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Dallas-Fort Worth continues to have one of the best country music scenes in the country, with venues all across North Texas hosting artists and bands of all shapes and sizes. From world tours at AT&T Stadium to honky tonkers at Second Rodeo, there’s an act for everyone in North Texas.
One of the best times of the year to catch a concert is the holidays, so we compiled a list of country music shows to see before the end of 2025. Obviously, this list could simply be a calendar for five straight weekends at Billy Bob’s, but we wanted to add some diversity and include different venues, as well as a couple of short road trips. This list includes a TV star, some rising stars and a white guy who can sing Vicente Fernández perfectly (seriously, it’s impressive). So get your boots on, grab a cold beer and enjoy a show before the end of the year.
Josh Abbott at Twisted J Live
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Nov. 14
We have our first road trip of the list with the Josh Abbott Band playing at Twisted J’s in Stephenville. In case you weren’t aware, Stephenville is the hidden gem of music in Texas. Stephenvile hosts the Larry Joe Taylor Festival, an annual music festival that sees some of Texas’s best every year, as well as up-and-coming artists looking to get their name on the scene. Stephenville is a music town, and in a short two-hour drive, you can be immersed in one of the best country music scenes in the state at Twisted J’s.
The Josh Abbott Band is perhaps the best band to see for a good dose of Texas pride, as some of their hit songs are odes to the state, including “My Texas” and “She Likes Texas.” They’re actually on a mini Texas tour, having not appeared in any state except Texas since September. So chances are, if you’re in Texas, the Josh Abbott Band will be playing near you soon. Friday, Nov. 14, at 9 p.m., at Twisted J Live, 2281 US-377, Stephenville. Tickets are available starting at $25.08 on tixr.com.
Mike Ryan at Warren’s Backyard
Nov. 15
The second road trip on our list, Mike Ryan, heads to Granbury to play at Warren’s Backyard. Ryan is actually a local product of sorts, though originally from San Antonio, he is an alumnus of the University of North Texas. He got his start playing locally in Denton. He released his first album, Night Comes Falling, in 2012 and released two more before taking a five-year songwriting hiatus of sorts from 2017-2022, when he dropped his most recent album, Longcut.
If you’re thinking, “I’m not driving to Granbury to see some country act,” we get that. He’s doing a show at House of Blues in Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 8, if that’s more your thing.
But Warren’s Backyard is a place worth the trip. The venue has everything you’d want for a good night out: live music under the lights, food trucks serving up local favorites, cold beer and cocktails at the bar and plenty of outdoor space for cornhole, dancing, or just relaxing with friends. Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m., at Warren’s Backyard, 2901 Weatherford Hwy, Granbury. Tickets are available starting at $27.50 at ticketweb.com.
Tanner Usrey at House of Blues Dallas
Nov. 21
Tanner Usrey is one of the more interesting stories on this list. Usrey spent years gigging and working other jobs before deciding to quit his job and focus on music in 2019, a decision that paid off, because after he released his first EP, Medicine Man, that same year, his songs “Come Back Down” and “Beautiful Lies” shot him into the spotlight, each having tens of millions of streams on Spotify.
Usrey didn’t even release his first full studio album until 2023, so he’s still fairly new the the Texas music scene. Really, he’s just a regular guy who loves playing music, as he’s been seen before having beers with fans in the stockyards after shows, like a regular guy.
He’ll be at the House of Blues on Nov. 21, so go out and show him some love and see an act you probably haven’t before. It’s the House of Blues, so you’ll have a good time no matter what. Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., at House of Blues Dallas, 2200 N Lamar St. Tickets are available starting at $35 on Ticketmaster.com.
Stoney LaRue at Billy Bob’s Texas and Southern Junction
Nov. 29 and Dec. 12
LaRue is a very underrated staple, and some may say the founder of red dirt country music. He and other artists like Cody Canada and Jason Boland helped develop the sound and style that’s considered red dirt, and while it’s difficult to say that only a handful of guys created an entire genre, LaRue played his part.
LaRue recorded one of the greatest live albums in country music history when he recorded Live at Billy Bob’s Texas (2007), etching himself into a conversation as one of the best performers in the state.
If you want to catch LaRue in action, you have options. He’ll be back at Billy Bob’s on Nov. 29, or you can catch him at Southern Junction Nightclub & Steakhouse on Dec. 12 in Royse City, about 30 minutes east of Dallas. Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m., at Billy Bob’s Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. Tickets are available starting at $60.32 on axs.com. Friday, Dec. 12, at 10:30 p.m., at Southern Junction, 5574 TX-276, Royse City. 18+ Tickets are available starting at $23.80 on southernjunctionlive.com.
Ryan Bingham at Billy Bob’s Texas
Dec. 11
Now we enter the TV star portion. We’re back at Billy Bob’s for singer and actor Ryan Bingham, who is most well known for his role as Walker in the hit TV series Yellowstone. Bingham’s voice is immediately recognizable, with a raspy sound that creates a unique blend of country and folk music. Unlike his Yellowstone character Walker, Bingham is humble in his music, often singing of his background growing up in New Mexico and West Texas, and the troubles that came with life for a cowboy on the desert plains.
He gained national recognition with his 2009 song “The Weary Kind,” which earned him an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy for Best Original Song from the film Crazy Heart. Thursday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. at Billy Bob’s Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. Tickets are available starting at $60.32 on axs.com.
Sunny Sweeney at Dan’s Silverleaf
Dec. 13
Sweeney is bringing her East Texas twang to Denton this December. Sweeney’s smooth voice is comparable to that of Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves, making her a natural fit on the Texas country music scene. Sweeney got her start hopping around honky tonks in Austin in the early 2000s and gained the national recognition she deserved with her first studio album Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame in 2005.
If you’re a fan of traditional country, she’s your girl. She’s made it known that she loves the traditional sound, posting Instagram photos with quotes like “tradition outlives trends” and “traditional country, we ride at dawn.”
If you want to listen to her Longview drawl, check her out live. Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St., Denton. Tickets are available starting at $24.13 on danssilverleaf.com.
Sean Stroud
William Beckmann at Longhorn Ballroom
Dec. 19
William Beckmann hails from the small border town of Del Rio, Texas, and brings his own edge to country music, aiming to blend classic and modern country to create a bold sound that stands out in its own genre. More impressively, he taps into his roots of growing up on the border in a very Mexican-influenced culture by singing songs in Spanish. He often covers the legendary Vicente Fernández, one of the greatest ranchera singers of all time.
Beckmann will be at the Longhorn Ballroom, a ballroom with a backyard amphitheater in South Dallas that frequently hosts upcoming and local country acts. Friday, Dec. 19, at 8 p.m. at Longhorn Ballroom, 216 Corinth St. Tickets are available starting at $38.07 on Prekindle.
Paige Williams
Treaty Oak Revival at Dickies Arena
Dec. 20
Treaty Oak Revival is a Southern Rock band from West Texas that plays hard and loud. The group is known for putting on a great show no matter where they are, and seeing them at Dickies Arena would be only their fifth show after their album West Texas Degenerate is released on Nov. 28. You’d get to see a new set with fresh music in a packed arena.
If you still need more convincing before checking them out, lead singer Sam Canty told the Observer what kind of shows they enjoy putting on. “We like to get crazy on stage and engage with the crowd, and have the crowd be a part of the show, kind of the way hardcore shows and punk rock shows are,” Canty said. Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth. Tickets are available starting at $75 on Ticketmaster.
Braxton Keith at Billy Bob’s Texas
Dec. 26
West Texas-born and San Antonio-raised, Braxton Keith is an emerging artist whose sound is reminiscent of Brooks & Dunn. Keith will take the stage at Billy Bob’s the night after Christmas, and Keith fits the vibe of the world’s largest honky-tonk as good as anyone. With his smooth baritone voice and neon-lit traditional sound, he’s quickly becoming one of the brightest young stars in Texas country music. He recently made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and received a Gold record for his 2024 single “Cozy,” which has surpassed 65 million streams on Spotify.
Friday, Dec. 26, at 10 p.m. at Billy Bob’s Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. 18+. Tickets are available starting at $28.10 on axs.com.
Tim O’Keefe
Parker McCollum at Dickies Arena
Dec. 31
Parker McCollum will be appearing at Dickies Arena for New Year’s Eve for the second time in three years, but this time, with a brand new set list. The last time McCollum celebrated New Year’s at Dickies was in 2023, and his set list has changed plenty since then with the June release of his self-titled album, Parker McCollum.
We can speak from personal experience that this is one of the best ways to spend New Year’s. We’ve spent the past two New Year’s at Dickies Arena, in 2023 seeing Parker McCullom and in 2024 seeing Flatland Cavalry, and let us say a concert at Dickies is an incredible way to enjoy the sights of Fort Worth on New Year’s and listen to good music without the madness of the Stockyards. Not saying the Stockyards isn’t fun, but Dickies is a good way to escape the crowded streets and still get to party. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 8:30 p.m. at Billy Bob’s Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. Tickets are available starting at $56 on Ticketmaster.com.
You can find The Observer’s complete concert listings here.
