Things We’re Thankful for in Dallas Music in 2025

In 2025, all we obsessed over was Dallas music.

Deep Ellum experienced a true reunion of old friends with this year’s Block Party, and Fort Worth’s Leon Bridges, who had street signs honored in his name, graced us with his presence more than once in Bishop Arts.

Our contributors have worked tirelessly to cover our city’s music scene, from spotting talent on smaller stages before they become big to writing profiles on their rise. We’ve been excited to amplify names like Scuttino, Willy and the Wildcards, Joel Wells Jr., Kendall Brown, Remy Reilly, Gracen Wynn and more.

We’ve attended numerous concerts and written about them. The data doesn’t lie; going to a concert is better than sex.

Thanksgiving is about bringing family and friends together. Before you head to the kitchen to prepare your spread, we took the time to reflect on the things we love about the Dallas music scene, a space that’s as rich in sounds as it is in history.

We couldn’t be prouder to document, uncover and (in our small way) help our community grow so that the rest of the world takes notice. Here are some of the things we are thankful for in the music scene in 2025:

• The Artist & Development seminars bring Dallas’ creative community together to connect with real opportunities and share knowledge. No gatekeeping and just genuine collaboration and the reminder that there’s enough for everyone. Huge thanks to Dezi 5 and the Dallas Entertainment Awards.
  
  
• We’re thankful for Slow Joy’s new album, A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming, which brought us some seriously groovy and catchy tunes this year. While he may have called out the Dallas Observer and declared Dallas no longer his hometown, we can’t deny the artistry in his music. Sometimes, the best art comes from a little tension, right?
  
  
• The announcement of Sick New World coming to Dallas-Fort Worth next fall has us ready to throw up the horns and rock out like it’s Ozzfest all over again. With a lineup that promises to melt faces, this is shaping up to be one of the biggest rock shows the area has seen in years. Who’s ready to rage with us? 
  
  
• This year, Pantera returned to Dallas for the first time in over 20 years, honoring their roots in the city and paying tribute to the legendary Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. It was a powerful and emotional homecoming for fans, serving as a poignant reminder of the band’s enduring legacy in the metal world.
  
  
• The Club Clearview 40th reunion party at It’ll Do Club in May was a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Hearing from the owners and key figures who made it a cultural hub for decades was a reminder of the vibrant nightlife and community that shaped Dallas in the late 20th century. Here’s to the memories—and the dance moves.
  
  
• BigXThaPlug and Shaboozey shut down the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge for the “Home” music video. It was the only time rush hour traffic was borderline cool.
  
  
• Larry Gee’s successful kidney surgery and recovery from stage 5 kidney disease, and the epic comeback that awaits.
  
  
• The return of classic “loverboy” R&B, with Dallas-Fort Worth at the helm, featuring local groups L2EO and 2BYG.
  
  
• Erykah Badu’s impromptu, free Juneteenth concert that debuted new singles “Echos 19 (mix 122)” and “Next to You.” As we celebrate 25 years of Mama’s Gun, we look eagerly to her Dallas tour stop on Dec. 10 and the new release date for her much-awaited upcoming album with The Alchemist, Abi and Alan.
  
• The raw, gritty, clever, sophistiratchet style of Tye Harris.
  
• The Family (formerly of Kirk Franklin & The Family), for releasing new music following a 30-year hiatus, and still claiming one of the best-selling gospel albums of all time.
  
  
• The Factory in Deep Ellum changing back to its original name, The Bomb Factory. 
  
  
• Rubber Gloves providing a vending machine with free Narcan doses outside its venue.
  
  
• Frozen Soul’s Wrecking Ball Metal Madness at the Echo Lounge in October after its absence last year. The all-day metal fest brought both local and national acts to the Echo Lounge in October.
  
  
• In 2025, we are thankful for both Reno’s in Deep Ellum and the fancy bar at The Pitman Hotel. Although bipolar in contrast, visiting these two low-key spots provides musicians the perfect combination of big city grit with metropolitan elegance, before they head down the street to play Club Dada, Trees or The Bomb Factory. The bar staff at The Pittman especially know how to make local musicians, artists and traveling, road-weary rockstars really feel at home. For a real kick before attending or playing a show, order the Giddy-Up.
  
  
• For the growing electronic music scene in Dallas.
  
  
• The fact that Dallas’ hip-hop scene has a new face thanks to the likes of BigX (no offense to Posty).
  
  
• For Eric Diep guiding the local music scene as the Observer‘s newest music editor and helping lead a group of some of the best music journalists the Dallas-Fort Worth has ever had.
  
  
• For BigXThaPlug’s Take Care and I Hope You’re Happy albums.
  
  
• For some of the biggest names in music always crediting Dallas-Fort Worth as their favorite destination for performing while on tour.
  
  
• For the New Dallas movement.
  
  
• For Scuttino and Da’Raja Superstar, who we nominated as Best Male Rapper and Best Female Rapper, respectively.
  
  
• The Announcement of Frank Turner’s Lost Evenings Festival IX at Southside Ballroom in 2026.
  
  
• Concert attendees who flag down medical help for fellow concert-goers.
  
  
• The outpouring of support from the Dallas community for Chris Penn’s family. We love you Chris.
  
  
• The friends you make when attending a concert alone.
  
  
• The life of Tim Romine (known by his stage name, Tim Stile), singer and songwriter for The Mullens, a widely respected local garage punk band. The Mullens released five albums and performed for over 30 years. Tim is dearly missed by family, friends, and the music community.
  
  
• House of Blues Dallas, for being a consistently great venue with friendly and helpful staff. Plus, their patchwork quilt main stage curtains are beautiful.
  
  
• Texas Ale Project, Autonomous Society, Westlake Brewing Company, White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Pegasus City Brewery, Peticolas Brewing Company, Manhattan Project and all the wonderful Dallas taprooms serving up cold beer on hot days. We love your trivia nights, run groups, open mic sessions for local artists, yoga classes and other fun events that help Dallasites connect.
  
  
• The State Fair of Texas. We know, it was expensive — everything is, these days. But the food, fun, art, music (Metalachi was excellent!) and community at this Fair Park tradition keep us looking forward to that famous “Howdy, folks!” each year. 
  
  
• All the businesses and music venues — RBC, Adair’s Saloon, The Free Man, Ruins — that are hanging tough on Commerce Street in Deep Ellum, despite the ongoing construction that has moved at a sickeningly slow pace. If we could wave a magic wand and fix this right now, we would.
  
  
• For the jazz community in Dallas, which is helping to keep live music alive.