Weekend Event Planner

These are the 7 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

It'll be big names all the time this weekend around Dallas. Concert venues large and small will be busy all weekend long, welcoming up-and-coming singers, living legends, a rising DJ duo, a rock band that's graduated to elder statesmen status, and more. Oh, and you can also see one of the funniest people from the current cast of SNL.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend.

Thursday, July 29

Improv Addison presents Melissa Villaseñor
Melissa Villaseñor is a featured cast member on Saturday Night Live. She made her television debut on America's Got Talent and does extensive voiceover acting on Fox’s Family Guy, Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time, and Comedy Central’s Triptank. She will perform five times through Saturday at Improv Addison.

Friday, July 30

Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison in concert
There are lots of husband-and-wife duos who exemplify #CouplesGoals, but Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison belong near the top of any list. They have been married for over 20 years, raised four children together, and supported each other's careers, which have included four collaborative albums, including 2019's Beautiful Lie. They'll play at The Kessler.

Louis The Child in concert
DJ duo Louis The Child, consisting of Robby Hauldren and Frederic J. Kennett, are following in the tradition of The Chainsmokers, Chromeo, and others, combining their skills with the vocal talents of today's top singers to create some great music. After a series of EPs, they finally released their debut studio album, Here for Now, in 2020. They'll be joined at South Side Ballroom by K. Flay and Evan Giia.

Saturday, July 31

Parker McCollum in concert
Country singer and Texas native Parker McCollum has been a fixture on the local festival scene since releasing his debut album in 2015, but for his first headlining concert in Dallas, he's skipped over all the smaller venues and gone straight to Dos Equis Pavilion. He had a top 5 hit, "Pretty Heart," off his 2020 EP, Hollywood Gold, and this concert comes one day after the release of his third album, Gold Chain Cowboy.

Rodney Crowell in concert
The soon-to-be 71-year-old Rodney Crowell has been a mainstay in country music since his debut album in 1978. Since then, he's gone on to release 21 albums, including 2019's Texas, reaching his highest heights in 1988 and 1989, when all five singles off his album Diamonds and Dirt went to No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts. He'll play at The Kessler.

3 Doors Down in concert
It's difficult to think of the rock band 3 Doors Down as elder statesmen in the industry, but since they're touring to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, The Better Life, here we are. After blasting off on the strength of their first song, "Kryptonite," the band has released five more studio albums and five EPs, including 2019's Acoustic Back Porch Jam. They'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Sunday, August 1

Jason Mraz in concert
Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz is one of those musicians who has maintained a good amount of popularity through the years despite never becoming a superstar. He's released seven albums in his career, including 2020's Look for the Good, with his biggest success coming between 2008 and 2012 thanks to hits like "I'm Yours," "Lucky," and "I Won't Give Up." He'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory.

Jason Mraz will play at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving on August 1.

Photo by Jen Rosenstein

Jason Mraz will play at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving on August 1.

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Festival News

Billy the Kid Film Festival in Hico, Texas loves outlaws the most

Courtesy photo

Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles

Who doesn't love an outlaw? Surely not the annual Billy the Kid Film Festival, a festival dedicated to outlaws which is coming to Hico, Texas from November 7-9.

The festival was founded in 2019 in Hico, the hometown of "Brushy Bill" Robert, AKA Billy the Kid. It seeks films that answer the question, What does it mean to be an outlaw? — featuring stories of characters who go against the grain.

This is the festival's 7th edition and it will screen 55 films including shorts and music videos. Opening night will include a free under-the-stars presentation of short films at Green Canoe's Beer Garden in Hico, featuring two documentaries with a Dallas connection:

Dallasite Bart Weiss’ Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles — people, where is the editor here — where Al Maysles tells the story of how he shot the Beatles coming to the U.S. for the first time
Former Dallasite Justina Walford’s Tattler’s Tale about a legendary stray dog that finally finds a home in South Dallas

Two narrative shorts will also be included: Robby Robinson’s Hub City about a singer dealing with the mysterious death of his brother; and The Strange Story of Blasting Betty directed by William Samson about a woman in the Wild West.

The evening’s program will be capped by screenings of three music videos, two of which have parentheses in the title: I Remember the Alamo (But Can't Recall Her Name), Let’s Keep Austin, Texas and The Elephant (Dear Valentine).

The festival's 55 films include nine feature-length, plus 46 short films and music videos, all of which have outlaw and/or western themes, with a focus on local and Texas-based filmmakers.

Along with the free-to-the public opening night, there'll be a film festival workshop with filmmaker consultant Rebecca Smith offered to aspiring filmmakers and those navigating the film festival circuit; as well as the return of Dennis and Amanda Moore from Pine Moore Old West Studio to present BTKFF’s annual Pine Moore Award, in honor of the famous western and Old West location set which has been utilized by countless films, television shows, commercials, and music videos for scenic backdrops.

Film/TV and Texas legend Barry Corbin will appear at the Billy the Kid Film Festival on both Friday and Saturday as a special guest. The festival will also feature the locally produced film Reel Hico, which was filmed entirely in Hico and showcases many of the town’s residents. This hometown favorite will screen as a Friday night feature presentation.

he festival is introducing a new venue, the Wild Saddle Saloon, where films will be shown throughout the day on Saturday. The VIP and Red Carpet Party will take place under a Big Party Tent provided by Event-O-Matic, offering attendees a lively and festive atmosphere to celebrate the weekend’s events.

Festival founder Luci DiGiorgio, said, “In our magical seventh year, the Billy the Kid Film Festival feels the confidence of a long-standing festival. We are ecstatic to bring the best of Texas filmmakers as well as daring films from all over the world. We’ve truly developed a filmmaker family here in Hico.”

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