7 Hot Spots to Catch Live Music in Dallas

Dallas may not be Music City, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of opportunities to catch live music in Dallas on any given day of the week. From coffee shops to bars, lounges and concert halls, here’s a rundown of some of the best places to hear live music in Dallas.

The Rustic

3656 Howel St. 

A unique indoor/outdoor restaurant, bar and music venue in Uptown features free live music in Dallas seven days a week. In the outdoor patio space, dubbed Pat’s Backyard after one of Texas country’s most legendary figures, fans can enjoy tunes from local and national singer-songwriters and rising Texas country singers. The Rustic’s kitchen and bar offers home style meals made with farm-to-table ingredients and pours from local craft breweries.

The Kessler Theater

1230 W. Davis St.

The Kessler Theater, known simply as “The Kessler,” has been a fixture in Oak Cliff since 1942. Throughout the decades, the historic building has housed a movie theater, a revival tabernacle and more. After sitting vacant for 30 years, The Kessler underwent renovations and reopened in 2009 as a dance studio, concert venue and art gallery. With its Oak Cliff vibe, it is a favorite spot to hear live music in Dallas. Multiple concerts are booked at The Kessler each month, and guests can enjoy access to a full bar featuring Texas beer, wine and spirits, as well as a kitchen with a rotating selection of bites.

Trees

2709 Elm St.

World famous Trees is a premier spot for live music in Dallas and Fort Worth. Since 1990, Trees has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Nirvana, Dave Mathews Band and Dallas’ own Erykah Badu, among many others. The intimate and smoke-free Deep Ellum space is a fan favorite place to catch a concert in Dallas, and is also a hot spot for parties and events. 

The Balcony Club

1825 Abrams Rd, Upstairs

Located next to the historic Lakewood Theater, The Balcony Club features some of the best live music in Dallas from blues and jazz artists seven nights a week. The nostalgic, nightly shows on the stage at this upstairs music venue in Lakewood have been lifting spirits since 1988. One recent calls The Balcony Club “The Mecca for live music and good times in Lakewood.”

Opening Bell Coffee

1409 S. Lamar St. #102

Open mic nights at this basement coffee shop south of Downtown is the longest running open mic in DFW. Sip on hot coffee from local roasters while listening to singer-songwriters rotate through 10-minute sets of original material (and the occasional cover). Opening Bell is more than a coffee shop — you’ll also find breakfast foods, sandwiches and sweet treats on the menu, as well as local beers and wine. 

Texas Truck Yard

5624 Sears St.

Truck Yard is a come-as-you-are beer garden and adult playground that just may be the most “Austin” you’ll find in Dallas. It’s tree houses, airstreams, and rotating food trucks make Truck Yard a welcome place for anyone to hang out, whether you’re toting a baby in the stroller, or grabbing beers with your colleagues — even the dogs are welcome. Truck Yard features live music multiple times a week, but the music isn’t so overpowering you can’t enjoy conversation and laughs with your friends over a cold beer and Truck Yard’s infamous philly cheese steak.

Adair’s Saloon

2624 Commerce St.

A Deep Ellum gem, Adair’s Saloon is a hole-in-the-wall honky tonk and the spot to find free country music any night of the week (not to mention the delicious burgers!). The best up and coming singers and songwriters from Dallas and across Texas take to the stage at Adair’s, where the likes of Dixie Chicks, Jack Ingram and some of Texas Country’s best artists have played.

Want to find an apartment near all the action? Reach out to us for a free list of apartments near some of the best live music in Dallas. With agents that are experts in all areas of DFW, Uptown Apartment Locators will find the perfect apartment in the perfect neighborhood for you.