Regional Venues Host Hot Summer Music Events

From grand auditoriums to free community concerts under the stars to boot scootin’ dance halls, hot music is filling the air at several venues around the region this summer. No matter how visitors best enjoy listening to music, the Upper East Side of Texas offers something for everyone.

Main Street Rhythms

San Jacinto Music Series in Downtown Rockwall shows that the state’s smallest county is big on live music. Free concerts take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night through October 28. Visitors can find a seat at one of the many café tables or bring a chair or two. Several establishments offer food and drink in the area where guests can sit back and enjoy the tunes. Visit www.rockwall.com/mainstreet_music. asp

Denison’s Music on Main series happens at 7:30 p.m. every Friday night through July 28. The free concerts are held at Denison’s Forest Park and can be enjoyed with fare purchased from food trucks or local eateries. Visitors can bring chairs to relax on the park lawn or surrounding sidewalks. For information visit www.DenisonLive.com or call (903) 464-4452.

Downtown Sherman’s Hot Summer Nights concert series continues with three live concerts in July. Cheap Trick performs Thursday, July 3 to a Lights on the Lake celebration at Pecan Grove Park. Two more July performances held at Lucy Kidd-Key Park include Randall King on July 13 and Pat Green on July 20. For information visit Sherman Hot Summer Nights on Facebook.

A stunning ceremony featuring classic patriotic music can be experienced in Sulphur Springs at the city’s 4th of July Celebration. The Northeast Texas Sym- phony Orchestra performs live to a free fireworks display while guests watch from the Hopkins County Courthouse Square. Bring lawn chairs and arrive before sundown to ensure a spot where you can enjoy the show or view it from a table at a downtown café. For information visit www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.

Toe-Tappin’ Joints

Several restaurants in the region host performances by local bands as patrons come from miles around to enjoy their fare.

The Back Porch Stage on Broadway in Kilgore offers a smaller setting with a full line-up of talent on Fridays and Satur- days in July from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Hear music by Lyrical Valor July 7, Curtis Grimes on July 8, Jenn Ford & the WideEyed Devils on July 14; The Gary Patrick Band July 15, The Usual Suspects Band on July 21; Bart Crow on July 22; Sweet Pain Rocks on July 28; and Cooper Wade on July 29. The Tuxedo Cats take the stage Saturday, August 4, followed by Sunny Sweeney Saturday, September 2. For information call (903) 984-8141 or visit www.thebackporchkilgore.com.

Lindale’s Texas Music City Grill and Smokehouse hosts the Kid Icarus Project on July 15 and September 16, the Tuxedo Cats on July 22, the Cody Wayne Band on July 29.

Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches hosts performers almost every weekend, including Mike Ryan at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 8. The Fredonia Brewery also hosts a variety of local bands at 6 p.m. on Saturdays in July and August.

Other live music/restaurant venues to check out include Stanley’s Famous Pit B-B-Q in Tyler, The Tattler in Quitman, The Rockett Café & Club in Waxahachie, and Southern Junction Royse City.

Venues Large and Small

The Bowery Stage at Winnsboro Center for the Arts in Wood County is a 120-seat performance hall with superb acoustics. Jason Eady and Jamie Lin Wilson take the stage as part of their Old Friends Tour on Friday, July 7. Fiery roots-rock singer-songwriter Scott Miller performs there Saturday, July 29. The stage also welcomes folk duo Clay Parker & Jodi James of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, September 2. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For information call (903) 342-0686 or visit www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.

For another intimate Wood County venue, visit the Red Rooster Ice House in Hawkins, where Uncle Lucius performs at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 23. The restaurant offers a full dinner and beverage menu. For information call (903) 769-0707 or visit www.redroostericehouse.com.

The Sanctuary Music & Events Center in McKinney is a boutique performance venue that offers an intimate concert experience and concessions available from Rick’s Chophouse. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances begin at 8 p.m.

This summer The Sanctuary welcomes Austin music scene phenom Monte Montgomery and guest Jason Lovell of Buffalo Ruckus on Friday, July 7; Patrice PIke and the Maylee Thomas Band on Saturday, July 22; and legendary guitarist Greg Howe and special guests The Adam Nanez Band on Saturday, August 12.

British-born 1980s rock star (The Babys and Bad English) and solo recording artist John Waite (“Missing You,” “When I See You Smile”) performs at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 25, with The Imaginaries. For information call (972) 540-6420 or visit www.theguitarsanctuary.com.

Greenville’s Texan Theater is another boutique music venue that hosts intimate performances by renowned musicians. Country western and Americana singer/songwriters Scott Sean White and Tony Ramey perform from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 14. Tickets are $30 and available online. For information call (903) 259-6360 or visit www.texantheatergreenville.com.

Nearby is the Greenville Municipal Auditorium (GMA) opened in 1939. The Art Deco style auditorium is one of the largest in the region with 1,400 seats. GMA welcomes a trio of classic country greats this summer. Country western chart-topper John Conlee returns to the venue at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 29. The legendary Gene Watson croons onstage at 7:30 p.m. on August 12. Jimmy Fortune, former member of the Statler Brothers, performs at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 18. For information call (903) 457-3179 or visit www.showtimeatthegma.com.

Mineola’s Select Theater offers seating for more than 300 and continues to draw audiences after more than 100 years. The theater’s Lake Country Playhouse welcomes oldies performer Dale Cummings at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 29. Cummings performs hits from the 50s, 60s, and 70s with unique joy and energy that gets audiences on their feet to dance and sing. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. For information call (903) 569-2300 or visit www. lakecountryplayhouse.com.

Music City Texas Theater in Linden is Cass County’s premier music hall where musicians Don Henley — longtime drummer and vocalist for the Eagles — and Richard Bowden — former guitarist for Linda Ronstadt — performed as youth.

The theater seats 288 to 400 people and hosts many renowned artists, including country music artists Sarah Hobbs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, and Daniel Andrews at 8 p.m., Saturday, August 5. The venue’s annual Summerfest features bluegrass music by Hickory Hill on Saturday, August 19. For information call (903) 756-9934 or visit www.musiccitytexas.org.

Liberty Hall in Tyler also offers hundreds of seats for guests who come to enjoy live music or favorite films — or both. At 7 p.m. on Friday, July 21, the Liberty hosts a live sing along to Hairspray — the 2007 movie musical starring John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Christopher Walken. Another sing along to Grease is set for 7 p.m on August 5.

Liberty Hall also welcomes electric blues band Texas Flood at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 8; classic country crooner John Conlee at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25; and former Statler Brothers member Jimmy Fortune at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16.

Two tribute shows also take place there in August. Elvis Gospel and Beyond — a tribute performance starring the Blackwood Quartet and Elvis tribute artist Kraig Parker — is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 4. A second tribute show featuring the music of Patsy Cline is performed by Lisa Layne at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 10. For information call (903) 595-7274 or visit www. libertytyler.com.

Memorial City Hall in Marshall is another grand venue with seats for large audiences. Their 2023-2024 season begins with a performance by country western music legend T. Graham Brown at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, September 16. For information call (903) 934-7992 or visit www. memorialcityhall.com.

Rockin’ the Rails

Southern hard rock band Blacktop Mojo performs concerts at two venues in East Texas July 7 and 8 before heading out on a nationwide tour. Camp Mojo Day 1 occurs at 8 p.m. on July 7 at the Texas Music City Grill & Smokehouse in Lindale.

Day 2 on July 8 is known as Rockin’ the Rails in which the band plays for passengers at the Texas State Railroad Depot in Rusk. Passengers board the train in Palestine at 5 p.m. and take the historic route to Rusk while enjoying concessions and beverages for sale in each car. VIP packages are available in which guests can sit for photo ops and enjoy acoustic performances on the return trip.

The band hails from Palestine and often returns home to perform their own brand of post-grunge, metal, and classic rock — similar to bands like Soundgarden, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Blackstone Cherry. The band has produced four albums over the past decade. Recent hits include “Where the Wind Blows,” “Dream On,” and “Can’t Sleep.”

Blacktop was formed by lead singer Matt James and drummer Nathan Gillis in 2012 and now includes Matt Curtis on bass and guitarists Chuck Wepfer and Malcolm Booher. After playing two days of Camp Mojo the band travels to Oklahoma City then to several venues in the Midwest. To hear Blacktop Mojo live in East Texas visit their website at www. blacktopmojo.com.