UPDATE: Homegrown Festival has been moved to Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum.
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Mother's Day weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth is bigger in more ways than one this year. Although we all will — and should — celebrate dear old Mom, there are a slew of big events taking place, including three festivals and two separate concerts featuring big-name singers.
Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, May 7
Inaugural Soluna Festival
The first-ever Soluna Festival is a performing arts extravaganza, combining music, dance, art and theater for 18 days of events in the Dallas Arts District and beyond. We've already given you the six events director Anna-Sophia van Zweden has recommended, but you can start this weekend with ones like the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's ReMix: Hollywood Exile and Copland + Bartok.
Jesus and Mary Chain in concert with Black Ryder
Back when the Bomb Factory was announcing its first round of concerts, this one was cited by many people as the one they most wanted to see. Jesus and Mary Chain hasn't put out any new music in 17 years, but fans won't care as they celebrate the 30th anniversary their debut album, Psychocandy. They are joined by opening act Black Ryder.
Ed Sheeran in concert with Foy Vance
For a while, Ed Sheeran seemed like he was destined to be second fiddle forever to Taylor Swift, with whom he toured back in 2013. But thanks to his acclaimed second album, X, and its inescapable hit song "Thinking Out Loud," Sheeran is now second to none. He plays at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie alongside opening act Foy Vance.
Friday, May 8
Gregg Allman in concert with Devon Allman Band
Musicians don't get more iconic than Gregg Allman, who, as part of the Allman Brothers Band, was responsible for some of the best music to come out of the early 1970s. This concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie is a family affair, as Allman is joined by the Devon Allman Band, fronted by his son.
Ed Kowalczyk in concert
It was not a pretty ending between Ed Kowalczyk and his former band Live, as his bandmates sued the lead singer and accused him of being a prima donna. But Kowalczyk obviously still has fond memories of the band, as he uses this concert at House of Blues Dallas to perform their breakout album, Throwing Copper, in its entirety acoustically.
Saturday, May 9
2015 Homegrown Music and Arts Festival
The annual Homegrown Music and Arts Festival at Main Street Garden Bomb Factory features bands with Texas ties; this year's lineup includes Spoon, Old 97's, Shakey Graves, Bobby Patterson, Black Pistol Fire, The Rocketboys, Sealion, Oil Boom, The Orbans, -topic, Wrestler and Sphynx. The festival also features live art demonstrations and food from local vendors.
Untapped Festival
Now in its ninth edition across multiple cities, the Untapped Festival is a chance to listen to great music while tasting a lot of great beer. This festival at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth is headlined by hip-hop legends De La Soul, with support from Big Data, The Lone Bellow, The Sword, Ariel Pink, Knox Hamilton, Greylag, Telegraph Canyon and Doug Burr.
Lana Del Rey in concert with Courtney Love
Dallasites get an early opportunity to see the unique pairing of Lana Del Rey and Courtney Love, as they play the second date of their tour at Gexa Energy Pavilion. Del Rey is still riding high on the release of her latest album, Ultraviolence, while Love performs in the wake of the release of the stellar documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck.
Sunday, May 10
Sufjan Stevens in concert
Once you're done honoring your mother, you can check out this concert by indie sensation Sufjan Stevens at the Majestic Theatre. The Michigan native who half-jokingly said he would do albums about every state, having already released Michigan and Illinois, comes back to Dallas in support of his 2015 album, Carrie & Lowell.
Ed Sheeran performs at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on May 7.
