Jun 21, 2023

The Best Spots for Live Music in the Fort Worth Stockyards

Welcome to the Fort Worth Stockyards, where the city's rich western heritage has also taken shape in the form of a vibrant country and Southern rock music scene! In this blog post, we'll take you on a journey through the best honky tonks to experience the magic of live music in the Stockyards. From iconic honky-tonks to intimate venues showcasing a range of genres, get ready to immerse yourself in an atmosphere where history and culture meld into one of our favorite local music scenes So grab your cowboy hat, slip into your dancing boots, and let's explore the live music options that await you in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

1. second rodeo Brewing

Without fail, there is live music to groove to every night of the week at Second Rodeo. This might be our favorite hang in Mule Alley, period, with the great food, huge selection of beer and whiskey and the buzzy vibe across the expansive beer garden every time we visit. They do brew their own beer here, but the selection goes SO MUCH further than a great local brew! They've got Bottled top shelf martinis, tons of frozen awesome goodness and tons of lawn games to play as well!

2. rhinestone saloon

The Rhinestone Saloon is our favorite spot to go line dancing, without a doubt. This honky-tonk has the most affordable drinks of any spot on this list, and we LOVE the dance floor here. If you go on the weekend, you're bound to run into someone strummin' on some country tunes you can two-step to.

3. tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall

Acclaimed Texas Chef Tim Love has officially waded into the music game with his latest Fort Worth gem, Tannahill's. Being a Tim Love joint, Tannahill's features a great menu of creative quick dishes (like fried bologna sandwiches, YUM) as well as a separate pizza-by-the-slice operation right there onsite at the venue. They've roped in some really great country and Classic Rock acts as they've gotten established in their first year-plus, too, to quickly become one of the premier live music destinations in the Stockyards.

4. white elephant saloon

The famous Stockyards bar with the famous collection of cowboy hats adorning the walls and ceiling is none other than the White Elephant. It just feels like home here, whether you're sipping oat sodas at the bar or scootin' your boots on their real wooden dance floor to some Countri-fied sounds on their stage. This is another spot that features live music every night of the week, as well as pool, shuffleboard and a genuine vintage brass rail bar. Don't ever change, White Elephant.

5. Love Shack

The combination burger stand/live music porch next door to the White Elephant along Exchange Avenue sits another Tim Love joint on this list, the Love Shack. The beer is cold, the burgers are out quickly and super tasty, and the live music is CONSTANT in this outdoor space. What more could you ask for if you're just passin' by on your visit to the Stockyards?

6. billy bob's

You couldn't make this list without acknowledging the World's Biggest Honky-Tonk, Billy Bob's. We're officially questioning your Texas cred if you're from the Lone Star State and have never seen a show here. It's not only a country music destination, not only a Texas landmark, but an American icon right in our backyard. Country's top artists, as well as plenty of rock acts, still consider it an honor to play here. If you're there to dance, GA tickets are fine, but if you really want to experience the show, pay a little extra for reserved seating to your next show at Billy Bob's.

7. filthy mcnasty's saloon

Filthy McNasty's was established in the Stockyards way back in 1978, and it's still a great place to hear some country music nearly 50 years later. You'll rarely if ever have to pay a cover charge to take part in the fun at Filthy's, which we could not appreciate more when we're wandering the streets of the Stockyards.

8. thirsty armadillo

Thirsty Armadillo

Have a rowdy good time dancing the night away at the Thirsty Armadillo. Randy Rogers, Casey Donahue and Eli Young all started their careers by playing here. You can catch up-and-coming country artists here Thursday-Sunday nights, and it is THE spot to stop in the Stockyards if you and your crew are having a Bachelorette rager.

9. Lil' Red's Longhorn Saloon

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Texas Monthly once called the Longhorn Saloon, "Honky-Tonk Nirvana," and that's all you need to know, but we'll tell you a little bit more. It's one of the oldest joints in the Stockyards, established in 1910, and it's famous for the bikini bottom barstools that are the PERFECT Stockyards photo op as you're traipsing through the neighborhood.