State Fair Free Music

All the concerts you can see for free at State Fair of Texas 2016

Spotify House SXSW party Kacey Musgraves March 2016

Kacey Musgraves is one of the top acts performing at the 2016 State Fair of Texas.

Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Spotify

With concert season on our minds, the State Fair of Texas has released its 2016 concert lineup with Nelly and Kacey Musgraves leading a pack of musical acts delivering 24 days of free concerts.

Well, free if you're at the fair. A variety of musical acts across all genres will perform on the fair's Chevrolet Main Stage, which is included with admission to the State Fair.

Country music star Kacey Musgraves will kick off the concert series on opening night, September 30, at 8:30 pm. The East Texas native caught her big break after competing on the hit TV show Nashville Star in 2007, before moving on to co-write songs with major country artists like Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride.

Opening weekend will conclude on October 2 with back-to-back headlining performances. Taking the stage at 3 pm, the Chris Perez Project blends American rock with Hispanic heritage. The former husband and lead guitarist for Tejano legend Selena, Chris Perez has performed with many different musical groups throughout the years, including the Chris Perez Band, which won a 1999 Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.

The Tejano sounds continue at 5:30 pm with AB Quintanilla y los Kumbia King All Starz. The older brother of Selena, AB Quintanilla has co-written songs and performed with his sister in their band Los Dinos, as well as founding several bands of his own. He's won a Latin Grammy Award and a Billboard Latin Music Award, and has been nominated for American Music Awards and Grammy Awards.

Kicking off Red River Showdown weekend, Prophets and Outlaws take the stage on October 7 with shows at 5:30 and 8:30 pm. Formed in Dallas, this country-Southern rock band released its latest album, V, in 2016 and is currently touring Texas and Oklahoma.

Country singer Cody Johnson performs on October 8 at 8:30 pm. In 2011, he won the Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year. His Cowboy Like Me album debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, and his sixth album, Gotta Be Me, will come out in summer 2016.

Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots Concert Spectacular performs on October 9 at 3 pm. This musical comedy group uses its combination of humor and music to help communities in need, raising more than $2 million for various charities through its performances. Bobby Bones has a nationally syndicated weekday radio show, and a new book, Bare Bones.

Nashville-based singer/songwriter Ben Rector headlines the Columbus Day concert on October 10 at 5:30 pm. A 2006 winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Rector has released seven albums, including his most recent album, Brand New, in 2015.

Austin blues band The Peterson Brothers perform on October 14 at 5:30 and 8:30 pm. Despite their young ages of 17 and 19, Alex and Glenn Peterson have already had the opportunity to share the stage with true music legends such as Pinetop Perkins, Willie Nelson, Los Lonely Boys, Buddy Guy, and the late B.B. King.

Two-time Grammy Award winner Nelly will perform on October 15 at 8:30 pm. The rapper's hit singles include "Ride Wit Me," "Dilemma," "Hot in Herre," and "Work It." He currently stars in his own reality TV show on BET called Nellyville, which follows him through everyday life, from managing his career to spending time with his family.

Disco band Le Freak will perform on October 16 at 3 and 5:30 pm. Fully outfitted in retro gear to go along with their disco-era performance, Le Freak adds new energy to songs of the past.

Americana trio The Quebe Sisters perform on October 21 at 5:30 and 8:30 pm. Burleson sisters Hulda, Sophia, and Grace Quebe have developed their own blend of Western swing, classic country, and Texas-style fiddling. The Quebe Sisters have released three albums to date and are currently touring across the country.

Christian rock singer Colton Dixon performs on October 22 at 6 pm. The Tennessee native was a contestant on Season 11 of American Idoland debuted his albumbA Messenger in 2013, which became the No. 1 selling album that year by a new Christian artist.

Grammy nominee Skillet performs on October 22 at 8:30 pm. Described as Christian hard rock with alternative and metal elements, the Memphis band will release its ninth album this summer.

The concert series concludes on October 23 with a 3 pm headlining performance by Dallas band La Energía Norteña. Their third album, Cruzando Territorio, was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Norteño Album. Known for playing Mexican regional music that incorporates the accordion and saxophone, the all-male group stays true to its roots while maintaining a fresh musical style.

In addition to the Chevrolet Main Stage, the State Fair will offer daily live music performances on multiple stages throughout the grounds. That includes the Budweiser Sound Stage centrally located in Cotton Bowl Plaza, with local and regional acts such as Coffey Anderson, the Tejas Brothers, and Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band.

Nestled in the heart of the Midway, the Coca-Cola Stage is perfect for staking out a spot at the picnic benches and relaxing in the shade while enjoying a family-friendly musical performance. With an all-new musical act for 2016, the Coca-Cola Stage will host the Honey Bears, who will perform daily throughout the run of the Fair.

On Nimitz Circle, next to the Creative Arts building, is the Dr Pepper Stage, offering an eclectic mix of musical talent and a quaint grassy area to relax with friends and family. The 2016 lineup will feature The Killdares, Six Appeal, and the Light Crust Doughboys.

The 2016 State Fair of Texas is themed "Celebrating Texas Agriculture" and runs from September 30 through October 23.

state-fair concerts

Movie Review

'Tony' offers a revealing look at Anthony Bourdain before fame

Photo courtesy of A24

Antonio Banderas and Dominic Sessa in Tony.

The reason that most biopics fail is because they try to do too much, telling a “cradle-to-grave” story or one taking place over a long period of time that only scratches the surface of understanding the full measure of a particular person. A better approach is the one taken in the new film Tony, which uses a formative period of time in the life of Anthony Bourdain to identify a larger truth about him.

The film finds Tony (Dominic Sessa), as he liked to be known at the time, in his early college years, trying to BS his way through life. He tells lies to professors, his parents (Dagmara Dominczyk and Rich Sommer), his old classmate Nancy (Emilia Jones), and even himself in an attempt to skate by without actually doing anything.

When one con falls through, he follows Nancy to Provincetown, Massachusetts to try to find her. A series of events result in him getting drunk in a restaurant owned by a chef (Antonio Banderas), who takes him in. Tony starts working as a dishwasher and hanging out with Sal (Leo Woodall), who barely has his own act together. With no other options, he spends his summer on Cape Cod, hoping something will happen to change his lot in life.

Written and directed by Matt Johnson (Blackberry) and co-written by three others, the film gives barely a hint of the man who would go on to become a celebrity chef and acclaimed author. It does indicate that his brashness was always there, but this Tony is aimless and too often rash in his decision-making. His biggest success in the film only comes when he finally recognizes that lying has brought him nothing but misery, and that telling the truth, even if it’s painful, sets him free.

The restaurant at which Tony works, the now-defunct The Flagship, is the heartbeat of the film, containing a motley crew of people who bond over slinging mostly mediocre seafood. Johnson evolves Tony’s relationship with the chef (who’s never given a proper name) into a strong one as Tony spends each night in a hammock on the chef’s porch, only to be woken up each morning with a pot of water thrown in his face.

Tony continues to pursue Nancy for most of the film, and even though their relationship is not fruitful in terms of storytelling, it serves to enforce the mindset of the young man. Nancy only exists as an object of desire for Tony, with just the barest touch of an interior life of her own. While the intent of including a romantic interest for Tony makes sense in a way, it ultimately is the weakest part of the film.

Sessa, who made a bold film debut in 2023’s The Holdovers, has turned into one of the industry’s bright young stars. He embodies the moodiness of Bourdain, stalking around the town with a scowl and lanky walk that tells the audience everything they need to know about the character. Banderas and Woodall (Tuner) bring different types of great energy, and while Jones’ part is not great, she proves that - following CODA - she’s going to be around for a long time, as well.

Fans of Bourdain may lament that Tony doesn’t show anything from the years in which he became famous, but the small and personal film makes a great case that the period it depicts is equally significant to his life. It demonstrates that Tony’s summer on Cape Cod gave him some direction, a reason for being that allowed him to become who he eventually became.

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Tony opens in theaters on August 21.

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