The Longhorn Ballroom Celebrates Texas Independence Day With a Big Birthday Bash

There’s nothing more Texan than having a great party, and there was no better way to celebrate Texas Independence Day than with a day of music and fun at the Longhorn Ballroom.

March 2 marked the 189th anniversary of Texas becoming a republic independent from Mexico, a date that coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Longhorn Ballroom. The venue was, and is once again, a cornerstone for the Texas and national music scene. Edwin Cabaniss (who also owns the Kessler Theater and The Heights in Houston) brought this historic venue back to life a few years ago, and there are even bigger plans for the Longhorn in the future.

The stage is already being built for the new 6,000-plus outdoor venue that will draw more top-tier talent and create an ideal spot for even larger festivals and events.

This occasion was billed as “The Jubilee Series” and is the first of five events that will take place throughout the year. The second event was just announced and will feature St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Oscar nominee Abraham Alexander on April 19. These events are like mini-festivals with food trucks, vendors (even animals, thanks to Tate Farms) and are meant to celebrate the history of the Longhorn while highlighting the vast array of talent in the North Texas community.

“The Longhorn has a storied history of presenting legendary artists across a wide range of genres,” Cabaniss says. “With our inaugural jubilee, I wanted to honor a wider swath of those legends and genres with contemporary artists. Part open house and part day party, the future jubilees will be more genre specific.”

During Sunday’s show, Cabaniss was given an official proclamation from the State of Texas to honor the Longhorn Ballroom and its significance to Texas history.

The concert featured a fantastic mix of favorite Texas bands. The show was co-headlined by The Toadies and The Polyphonic Spree with support from Band of Heathens and The Texas Playboys. Beyond their Texas roots, these bands all share a spirit of musical innovation. The Texas Playboys pioneered Western Swing by fusing jazz, blues and country, which helped reshape American music. The Band of Heathens blend Americana, rock and folk. The Toadies took that Texas rebellious attitude and injected it into grunge, and The Polyphonic Spree are as experimental as you can get while still appealing to the mainstream.

Sunday’s performances were outstanding. The lineup had a definite flow, and all the acts had it dialed up an extra notch. Seeing the Texas Playboys on the stage that was created for them was a hoot. They are under the direction of Jason Roberts, who honors the band’s legacy. The Band of Heathens was solid as ever, but when the Toadies hit the stage the room erupted. They hadn’t played the Longhorn in decades, but they owned that stage this night. Their new material earned a warm reception and they announced an album for later this year.

The night ended with the ethereal Polyphonic Spree. Tim DeLaughter’s energy as a frontman is mesmerizing. The Spree premiered their immersive “cinephonic” experience called Resolution at the Fort Worth Museum the night before. If anything, that energized them as they were simply electric and provided a great ending to a great day. It’s simply fantastic to have the Longhorn Ballroom back in action, and better than ever.