Home For The Holidays? So Are These Dallas Music Favorites.

Going home to see family is one of the best and worst parts of the holiday season. Let’s be honest, this time of year is really stressful. Whether it’s financial strain from gift purchasing or the anxiety of having missed the mark on the perfect present for your loved one, there’s a lot to mull over. Add in an assortment of relatives, some who you may not have seen in years, and others you wish you didn’t have to see for several more years, and this week can be less than merry and bright. 

The good news is that if you’re in Dallas for the holidays, then the chances are that your favorite local music act, especially the ones who have graduated from Dallas to see the rest of the world, are also in town. Maybe they also need reprieve from a weird uncle, and maybe the two of you can find that reprieve under the same roof of a historic Dallas venue. 

For music fanatics, it’s the concert off-season. There aren’t too many noteworthy shows on the calendars until the new year. However, this week features some special, rare shows from a handful of hometown heroes, and everyone knows a show is much better when the artist is performing on their home turf. 

So, if this weekend rolls around and you’re looking for a momentary escape from madness, or you’re just in the mood for a really good concert, don’t sleep on these.

David Garza at The Kessler Theater on Dec. 26

Irving’s David Garza is a Grammy-winning indie-rock artist whose CV runs deep. He was a fixture among Deep Ellum’s golden age, sharing stages with Dallas greats like Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. In 2020, he was tapped to co-produce Fiona Apple’s critically acclaimed album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Now, he’s coming home for an annual show at The Kessler. 2025 was particularly prolific for Garza, as he released a staggering eight albums, so there’s plenty of live material we’ll be treated to for the very first time. Doors open at 7 p.m. Don’t wait, as only standing room tickets remain.

Eli Young Band at Billy Bob’s on Dec. 27 

The Grammy-nominated Eli Young Band is kicking off a 2026 tour, but they’re getting out their practice rounds in Fort Worth this weekend. It’s a late-night show, as they’ll take the stage at 10 p.m. But that just gives you spare time to get a mechanical bull ride at one of the only true Honky Tonks in the country before you nestle in for some cool strumming and country grooves. The band was formed when Mike Eli and James Young were assigned as dormmates at the University of North Texas their freshman year, so we’re claiming them as North Texans forever. Tickets start at $28. 

Bob Schneider at the Granada Theater on Dec. 27

Bob Schneider is technically an Austinite, having grown up in El Paso; he fortified himself as a staple of the Austin music scene as a solo artist in the early 2000s. But Schneider must have an uncle he really wants to avoid, because he’ll be playing a show at the historic Granada Theatre this weekend. Throughout his career, Schneider has released over 20 studio albums and EPs, including an extended play titled Christmastime. We’re willing to bet more than one of those songs makes it onto the weekend’s setlist. Tickets start at $35.

Old 97’s with support from Joshua Ray Walker at Longhorn Ballroom on Dec. 27

This right here is what we in the South like to call a twofer: two for the price of one. Local rising-star Joshua Ray Walker will open for one of our prides and joys, the Old 97’s. Technically, it’s three for one if you count the scheduled solo performance from the band’s lead singer, Rhett Miller. The locals are all teaming up to put on a show at one of the best and most storied venues in all the land. We know there’s barely anything left of 2025, but this is sure to be among the best concerts in the city this year. Not a show you want to miss, even if you like your family. Tickets start at $48