Local Culture
Dallas International Film Festival
April 25 to May 2, showtimes vary | Locations throughout Dallas
The Dallas International Film Festival runs through May 2. Most of the screenings—which range from documentaries to features and shorts—will be at Violet Crown Cinema in West Village, but some will be at the Majestic Theatre and Texas Theatre. Check out the North Texas-centric screenings of Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot, Texas Music Revolution, Bastards of Soul, Dark Sanctuary: The Story of the Church, and Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter. Pregame by listening to our Earburner with DIFF artistic director James Faust.
Parisian Refraction Festival
April 25 and April 28, 7:30 p.m. | 2301 Flora St.
Parisian Refraction is a four part festival series highlighting the works of both soloists and ensembles. The show highlights both the similarities and differences of global musicians that take inspiration from the French capital city. The Thursday show is starring Samantha Bennett and Lucy Fitz Gibbon, using excerpts from Kafka’s writings to perform a violin and vocal show. The performance on Saturday, Plucked and Struck, features several works performed by notable Dallas artists playing the harp, piano and percussion.
An Evening with David Sedaris
April 25, 7:30 p.m. | 6405 Boaz Ave.
Known as one of the greatest humor writers in the US, David Sedaris is making a stop in Dallas for an evening of storytelling and laughs. The event will include Sedaris reading new and unpublished materials, an audience Q&A, and a book signing.
COMPAGNIA TPO: +ERBA
April 26, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. showtimes | 2351 Performance Dr., Richardson
Bring your kiddos to +Erba for an interactive experience with dancers who will create an imaginary city together. The dancers will play architects and design a new space through movement and color where nature will grow and a city landscape will be constructed alongside the children in the audience.
Grand Prairie Main St. Festival
April 26 to April 28, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. | 200 W. Main St., Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie’s annual Main St. Festival is back for another year. The free weekend-long event includes an extensive live music lineup, carnival rides, a kidzone, arts & crafts, food, and beer gardens.
Command Performance
April 27, 6 p.m. | 2403 Flora St.
TITAS/Dance Unbound’s annual Command Performance is bringing together the best global dance companies, choreographers, and dancers for one evening. The show will include the work of leading choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Dwight Rhoden, Jessica Lang, Mia Michaels, Sonya Tayeh, Bridget L. Moore, and WANG Yuanyuan.
Independent Bookstore Day
April 27 | Locations throughout Dallas
You need new books, even if you don’t know it, and Independent Bookstore Day is a great day to check that off your to-do list and support local businesses. Head to Interabang Books, where there are plenty of giveaways and book signings, or pick up a free ticket for the 2nd Annual Oak Cliff Book Crawl from noon to 7 p.m., which will get you into events at Poets Bookshop, Pan-African Connection, Whose Books, Lucky Dog Books, and The Wild Detectives.
Festival of Joy
April 27, 11 a.m. | Dallas Arts District and Klyde Warren Park
Weather permitting, Kalachandi’s hosts the fifth-annual Festival of Joy, a family-friendly celebration of Indian culture that kicks off with a welcome ceremony and then moves on to a parade throughout the Dallas Arts District. Experience a full day of bright colors, culture, flowers, a free vegetarian feast, folk dances, yoga, crafts, ask-a-monk, and more at Klyde Warren Park. The day will close with a performance by popular Indian artist Guara Vani at 7 p.m.
God Bless America
April 27, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. showtimes | 2301 Flora St.
God Bless America, presented by Millennial Choirs & Orchestra, tells the story of American freedom and pride. The musical celebration will be performed by hundreds of voices from vocalists of all ages accompanied by an orchestra.
Artscape
April 27 to April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 8525 Garland Rd.
Artscape is making a return to the Dallas Botanical Gardens with booths representing over 100 artists in the Jonsson Color Garden. Take a stroll through the grounds accompanied by paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography, woodwork galore.
José Gonzaléz
April 28, 7:30 p.m. | 1925 Elm St.
Starting from a small apartment in Gothenburg, José Gonzaléz rose to stardom and is now a platinum artist in Sweden and the UK. The artist is making a one-night-only stop in Dallas to perform not only the hits, but his interpretation of an array of other classics.
Live Shows
The Suffers
April 25, 8 p.m. | Tulips, Fort Worth
Kam Franklin’s vocals anchor the Gulf Coast Soul of Houston’s The Suffers with a blend of rock, soul, blues, jazz, and Latin sounds. The band has steadily gained a following since they released their first full-length album in 2015 and went on to make appearances on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. The band’s most recent album is 2022’s It Starts With Love. Midnight Thirty and Jess Garland will open.
Lao Legends Music Conference
April 26, 6 p.m. | Toyota Music Factory, Irving
On the heels of the Lao New Year, the Red Tape Culture and Music Foundation will bring a full slate of Lao singers and acts to Irving to celebrate the country’s culture. Organizers say that there has never been a large-scale music festival celebrating Laos’ culture and artists until now. Expect acts from both Laos and the U.S., like Taiy Akard, Dao Neua, Ola Blackeyes. Sarky, Sack Cells, and SAM.
Colin Quinn
April 26, 8 p.m. | Texas Theatre
Comedy fans of a certain age will know Colin Quinn from MTV’s Remote Control and Saturday Night Live, where he manned the “Weekend Update” desk. Others might know him from the movie Trainwreck or TV’s Girls. His newest book, “Overstated: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the 50 States,” was released this year. He’ll be in town Friday, and Paul Varghese will open.
Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors
April 27, 8 p.m. | Longhorn Ballroom
Americana band Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors will take the Longhorn Ballroom stage Saturday night, fresh off an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last month. The band is known for turning every venue into a roomful of friends before the evening’s out. If you get to the Longhorn and find that they sound a bit familiar, it’s because their song “Dance With Everybody” was featured in promotions for the NCAA basketball tournament. They’re currently touring in support of their latest album, Strangers No More.
Hozier
April 28, 8 p.m. | Dos Equis Pavilion
Although Hozier probably is most recognized by his 2014 breakout hit, “Take Me to Church,” he’s actually had a substantial career since then. His latest song, “Too Sweet” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which made him only the fourth Irish artist to do so, joining Sinead O’Connor, U2, and Gilbert O’Sullivan. He’s currently touring to support his 2023 album, Unreal Unearth, and the more recently released EP, Unheard. Singer-songwriter Allison Russell will open.
Joshua Ray Walker
April 29, 8 p.m. | The Kessler
Joshua Ray Walker had a whole tour planned before cancer treatments sidelined him, but he says he will still play the occasional show in Dallas, including Monday night’s Thank You For Listening: A Night of Stories and Songs with Joshua Ray Walker. “I’ve had a lot of people reach out to ask what they can do for me during this time, and it’s very appreciated,” he says. “What I could use most right now is an opportunity to do something I’m good at, and that’s play and sing for folks who want to listen.”
Rhiannon Giddens
April 30, 8 p.m. | Longhorn Ballroom
Fans of Rhiannon Giddens know her from the earliest days with The Carolina Chocolate Drops, got really excited to see her recurring role in the ABC drama Nashville, and were over the moon to see her credit in Beyonce’s latest album, where she plucks the banjo during “Texas Hold ‘Em.” But in between all of that, she’s also won two Grammys, become a MacArthur Genius grant recipient, and wrote the opera Omar. Charly Lowry will open.
Foo Fighters
May 1, 7 p.m.| Dos Equis Pavilion
The Foo Fighters have won 15 Grammys since they formed in 1994. Their Everything or Nothing at All Tour, which added a Dallas date in December after its North American leg began selling out, is in support of their 2022 album But Here We Are. Word has it the band is working on new music, but expect to hear your favorites in the current setlist, too. Tickets sold out fast, but you can still find them on the resale market. Nova Twins will open.
Also check out:
Thin Line Fest, April 25-28, throughout Denton. Get tickets.
Briscoe, April 25, 7 p.m., The Kessler. Get tickets.
Riley Green, April 25, 7 p.m., Toyota Music Factory, Irving. Get tickets.
Quiet Riot/Slaughter, April 25, 7 p.m., Lava Cantina, The Colony. Get tickets.
DreamFest 2024, April 26-27, Levitt Pavilion, Arlington. Get info.
Chris Young, April 26-27, Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
Leo Kottke, April 26, 7 p.m., The Kessler. Get tickets.
Sematary, April 26, 7 p.m., House of Blues. Get tickets.
Lil Skies, April 26, 7 p.m., Gilley’s Dallas. Get tickets.
Brandi Waller-Pace, April 26, 8 p.m.,South Dallas Cultural Center. RSVP here.
Dallas Blues Festival, April 26, 8 p.m., Texas Trust Credit Union Theater, Grand Prairie. Get tickets.
The Toasters, April 26, 8 p.m., Three Links. Get tickets.
We Them Ones Comedy Tour, feat. Mike Epps, April 27, 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Texas Trust Credit Union Theater, Grand Prairie. Get tickets.
Robert Finley, April 27, 7 p.m., Ferris Wheelers. Get tickets.
The Bros. Landreth, April 27, 8 p.m., Magnolia Motor Lounge, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
YTB Fatt, April 28, 7 p.m., House of Blues. Get tickets.
Ally Venable, April 28, 8 p.m., Granada Theater. Get tickets.
Slow Hollows, April 29, 7 p.m., Dada. Get tickets.
The Veronicas, April 30, 7 p.m., Echo Lounge & Music Hall. Get tickets.
Want to see Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Cyndi Lauper, or Megan Thee Stallion this year? Check out our full concert calendar here. Go here to find more things to do. Listen to the playlist below to hear songs by artists performing in North Texas this weekend.
