Move to the Beat

5 reasons why Frisco's Music in the Square is a can't-miss summer event

North Texas isn't lacking for concerts this summer, but those big names can cost big bucks. Frisco Square has the answer with its summer concert series, Music in the Square.

Every Friday night in June, grab a blanket, some camp chairs, and your friends and family and head to Simpson Plaza lawn, where some of the most popular bands in the Dallas area are performing — entirely for free.

Besides the thrift factor, here are the top five reasons you should be adding Music in the Square to your must-attend list this June:

1. The bands are some of the best around. From popular hits to country crooning to a bluegrass take on The Beatles, there's a genre for every music fan. On June 2, Moving Colors will perform a wide variety of tunes and even putting buckets and trash cans in the mix. June 9 brings Blue Hat: five musicians of different backgrounds who specialize in "fun" music. Texas native Justin Mason stops by on June 16 to sing country classics, along with some original songs. The powerful quartet Alton Bridge, with both male and female lead vocals, dazzles with four-part harmonies on June 23. To finish out the series on June 30, Dave Walser and the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band take the music composed by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison on a Magical Mystery Tour all its own.

2. The setting is the definition of picturesque. Simpson Plaza, right in front of City Hall, has all the trees and grassy lawn space you could wish for during an outdoor concert, with the added bonus of a gorgeous fountain. And don't forget that 7:30-9:30 pm is prime sunset-watching time during the summer.

3. The food makes it more like dinner-and-a-show. An array of restaurants — Pizzeria Testa, Nola Grill, Best Thai, and Mattito's Tex-Mex, to name a few — are right by the plaza, making it easy to pick up a delicious meal without any of the prep work (there are also a few onsite vendors). Or you are more than welcome to bring your own goodies to chow down on, picnic-style.

4. The concerts are family friendly. Music in the Square is an event the whole family can enjoy, with tunes that appeal to every generation. Depending on weather, an average of 800-1,000 people attend each concert night, so you may even leave having made a few new friends.

5. It's free. This bears repeating, because where else are you going to find this much entertainment and fun for absolutely no cost? Only at Music in the Square.

To keep up to date with the weather, stay tuned to Music in the Square's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds.

See some of the Dallas area's most popular bands in concert every Friday night in June.

Photo courtesy of Frisco Square

See some of the Dallas area's most popular bands in concert every Friday night in June.

families promoted concerts music

Coworking News

Dallas' Longhorn Ballroom unveils new renovated coworking studio space

Longhorn Ballroom

Dallas' famed Longhorn Ballroom music venue has unveiled a newly renovated multi-use building — located across the courtyard from the Ballroom at 200 Corinth St. — that's open for creative types in the fields of entertainment, restaurant, and the arts.

The Longhorn Ballroom was built in 1950 for country music legend Bob Wills and this Texas Playboys and was originally named Bob Wills’ Ranch House. It was managed for a time by Jack Ruby, then Dewey Groom who renamed it the Longhorn Ballroom and built it into one of the greatest venues of its day, hosting Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, Pasty Cline, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, James Brown, Al Green, Johnny Rodriguez, Freddy Fender and Selena.

This newly renovated building was originally constructed in 1950 as part of the Ranch House, where it served as a motel for touring musicians and according to a release, is rumored to have sheltered Wills' horse "Punkin."

You could office here. Longhorn Ballroom coworking space.Longhorn Ballroom

The two-story 26,000-square-foot building offers co-working spaces for entertainment professionals, attorneys, and managers, along with a limited number of residential live-work studios for artists.

There are also several small restaurant spaces available for "culinary creatives."

The largest available area — a former recording studio — could be transformed into a space for audio, film, or post-production work.

"As an entertainment attorney, there’s no better place for my practice than the Oficina co-work space at the Longhorn," says Decker Sachse, a current tenant. "It’s a great location with easy access and my clients love the vibe."

In the fall, the Longhorn will complete its third and final phase with the opening of a 6,500-capacity outdoor amphitheater along the banks of the original Trinity River. Called The Longhorn Backyard Amphitheater, it will host a series of soft opening shows this fall, starting with Randy Rogers on September 20. A grand opening with a full calendar of events will commence in the spring of 2026, providing the city with a state-of-the-art outdoor venue one mile south of downtown Dallas.

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