The 15 Artists You Need to See at State Fair of Texas

Folks flock to the State Fair of Texas, which runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 19 this year, to see what terrifying new deep-fried confections are being hocked by the food vendors, but real ones know that live music is the event’s best draw.

The acts that play the State Fair run the gamut from pop to country to rock and roll. There are jazz instrumentalists, comedians, and more folksy, traditional acts peppered throughout the month as well. With dozens of performers to choose from, playing across three stages (the Chevrolet Main Stage, the Bud Light Stage, and the Bank of Texas Stage) and the new-this-year Levi’s Denim Club in the Magnolia Beer Club, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which ones to catch between bouts on the Tilt-A-Whirl.

We have come to lighten your load by spotlighting 15 of the acts playing this year’s fair that we are particularly excited to see take the stage(s). Some of the performers will play multiple sets throughout the month on different stages, while others may only have one show. To make things easier, the list we put together includes the date(s) the performers are expected to play and where you can find them.

State Fair of Texas Music Lineup 2025

To be clear, there are lots of great artists playing the State Fair. We cannot write about them all. If someone you are excited to see does not appear on this list, you have our permission to call us out with a sarcastic comment on your social media of choice. Just make sure it’s funny.

Matt Tedder

Bud Light Stage
Sept. 26
1, 3 & 5 p.m.

An Americana artist hailing from Fort Worth, Matt Tedder is opening up the fair. He brings an easygoing, feather-light touch to bear in his music. The music itself is in the tradition of classic singer/songwriters like Simon & Garfunkel, with a bubbly percussive throughline that makes for a delightfully relaxing listen.

Remy Reilly

Bank of Texas Stage
Sept. 26
2, 4, & 6 p.m.

Oct.17
2, 4 & 6 p.m.

Bud Light Stage
Oct. 10
7:30 p.m.

Denim Club @ Magnolia
Sep. 26 & Oct. 2, 4, 9, 12, & 16

Indie pop singer Remy Reilly will be one of the staple artists of this year’s fair, playing shows throughout the month on multiple stages. She can play piano, string together a catchy melody and back it up with powerful vocals. Reilly translates deeply personal experiences into undeniable pop experiences for listeners, and the fair is giving everyone plenty of opportunities to experience her talent.

TLC

Chevrolet Main Stage
Sept. 27
8:45 p.m.

Why go chasing waterfalls when you can chase the sweet sounds of TLC performing live at this year’s State Fair? T-Boz and Chilli are sure to bring some classic ’90s pop/R&B to their Dallas performance. After 35 years, they know what their audience wants and how to deliver it – and we will be there to receive.

Lorena Leigh

Bud Light Stage
Oct. 1
1, 3, 5 & 7:30 p.m.

Lorena Leigh will be bringing her electric pop beats to this year’s fair. With sterling vocals and a sense of atmosphere that permeates her songs, her sets are sure to bring a vibe-friendly, clubby energy to Fair Park that we will be front and center for.

Averi Mazi

Bud Light Stage

Oct. 3
1, 3 & 5 p.m.

When Avery Mazi arrives at Fair Park, she will be accompanied by the effortlessly cool alternative energy that fuels her music. Mazi plays the kind of tracks you cannot help but lose yourself in, fusing beats inspired by early 2000s artists with modern edge and theatricality, like the next evolution of bands like Evanescence.

Jackie Venson

Bud Light Stage
Oct. 3
7:30 p.m.

Would you like to be swept up in the sweet embrace of modern blues? Jackie Venson is your girl. Her catalog includes bangers that can stand tall alongside the great blues songs of the past, and her 2023 album Evolution of Joy leaned into a more soulful electronic R&B sound that seems tailor-made to be played loud and live for a crowd.

Joshua Ray Walker

Chevrolet Main Stage
Oct. 6
7:45 p.m.

Hot on the heels of his most recent album, Tropicana, Joshua Ray Walker will take the stage at the State Fair during its second weekend. A beloved figure in the local music scene, Walker’s creative flow is at a high after combating cancer. He has another album dropping later in October (Stuff), and he may take the opportunity to treat fans to a sneak peek of some of those tracks when he performs.

Nik Parr & the Selfless Lovers

Bud Light Stage
Oct. 6
1, 3, 5 & 7:30 p.m.

Fans of the Boss, rejoice! Bruce Springsteen himself will not be playing this year’s fair (as far as we know), but Nik Parr’s music splits the difference between Springsteen and Elton John. Audiences will be treated to some throwback rock and roll, courtesy of a thoroughly modern artist.

Carly Tate

Bud Light Stage
Oct. 10
1, 3 & 5 p.m.

Carly Tate’s clean vocals and smooth guitar playing have some John Mayer in their DNA, but she does more than enough to stand apart from her influences. Her appearances at the fair are sure to bring relaxing acoustic pop to the people, the kind that pairs perfectly with the buzz from an ice-cold (or lukewarm, depending on the weather) beer.

Matt Castillo

Bud Light Stage
Oct. 11
7:30 p.m.

If you want a more traditional Texas country experience from your State Fair visit, Matt Castillo is the artist for you. His songs feel like they could have come from the hitmakers of his genre in the 1990s; no frills, old-fashioned, and eminently listenable.

DJ Sober

Bud Light Stage
Oct. 11
11 a.m., 1, 3 & 5 p.m.

A staple of the Dallas music scene and a man who knows his way around a turntable, DJ Sober is sure to prove one of the can’t-miss sets of the State Fair. Every North Texas music aficionado understands the power of Sober when he takes the stage, and he is sure to work his magic on the masses at the State Fair.

Gracen Wynn

Bank of Texas Stage
Oct. 14
2, 4, 6 & 8 p.m.

Perhaps the most openly emotional songwriter featured at the fair this year, Gracen Wynn backs that up by being one of the strongest vocalists working in Dallas-Fort Worth today. She has the chops to be a sincere, thoughtful parallel to Chappell Roan; if you like your music to move you, Wynn’s a performer you need to make time for this year.

Sam Corimer

Bud Light Stage

Oct. 16
1, 3, 5 & 7:30 p.m.

Another up-and-coming artist in the North Texas scene, Sam Cormier, is the quintessential singer/songwriter. He channels his music into catchy tunes that manage to be honest without being depressing. He is as good live as he is in the recording studio (as attendees of the recent Louder Than Stigma Fest can attest) and will undoubtedly take full advantage of the stage being provided to him by the State Fair.

Hoobastank

Chevrolet Main Stage

Oct. 18
2:30 p.m.

We are shameless adherents of the cult of early 2000s rock, and there are few bands that represent that era the way Hoobastank does. With their anthemic “The Reason” and proudly nu-metal tracks like “Crawling in the Dark” and “Running Away” (the Hoobastank crew is not emo, just emotional), fairgoers of a certain age will want to be sure they are on deck for the band’s afternoon performance.

Elkin Pautt

Bank of Texas Stage

Oct. 19
2, 4, 6 & 8 p.m.

One of the true originals taking the stage at the State Fair this year is Elkin Pautt. The Afro-Colombian musician’s work “travels around the world exploring exotic sounds from the [African] diaspora.” It is exciting, energetic work that stands completely apart from the other music that will be showcased at the fair this year. For anyone looking for a unique listening experience that fuses culture with dynamic beats, Pautt is a must-see.

Find more shows on our Dallas concerts calendar.