Lots of cities hold music festivals, but TMR does it differently. Rather than McKinney being a host, the city becomes the festival itself. Vendors line the streets, boutiques become venues for the day, and shops and restaurants stay open later. It’s an all-day, all-out Texas party, and we clear our schedules to enjoy the festivities each year.
On a much smaller scale, TMR is similar to SXSW with the dichotomy of ticketed high-profile events and the smaller, usually free DIY pop-ups that scatter the city. Luckily, downtown McKinney is a highly walkable historic square, making a visit to each event possible.
This year, the ticketed main stage is headlined by Dawes on Friday night and Flatland Cavalry on Saturday, each featuring an array of Texas artists for support.
For a first-time visitor, the TMR gauntlet can seem a bit intimidating. We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re heading up to town on Friday or Saturday, here are the TX-based artists that you just can’t miss during TMR.
Isaac Hoskins
Friday, June 6Main Stage, 3:15 p.m.- 4:15 p.m.
As a citizen, it seems like Isaac Hoskins has done it all. His website’s official bio touts his experience as a “bartender, construction worker, beer truck driver and ranch hand.” It seems like Hoskins is putting all of that unique life experience into great songwriting. In 2023, he made local headlines by landing a small role on Yellowstone, following a chance encounter with showrunner Taylor Sheridan at a Fort Worth bar.
Billy Law
Saturday, June 7Tupps Brewery indoor stage, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Remember what we said about those pop-up events? State Fair Records’ collaboration with Tupps Brewing is about as good as one of those gets. With an all-day bill slated for Saturday, including solo sets by two-thirds of the Ottoman Turks, Nathan Mongol Wells and Billy Law, the latter of which is quietly one of the hardest working songwriters in all of North Texas. He hosts and performs at a weekly open mic at Troy’s in Arlington and recently performed at a PNC Patio session in the AT&T Performing Arts District, all between delivering thumping basslines to raucous ‘Turks sets. Law’s finely crafted folk sound should be part of your soundtrack to an afternoon in McKinney.
Two Tons Of Steel
Saturday, June 7Bathtubs.com Stage, 4:30 p.m. - 5:25 p.m.
The art of party-country is often sought after (Jon Pardi, Florida Georgia Line) but rarely mastered (George Strait, Garth Brooks). We’re not saying Two Tons Of Steel is on the same level as any of those artists, but we are saying that we’ve half-climbed up a fence at downtown McKinney’s Guava Tree Cuban Cafe & Cantina, craned our necks and fist-pump chanted “TWO! TONS!” between the band’s songs, and we’d do it again. Take that as you will.
Corina Grove
Friday, June 6Texas Homegrown Music Stage, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
You need to be listening to Corina Grove. The Dallas-based songwriter has carved out a Western-tinged pop career through '80s-inspired sing-alongs like “Happier Now” and “In The Stars.” She seems to be rapidly hurdling towards the “too big to keep playing local shows” status that we recently lost Angel White to. The good news is that she’s playing on the other side of North Texas next weekend, with a Saturday evening date set at Tulips in Fort Worth.
Fat By The Gallon
Saturday, June 7Native McKinney Stage, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Not to a fault, but the majority of TMR's music resides within country, Americana, or folk. We love that as much as anybody, but it's good to have some variety, and Fat By The Gallon is the perfect reset button. The Dallas-based pop-punk trio packs punk-filled punch by way of poppy hooks and breakneck riffs. They're the perfect alternative to a weekend of boot-scootin'.
Tickets and the schedule for TMR are available online.
