Live Music Heaven

Here's your schedule for Toyota Music Factory's grand opening weekend

The day — or days, we should say — is finally here. Toyota Music Factory's grand opening weekend is set for April 13-15, and the line-up is packed with family friendly events and, of course, plenty of live music.

The entertainment and music mecca in Irving has already been feeding hungry fans at its restaurants and bars, which started opening last fall, and big names have begun appearing on its stages. But get ready to see Toyota Music Factory pull out all the stops for its official kick-off.

What should you be sure not to miss, besides strolling performances from the Dallas Rhythm & Blue dancers and drumline, the Dallas Maniaacs, magicians, face painters, and more that's enticing for everyone in the family? Here's a day-by-day breakdown of all the celebrations.

Friday, April 13
The party gets going nice and early, with live music in the Highway 61 courtyard starting at 7 am. At 11 am, the live music shifts over to Texas Lottery Plaza, where it'll continue until 7 pm, when a DJ takes over for a few hours while Brad Paisely takes the stage at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory. A main stage concert featuring Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys runs from 9 pm to midnight in Texas Lottery Plaza. Two big events to remember: the grand opening ribbon cutting at 11 am and the Texas Lottery "Kick Off" at 4:30.

Saturday, April 14
Live music is the theme of the day, as you can listen to some in Texas Lottery Plaza from basically 7 am to midnight. From 3-6 pm, 99.5 The Wolf takes over for a live remote show, while Keith Sweat featuring SWV, Tank, Stokley, and Vivian Green all perform at The Pavilion beginning at 6:45 pm. CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band is that evening's late-night entertainment, filling Texas Lottery Plaza's main stage with hot tunes starting at 9 pm.

Sunday, April 15
Where can you find Texas' largest Bloody Mary bar? In Texas Lottery Plaza, where a Sunday Jazz Brunch — with music courtesy of Kickin' Brass Band — is happening from 10 am to 2 pm. Live music continues throughout the rest of the day, with Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band performing from 7 pm onward.

Basically, from Las Colinas Boulevard to Highway 114 you will be surrounded by live music and entertainment at every turn. All events are family-friendly, so be sure to bring the kids so they can enjoy balloon twisters, face painters, magicians, an aerialist, side show performers, and fire performers.

Many of Toyota Music Factory's tenants are getting in on the fun too, so pick up an opening weekend passport at the Toyota Tent and collect as many stamps as you can.

The festivities will be fun for the whole family.

Photo courtesy of Toyota Music Factory

The festivities will be fun for the whole family.

families celebrities music openings concerts brunch promoted

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Deep Ellum bar's closure leads this week's 5 most-read Dallas stories

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Editor's note: Two big closures rocked the Dallas restaurant and bar scene this week. There was also an intriguing home for sale on Dallas' ritziest road, a new barbecue joint with an unusual focus, and more. Here's a look back at the top stories of the week. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Those are here.

1. Dallas bar closes after surviving a decade in Deep Ellum. A Dallas bar that opened 10 years ago in Deep Ellum has closed its doors: On Premise, which rode a decade-long wave in the often-turbulent neighborhood, closed on October 31.

2. Authentic upscale Mexican restaurant at Turtle Creek Dallas closes. In major bummer Dallas restaurant news, authentic Mexican restaurant Jalisco Norte has closed: The upscale restaurant and bar at Turtle Creek Village clocked out after seven years.

3. Dallas and Austin are facing the same kind of housing issues. The state’s housing crisis is effectively a new problem for state and local leaders — mainly because, for the longest time, Texas used to be cheap. "YIMBY" activists in Dallas have pushed local leaders, with mixed results, to embrace the idea that the country’s ninth-largest city should make it easier to build homes besides standalone single-family homes on large lots and big apartment buildings.

4. 50s Dallas home for sale on swanky Strait Lane still has pink bathroom. A house on Dallas' Strait Lane that is possibly home to the last '50s-era pink bathroom on the tony thoroughfare is up for sale. The bathroom's days are probably numbered — but maybe in this one case, it's not a bad thing.

5. Barbecue spot Kafi BBQ coming to Irving will be smoking halal Wagyu. A barbecue restaurant with an unusual focus is coming to Irving: Kafi BBQ, which specializes in halal Wagyu beef, will open at 8140 N. MacArthur Blvd. #100, Valley Ranch, in the former Rafikiz Bar and Grill.