The video above walks through 10 different spots where you can hear live music in Fort Worth, Texas — plus a couple of legendary venues just outside the city in Arlington and Dallas. If you're trying to figure out where to hear live music in Fort Worth Texas, this is a solid starting point. David Bridwell covers a good range of places, from popular ticketed venues to neighborhood bars with late-night local acts, giving you a real sense of what the Fort Worth music scene actually looks like on any given night.
What are the best live music venues in Fort Worth?
Here are the 10 spots featured in the video, along with a couple of bonus venues just outside Fort Worth:
- Magnolia Motor Lounge — One of the most popular music venues in Fort Worth, hosting ticketed shows on weekends and live music most nights of the week. Spencer Wood was playing here to celebrate the release of his first album.
- Tulips — A top-tier Fort Worth venue with a wide variety of music, from touring bands to local artists. Claire Hinkle and her band were performing on this visit.
- Bearded Lady — A hip spot in the South Main Village neighborhood, good for drinks with friends and occasional live music. Gabby Hinton was playing an impromptu set here.
- Our Tap House — A newer spot near South Main Village that hosted a grand opening weekend with multiple artists, including the Squeezebox Bandits, a Fort Worth local band.
- Cicada — A live music venue with a big stage and comfortable seating, supporting songwriters, up-and-coming bands, and touring acts multiple nights a week. Their Save the Cicada event featured a full day of music, including a band called Darstar.
- Boiled Owl — A neighborhood bar in the Magnolia Village area with a regular late-night local crowd, karaoke nights, and live music events.
- McFly — A chill Back to the Future-themed bar that hosts open mic nights and serves as the filming location for the Fort Worth Roots Show. Corder King and Company performed and were interviewed here.
- Sundance Square — Downtown Fort Worth's town square with a family-friendly atmosphere and live music Wednesday through Sunday. Harold Huertas was playing on this visit.
- Pearls Cherokee Lounge — Located in Arlington, this dive bar has been around for over 60 years and was ranked the number one dive bar by Texas Monthly. It's a family bar with a crowd of regulars and talented bands like the Shattered Bones Band.
- Longhorn Ballroom — Over in Dallas, this historic venue was built in the 1950s for Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Legends like Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and B.B. King have all played here. Asleep at the Wheel was performing on this night — a perfect introduction to Texas western swing.
Neighborhoods worth exploring for live music
Fort Worth's music spots are spread across several distinct neighborhoods. South Main Village is home to Bearded Lady and sits close to both Our Tap House and Cicada. The Magnolia Village area has Boiled Owl and Magnolia Motor Lounge. And downtown's Sundance Square offers free live music in an open-air setting most days of the week. If you're willing to drive a bit, Arlington and Dallas add even more depth with places like Pearls Cherokee Lounge and the Longhorn Ballroom.