Local Culture
Hamilton
Through June 14, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. | 2403 Flora St.
Hamilton, one of Broadway’s biggest hits, will be running in Dallas through next month. The show depicts the rise of Alexander Hamilton with a critically acclaimed score featuring the sounds of jazz, R&B, and hip-hop. The iconic cultural and educational show has earned 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy, several Olivier Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Jose Vargas’ Lucha Libre Art Exhibition
Through June 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily| 2600 Live Oak St.
Stop by the Latino Cultural Center to see its latest exhibit showcasing artworks exploring Luchadores and Luchadoras, or Mexican wrestlers. The theme of the show translates beyond just the sport itself, and highlights its cultural significance in Mexican history.
Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
May 16 to May 19, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. showtimes | 2301 Flora St.
Watch the masterful works of Rachmaninoff and Paganini for the piano come to life with a rhapsody composed of 24 variations. The Rhapsody is known to include difficult pieces, and the show is intended to take the audience on a journey, showcasing a range of themes.
PNC Patio Session: Pretty Boy Aaron
May 16, 5:45 p.m. | 2403 Flora St.
Dallas native Aaron Cunningham, also known as Pretty Boy Aaron, will be setting up for a PNC Patio Session at Sammons Park this weekend. The artist is known for his style, mixing rap and indie-pop for a one-of-a-kind hybrid sound. After several singles released over the past several years and a few on the way, Cunningham is considered an artist on the rise.
Grapevine’s 40th Annual Main St. Festival
May 17 to May 19, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Main St., Grapevine
Grapevine’s annual Main Street Festival is back for another year. The weekend-long event includes something for everyone in your family, featuring live music, a craft beer experience, other food and drinks, and a KidZone for the little ones.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Spring Celebration
May 17 to May 18, 7:30 p.m. | 2400 Flora St.
The company is ushering its 47th season to a close with a show that captures the talent of its artists. The show is considered a grand finale, with dancers showing off their skill and passion for dance.
Asian American Heritage Festival
May 18, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. | 1419 Spring Creek Dr., Garland
Head to Garland for the free second annual Asian American Heritage Festival celebration, highlighting the talent and diversity of the Asian Pacific American community in North Texas. The event will feature cultural performances originating from Laos, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and more. There will also be a parade, crafts, and art.
Black Heritage Celebration
May 18 to May 19, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 8525 Garland Rd.
Inspired by Black culture, the Dallas Arboretum is hosting a celebration to showcase local Black artists, performers, businesses, and designers with booths to stroll through and shop from, live music performances, and cooking demos.
AAPI Heritage and Dragon Boat Festival
May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 521 E. Lawther Dr.
This family-friendly event is hosting an array of live music performers, artists, and vendors to celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The main event will be a Dragon Boat race, and you can also join in on hands-on workshops and grab a bite to eat.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Symphony Sundays
May 19, 6 p.m. | 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is hosting its third Symphony Sunday this weekend at Klyde Warren Park. The free performance will feature music from DSO’s Brass Quintet.
Turtle Creek Chorale: Pages
May 19, 6 p.m. | 11211 Preston Rd.
With its presentation of Pages, the Turtle Creek Chorale will explore the impact of book bans and other efforts that contribute to a chilling effect on the arts. The concert will celebrate literature and address the current backlash regarding works that challenge notions, ideas, and history. The Chorale’s four ensembles will deliver a program designed to educate and inspire. Tickets are available on a “pay what you wish” basis.
Mike Hixenbaugh: They Came for the Schools
May 21, 6 p.m. | 1209 South Main St., Grapevine
Talking Animals Books and The Dallas Morning News will host NBC correspondent Mike Hixenbaugh for a moderated discussion of his book They Came for the Schools. The book tells the story of Southlake, Texas, and how the school board became the target of a Christian nationalist campaign. Hixenbaugh is the co-creator of the Peabody Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize finalist Southlake podcast. The ticket includes the cost of a copy of the book.
Live Shows
Michelle Wolf
May 16, 6 p.m.| House of Blues
Comedian Michelle Wolf gained attention as a writer and then performer on The Late Show with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show. But she really gained notoriety after that smoky-eye riff directed at then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the 2018 White House Correspondents Dinner. She’ll be at the House of Blues Thursday night on her It’s Great to Be Here tour.
Academy of Country Music Awards
May 16, 7 p.m.| Ford Center at The Star, Frisco
If you haven’t gotten a ticket yet, and you have a hundo or so to spare, you can still head to Frisco tonight for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Our northern neighbor is hosting the awards for the second year, and Reba McEntire is hosting. Performers slated to hit the stage include Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, and husband-and-wife duo Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. Can’t swing the trip tonight? The whole thing will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Wildflower Arts & Music Festival
May 17-19| Galatyn Park Urban Center, Richardson
The stormy weather will clear this weekend, making it a great three days for Richardson’s Wildflower Arts & Music Festival. This year’s lineup has more than 100 acts, including Sister Sledge, Nile Rogers & Chic, Randy Rogers Band, Grouplove, KC & the Sunshine Band, and the Struts. In addition to all that music, there will be street performers, acrobats, magicians, shopping, a beer garden, and family-style lawn games.
Tacos and Tequila feat. Ludacris, Ashanti, Xzibit, Chamillionaire and more
May 18, 2 p.m.| Panther Island Pavilion, Fort Worth
It will be a beautiful Saturday for hip-hop in Fort Worth. Tacos and Tequila will hit Panther Island Pavilion, bringing a pretty beefy roster of acts to take in while downing the prerequisite tequila and tacos. The lineup includes Ludacris, Ashanti, Xzibit, Chamillionaire, David Banner, Bobby V., Yung Joc, Bubba Sparxxx, and DJ Ashton Martin. The festival will also offer a chihuahua beauty pageant, an exotic car showcase, salsa and queso competitions, and art installations.
Real Estate
May 18, 8 p.m.| Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall, Fort Worth
Indie rock band Real Estate just released a new album, Daniel, (their sixth full-length) and kicked off the second leg of their North American tour. A Real Estate show is always fun—there’s the occasional drop ins from people like Fred Armison, and entire sets are sometimes decided by a game of bingo.
Sean Paul
May 18, 8 p.m.| Toyota Music Factory, Irving
If you bought tickets for Sean Paul’s North Texas stop at South Side Ballroom early, hopefully it’s not news that the show was moved to Toyota Music Factory a few weeks ago. The dancehall artist known for his song “Temperature” kicked off his Greatest Tour earlier this month, and word has it he’ll be digging in to some of his fans favorites, including “No Life,” “She Doesn’t Mind,” and “Give It Up To Me.”
Spencer LaJoye
May 19, 12:30 p.m.| Union Coffee
Local nonprofit OK2BX Foundation is hosting Spencer LaJoye at Union Coffee Sunday afternoon. The foundation says that LaJoye, a 2021 Kerrville Songwriting Competition winner, creates queer indie folk music for everyone, which fits nicely with its inclusive platform. A $10 donation is suggested.
Chris Isaak
May 19, 8 p.m.| Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall, Fort Worth
Chris Isaak may be known for the memorable video that accompanied his hit single “Wicked Game”, but his best song was “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,” and I will take no questions about this. He’ll be in Fort Worth Sunday night, bringing all his fan favorites, including the aforementioned two songs and plenty of Roy Orbison and Elvis covers, too. Hopefully, Tannahill’s is prepared to deal with his reported rider, which includes “no stinky cheeses.”
Feid
May 19, 8 p.m.| Dickies Arena, Fort Worth
Colombian reggaeton singer Feid is bringing his Ferxxocalipsis Tour to Fort Worth on Sunday in support of his new album of the same name. That 10-track record was released as a surprise in December, not long after he wrapped up his 29-city Ferxxo Nitro Jam Un Tour. Feid has logged in more than 17.6 billion streams on Spotify, topping the charts globally with hits like “Luna” and his Bad Bunny collaboration “Perro Negro.”
Also check out:
Steel Panther, May 16, 9 p.m., Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
Hayes & Heathens, May 16, 7 p.m., Lexus Box Garden at Legacy Hall, Plano. Get tickets.
Jon Pardi, May 17-18, Choctaw Grand Casino, Durant, Oklahoma. Get tickets.
Countess Cabaret with Luann de Lesseps, May 17, 7 p.m., House of Blues. Get tickets.
Nimesh Patel, May 17, 7:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre. Get tickets.
P1Harmony, May 17, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall at Fair Park. Get tickets.
Sasha, May 17, 9 p.m., It’ll Do Club. Get tickets.
Corey Kent, May 17, 10 p.m., Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
Kyle Nix & the 38s, May 18, 3 p.m., Dan’s Silverleaf, Denton. Get tickets.
Danielle Nicole, May 18, 5 p.m., Tulips, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
Cole Barnhill w/ Sterling Elza, May 18, 8 p.m., Magnolia Motor Lounge, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
DannyLux, May 18, 8 p.m., Studio at the Factory. Get tickets.
David Lee Murphy, May 18, 10 p.m., Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
State Fair Records Songwriters Round with David Forsyth, Nathan Mongol Wells, Billy Law, May 19, 4 p.m., The Kessler. Get tickets.
Abducted by the 80s with Wang Chung, The Motels, and Naked Eyes, May 19, 7 p.m., House of Blues. Get tickets.
Duran Duran, May 19, 7 p.m., WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma. Get tickets.
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, May 21, 8 p.m., Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall, Fort Worth. Get tickets.
Whee In, May 22, 7:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre. Get tickets.
Want to see Hootie and the Blowfish, Alanis Morrisette, Tripping Daisy, and The Roots this year? Check out our full concert calendar here. Listen to the playlist below to hear songs by artists performing in North Texas this weekend.
