music tour of the Stockyards at night
Things to do in Fort Worth features a Wednesday night walking tour of the Stockyards' live music scene. The tour starts at the Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the hill with live music beginning at 8 o'clock. Next is Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon, where Landon Dodd and the Dance Hall Drifters play every Wednesday with a five-dollar cover. The White Elephant Saloon is featured with the Chicksy Dicks playing their regular Wednesday set with no cover. The night wraps at Filthy McNasty's for Skyler Payne's song swap. The video also describes the Stockyards' cowboy atmosphere, the Cowboy Channel bar, the RFD TV store, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum, and the twice-daily cattle drive.
Fort Worth restaurants & bars: Exploring South Main Village's Dining Scene
Fort Worth restaurants & bars explores the South Main Village dining and bar scene, noting that much of the area's development began in the 1990s with many popular spots having opened in just the past few years. The video highlights Bearded Lady, Nickel City (known for its Christmas decorations), Hot Box Biscuit Club, and Teenie's for fine dining Mexican food. For live music, the video covers Distribution Bar, which occupies the space that formerly housed Shipping and Receiving — known as the venue that launched Leon Bridges' career — and notes their Tuesday open mic hosted by Chadwick Cook. Wishbone and Flint is also covered with its Tuesday songwriter series, and Hop Fusion Ale Works is mentioned for live music as well.
Where to go country dancing in Fort Worth, Texas (stockyards nightlife)
Where to go country dancing in Fort Worth features 10 different locations for country dancing across the city. At Billy Bob's, Thursday is highlighted as college night, getting busy around 10:30 with a nightclub feel, and many dancers mentioned also going to Red River nightclub. The video caught a Red Clay Strays show there. At White Elephant Saloon, Sundays with John Hope and Wednesdays with the Chicksy Dicks are recommended as the best nights for dancing. The Rhinestone Saloon at the top of the hill is noted as a more comfortable option on crowded Friday or Saturday nights compared to other Stockyards spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What live music can you find at the Fort Worth Stockyards on a Wednesday night?
On a typical Wednesday at the Stockyards, the Rhinestone Saloon has live music starting at 8 o'clock. Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon hosts Landon Dodd and the Dance Hall Drifters with a five-dollar cover. The White Elephant Saloon features the Chicksy Dicks with no cover. Filthy McNasty's has hosted songwriter swaps and open mic events. All of these are within walking distance along Exchange Avenue and up the hill.
Where is the best country dancing in Fort Worth on a weeknight?
For weeknight country dancing, Billy Bob's is popular on Thursdays — it's college night and gets busy around 10:30 PM. The White Elephant Saloon is strong on Wednesdays when the Chicksy Dicks play and on Sundays with John Hope, both drawing dancers to the small floor in front of the stage. Lil Red's Longhorn Saloon also has a dance floor with quality live music on Wednesdays.
What is Mule Alley at the Fort Worth Stockyards?
Mule Alley is a recent mixed-use development on an offshoot of the main Stockyards area, built in former mule and horse barns. It features brick-lined streets with restaurants like Biscuit Bar and Ala Swerte, shops, Cowtown Winery, Melt Ice Cream, and the major music venue Tannahill's. Hotel Drover, a popular tourist destination with restaurants and shops inside, anchors one end. Second Rodeo Brewing, a brewery and beer garden with multiple live acts daily, is another key stop along the way.
What is the South Main Village area of Fort Worth known for?
South Main Village is a revitalized mixed-use district just south of downtown Fort Worth that has seen significant growth over the past five to ten years. It's a walkable area with locally owned restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. Key live music spots include Tulips, Distribution Bar (which occupies the former Shipping and Receiving space where Leon Bridges got his start), Wishbone and Flint, and Cicada. Popular bars and restaurants include Bearded Lady, Nickel City, Hot Box Biscuit Club, and Teenie's.
What museums are in the Fort Worth Cultural District and are they walkable?
The Fort Worth Cultural District has three world-class art museums within easy walking distance of each other: the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (focused on American art from the 1830s onward), the Kimbell Art Museum (housing European and Asian art, including the only known Michelangelo painting in the Americas and works by van Gogh), and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (featuring contemporary work including Andy Warhol, with a sculpture garden and Cafe Modern restaurant). The district also includes the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
What does the West 7th Street District in Fort Worth look like at night?
The West 7th Street District is a five-block entertainment area west of downtown Fort Worth that draws a younger crowd. It's heavily nightclub and DJ oriented, with house music filling the air from multiple venues. Ampersand is a notable spot that operates as a coffee shop during the day and a lounge-style nightclub at night. Live music is limited here, though The Local hosts a songwriter social on the last Sunday of the month. Nearby, Birdies is a spot that features live music. The area is surrounded by apartment complexes, so many of the people going out there also live in the neighborhood.
What is the history behind the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth?
The White Elephant Saloon calls itself Fort Worth's oldest and most iconic saloon. It has been at the Stockyards since the 1970s, though its history goes back further — it was once located in an area of Fort Worth called Hell's Half Acre, known for prostitution, gambling, and gunfights. The bar was also used as a filming location for the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger, where it appeared as CD's Bar and Grill. Today it features live music seven days a week, with cowboy hats lining the walls and a small dance floor in front of the stage.