News And Info

Hot tacos were being washed down with cold beer and Topo Chico at the 3rd Annual El Fuerte Fort Worth Taco Festival on Saturday at Panther Island.

Dallas Observer BY Diamond Victoria

Pop star Pink and lo-fi singer songwriter Ariel Pink will make you blush this week with performances at American Airlines Center and Canton Hall, respectively. Catch experimental act The Residents at the Kessler Theater, indie pioneers The Afghan Whigs and Built to Spill’s co-headling tour at House of Blues, the Punk in Drublic fest featuring NOFX at Panther Island Pavilion and more.

P!nk
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave., 214-222-3687, americanairlinescenter.com, $47.45-$250

We got our first major look at Pink in 2000 when the husky-voiced pop star released her debut solo album, Can’t Take Me Home. But the singer, songwriter, dancer and actress Alecia Moore wasn’t content with the cookie-cutter style made popular at the time by the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. After asserting more creative control with her follow-up album, Missundaztood, Pink became synonymous with edgier female performers who inspired her growing up – Madonna, Janis Joplin, 4 Non Blondes and others. Pink’s career has spanned seven successful albums, including last year’s Beautiful Trauma, which her tour this year is promoting. Diamond Victoria

Rogue Wave
With Business of Dreams, 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $17-$20

California-based Rogue Wave seemed poised to strike it big in the early to mid-aughts. Alongside bands like The Shins, Fruit Bats and Tapes n’ Tapes, it made catchy, melodic indie rock that was infectious enough to fill midsize clubs and populate the soundtracks of iPod commercials and dramatic television shows such as The O.C. Alas, like many of the bands from that time, the group never reached the commercial heights gained by some of its contemporaries. However, despite label changes, personnel shuffles and serious health scares, the band has persevered. With seven albums under the belt, Rogue Wave has never really stopped making music in the decade-plus since its heyday. This spring, it’s touring behind the 10th anniversary of its most beloved album, Asleep At Heaven’s Gate. On Tuesday night at Dada, it’ll perform the album in its entirety and likely include other favorites from the past and present. Come for the nostalgia and catch up on what the band has been up to in the interim, as well. Jeff Strowe

Ariel Pink
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, Canton Hall, 2727 Canton St., cantonhall.com, $30

Shimmery psych-pop singer-songwriter Ariel Pink delivered his 12th album last year, named after and dedicated to Bobby Jameson — an L.A. musician thought dead for 35 years until 2007, when he resurfaced to pen an autobiography. Pink is always thinking outside of the box, and his live shows are a must-see. DV

Vance Joy
7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3, Verizon Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie, 972-854-5111, verizontheatre.com, $25-$45

Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy is stateside for a lengthy spring and summer tour. A hitmaker in his native country, Joy has been making waves in other parts of the world as well, largely buoyed by his single “Fire and the Flood.” JS

The Residents
8 p.m. Thursday, May 3, Kessler Theatre, 1230 W. Davis St., thekessler.org, $24 and up

For over 40 years, the Residents have been outsiders, avant-gardists cloaked in anonymity producing some of the most stirring music ever put to tape. Distilling performance art, sound and other multimedia play into a thrilling, chaotic mess, the collective imbues serious art with a much-needed dose of humor. Best known as the dudes wearing giant eyeballs for heads, the Californians hover in the same realm as sonic weirdos like Sun Ra and Captain Beefheart. Rock, jazz, noise, dance, pop — nothing’s off the table when the Residents enter the laboratory, or, ya know, a local music venue. Jonathan Patrick

Built to Spill and The Afghan Whigs
7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3, House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St., 214-978-2583, houseofblues.com, $35 and up

The Afghan Whigs and Built to Spill bring their ’90s alt-rock nostalgia together for a co-headlining tour this year. The Afghan Whigs, hot off the heels of their latest album, In Spades, recently lost guitarist Dave Rosser. Built to Spill’s latest album came out in 2015. Both bands acquired fame in the mid-’90s during the rise of indie music, giving way to bands like Death Cab for Cutie, The National, Interpol and others. DV

JMBLYA
With J. Cole, Migos, Young Thug, Trippie Redd and more, 2 p.m. Friday, May 4, Fair Park, 1438 Coliseum Dr., jmblya.com, $99 and up

JMBLYA belongs to Texas. Sascha Stone, the co-founder of ScoreMore and JMBLYA, made that clear when the Observer spoke to him earlier this year about the festival’s 2018 edition, which takes place Friday at Fair Park. The music festival is set to bring an estimated 25,000 hip-hop fans out for a day of performances from some of the genre’s best, including J. Cole, who just released one of the most anticipated albums of the year; Migos; Young Thug, who replaced Cardi B after canceled all upcoming performances because of her pregnancy; Playboi Carti; Trippie Redd; and Ski Mask The Slump God. On top of the star-studded performances across two stages, the daylong festival provides free water-filling stations to avoid dehydration, food vendors, full bars, shade structures, water slides and more. JMBLYA isn’t just a first-rate festival; it’s a first-rate festival that is unique to Dallas, Austin and Houston and continues to grow each year. It’s an opportunity to be a part of a Texas tradition. Mikel Galicia

Mike Jones
9:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, Curtain Club, 2800 Main St., 214-342-2030, $20

It’s sad to say that nowadays, the once ironic “Who?” that used to follow Mike Jones’ name is less of a rhetorical rap gimmick and more of a legitimate query. But regardless of whether you slept on him or were just too young to remember the rap landscape of 2005, Jones will always be remembered as one of the most entertaining acts to come out of Houston. His iconic, pre-Twitter, brand of self-promotion consisted of loudly shouting his name on other people’s tracks and handing out T-shirts emblazoned with his cellphone number, which oddly enough made Jones an over-night sensation. Club bangers like “Still Tippin’” and “Back Then” sent Jones’ stock even higher as his prophetically titled debut album, Who is Mike Jones?, went platinum in only two months. Lawsuits, rap beefs and disputes with his record label all contributed to the rapid decline of Jones’ career after his initial success. But shows like these aren’t meant dissected and picked apart — they’re time capsules. Take this show for what it is, a fun night with an almost-forgotten rap sensation. Nicholas Bostick

The Texas Gentlemen
with R.C. and the Gritz and Medicine Man Revival, 8 p.m., Saturday, May 5, at Granada Theater,3524 Greenville Avenue, granadatheater.com, $15The Texas Gentlemen are a Dallas-based rotating group of about 25 studio musicians that play with about five members at a time. They mix honky-tonk with rock ‘n’ roll and have shared the stage with Kris Kristofferson. Members come from all parts of the country — from Texas to Nashville and New York City — and although they play mainly country-inspired music, most were raised on the Beatles and ’60s psych-rock. DV

Punk in Drublic Festival
With NOFX, Bad Religion, Mad Caddies, The Interrupters and The Last Gang, 1 p.m. Sunday, May 6, Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth, punkindrublicfest.com, $39.50-$59.50

Named after one of NOFX’s best-known albums, this craft beer and punk rock festival is meant for people who still love punk rock but don’t go to shows all the time. Headliners NOFX and Bad Religion, both of which remain great live bands, will play with other worthy punk bands. There will be free beer samples of 100 flavors for the first few hours of the festival. This is the one time of the year when outdoor festivals are tolerable in North Texas, so it should be a wonderful day. Eric Grubbs

By Laurie James, Fort Worth CBV

Cinco de Mayo is the commemoration of the Mexican victory against France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. While it’s not Mexican Independence Day (that happens on September 16), it does give people a chance to indulge in tacos (which are traditionally Mexican), mariachis (ditto) and beer (maybe not so traditionally Mexican).

Here are 11 ideas if the spirit moves you to celebrate!

Food & Drink

Several local Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurants are getting into the spirit of the day.

1. Chuy’s offers food and drink specials May 4-6: a dollar off Corona beer May 4, drink specials all day May 5, and $5 Bloody Marys on recovery day May 6.

2. Americado offers an all-day party with piñatas, mariachis, and of course, food on May 5.

3. ​The Yard, Fort Worth’s first adult playground and dog park, is hosting a Cinco de Mayo bash on May 5 complete with a live mariachi band, special margarita menu, pinatas, food and more. Even better, you would win a trip to Mexico by snagging a free ticket.

4. And although there’s nothing specific on the web page as of this writing, you could do worse than spending May 5 or 6 on the beautiful patio at Joe T. Garcia’s.

5. Taco Heads is presenting Cinco on South Main, complete with tacos, cocktails and more.

6. Bar Crawl Nation is hosting the ultimate taco and margarita crawl at nine West 7th area bars and restaurants on May 5, 2-8 p.m. Tickets start at $20 in advance, $30 day of, and include taco and tequlia specials.

Community Events

7. Several Fort Worth Community centers are celebrating Cinco de Mayo, including the Diamond Hill CC on May 3.

8. Join the Fort Worth Weekly for their third annual El Fuerte/Fort Worth Taco Fest at Panther Island Pavilion. Sample tacos made by two dozen or so of Fort Worth’s favorite chefs, and indulge in all the Topo Chico water you want, along with adult beverages from 12-5 p.m. GA is $30, VIP $50.

Fun Runs

9. Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. offers two funky, fun events on May 5. The Cinco de Mayo 5K Social Runis a low-key, three (ish) mile run/walk, culminating back at the brewery with three beer samples (you know, to rehydrate) and breakfast. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Later that afternoon, the brewery teams up with heavy metal cover/mariachi band Metalachi to launch their two new beers, Adiós Pantalones and Paleta de Mango. The events are open to those age 21 and up.

10. If you fancy a real, timed run, you’ll want to meet up for Tacos y Cerveza at Clearfork Food Park early on May 5. Run a 5K, 10K or half marathon on the Trinity Trails, and then get your strength back with street tacos and beer. Registration price varies between $50-95.

Music

11. Punk in Drublic is a craft beer and music festival headed to Panther Island Pavillion on May 6. The brainchild of NOFX front man Fat Mike, your admission gets you music and four hours’ worth of craft beer tasting from local outfits like Hopfusion Aleworks, Wild Acre Brewing, Rabbit Hole Brewing, Panther Island Brewing, and Martin House Brewing Company. Starts at $39.50 per person.

This Saturday March for Babies walked to support the health on moms and babies at Panther Island Pavilion – Fort Worth, TX. With over 10,000 in attendance, the March of Dimes organization was able to reach their goal of one million dollars in donations. The attendees were able to celebrate with multiple kids activities, a great DJ and even better company. For more information on March of Dimes, you can go to their website.

Popular Fort Worth tradition returns Saturdays at Panther Island Pavilion.

FORT WORTH, TX – Rockin’ the River is back for an exciting eighth year of popular music and tubing at Panther Island Pavilion. A Texas-sized line up including five bands and a fireworks show each Saturday from July 7 thru August 11 will continue what has become a Fort Worth summer tradition along the Trinity River.

Each week, the gates will open at 1:00pm with five different bands playing back-to-back sets beginning around 2:15pm on the Coors Light Waterfront Stage. After the headlining band finishes at 8:15pm, we will clear the water and bring the party to the shore with the fifth and final band playing until 9:25pm on the after party stage before a weekly fireworks display.

Micky & the Motorcars bring their straight-ahead style of alternative country-rock to the stage to kick off the series on July 7. Also playing that day is 20-year-old Mason Lively supporting his first full length album “Stronger Ties,” which is gaining both critical and fan acclaim.  Jackie Venson will bring some blues, soul and funk to the party with her undeniable talent when the show moves back to the land.

The fun continues on Saturday, July 14 with Kody West headlining the main stage with his blend of Texas Country and Bluegrass that creates good for the soul music. Jeff Plankenhorn, or “Plank” as he is known, is sure to be another highlight of the day creating an intoxicating sound that uncovers his deep love of all types of music – including the soulful vocals he developed in his hometown church choir, Motown-influence, funk and bluegrass. The Peterson Brothers are back with their youthful energy and jam-band style improvisation to cap the night off on the after party stage.

One-time lead vocalist and guitarist for Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cody Canada and his alt-country band The Departed top the schedule for July 21. Red Dirt will run deep that day with another Oklahoma-based rock group, the Read Southall Band, which has been making waves on the Texas music charts.  The Bottle Rockets wrap the evening up with their brand of populist, Midwestern, brawny rock n’ roll.

The Dirty River Boys bring a hard-driving-roots sound in their heartfelt and unrestrained performance style to the main stage on Saturday, July 28. Look out for Eve & The Exiles to provide a mixture of down and dirty Blues grooves and gritty rock n’ roll. The Buffalo Ruckus bring boot-stomping rhythms, howling vocals and spear-in-the-back guitar leads to create a psychedelic postmodern avant-garde and experimental country-fried rock sound to the after party stage.

Memphis-born and Texas-based singer songwriter, Dalton Domino brings his honest and raw lyrics to life on the main stage on August 4. A true Texas Troubadour, Cameran Nelson, is back with his gritty, down-home country rock sound. Dallas-Fort Worth-based Vandoliers will close out the evening with their distinctive part alt-country, part punk-rock sound.

Be prepared for a hip-shaking, belly laughing, soul-singing, song-slinging, down-home house party on the water to wrap the series up on August 11, with headliners Shinyribs. Local favorites Grady Spencer & The Work will also bring their blue collar-inspired act to the stage melding together Spencer’s lyrics with the band’s old-time blues meets classic country modern sound.  The line-up could not be completed any better than with The Drugstore Gypsies – intent on providing a show that will consume fans with irrepressible enthusiasm born out of their dynamic rip-roaring rock n’ roll  sound from start to finish.

In addition to live music on two stages; food and beverage options will be available for purchase, as well as tube and watersport rentals. Rain or shine, we rock the river. In the event of inclement weather, the party does not stop. We simply move the fun over to The Shack. Nightcap? You bet. Each event ends with a fireworks show right on the banks of the Trinity River.

Thirty bands over the six-week music series will perform at Rockin’ the River. Check out the full band line-up and other details at: rockintheriverfw.com.

Rockin’ the River is presented by Coors Light. It is generously sponsored by 95.9 The Ranch and North Texas Marine. The event is produced by the Trinity River Vision Authority

Unexpected chilly weather didn’t keep people away from the Foam Wonderland Unity Tour event held at Panther Island Pavilion last Saturday. An estimated 6,500+ showed up for an epic show. Snails, Cookie Monsta Official b2b FuntCase, Riot Ten, Bonnie X Clyde and Blunts & Blondes brought a party for great music and a unifying experience!

The annual Fort Worth Cops for Kids BBQ Cook Off was held on March 23rd and 24th at Panther Island Pavilion—Fort Worth, TX. With FREE admission, attendees enjoyed great music, kids activities and best of all great BBQ from more than 80 cooking teams! These BBQ masters come in from all around the region including the grand champion, Matt Alexander from Carlsbad, New Mexico. With the support of the attendees and participants, Cops for kids BBQ Cook Off had another successful year.

Fort Worth’s favorite venue welcomes two nationwide tours in 2018.

FORT WORTH, TX – Get out your calendar and make sure Panther Island Pavilion is all over it! An eclectic bunch of events are coming to Fort Worth’s favorite event venue. Booze-infused runs, fundraising walks, concerts for a cause, tacos for tasting and rainbow-colored foam are a few in the venue’s 2018 lineup. This year we are excited to announce two nationwide tours are coming to Fort Worth and making a stop at Panther Island Pavilion.

Foam Wonderland Unity Tour 2018 – The Ultimate Foam Party Experience is stopping at Panther Island Pavilion on Saturday, April 7. Festival producers tell concert goers to get ready for the world’s largest foam production.

Popular DJs from all over the world take the stage for an unforgettable night. Bringing heavy bass lines and dub-step electronica are artists Cookie Monsta and FuntCase from the UK and b2b from Italy. LA-based electronic dance duo Bonnie X Clyde, who performed at Panther Island Pavilion at 2017’s Life In Color X Tour bring back their electropop house music.

Canadian DJ/Producer SNAILS will headline Foam Wonderland with hip-hop rhythms infused with his signature deep bass gurgles. Check out SNAILS’ addictive single, Frogbase and get ready for a rainbow of energy and foam!

Punk in Drublic Craft Beer and Music Festival – Coming May 6th to Panther Island Pavilion. The festival’s namesake comes from the 5th studio album by the punk rock band, NOFX.

Spearheading the traveling festival is the band’s main man Mike Burkett (a.k.a. Fat Mike) who formed the band in 1983 with guitarist Eric Melvin. Gen X’ers might remember NOFX most when mainstream success hit in the mid-90’s with the release of their Punk in Drublic album. Yep, these guys have been pounding out punk for over three decades.

This nationwide tour makes 6 stops including Austin, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Brockton and of course, Fort Worth. The tour’s lineup includes classic punk band Bad Religion, The Interrupters, Mad Caddies and others that will take you back to days gone by. For the craft beer lovers, festival goers can choose from over 100 craft beers from dozens of top breweries.

Panther Island Pavilion schedule – Fort Worth Cops 4 Kids BBQ Cook-Off on March 23^rd, kicks off an exciting spring lineup at Panther Island Pavilion. To see the other great events coming to Fort Worth’s favorite venue visit www.pantherislandpavilion.com.

Panther Island Pavilion hosted the Fort Worth Fire Department Family Picnic on Sunday. The families enjoyed live music by Chance Ray Band, food trucks, door prizes, a bounce house for the kids and more! TRWD provided the venue free of charge as a way to show appreciation to our First Responders.

March 19, 2018

(CITY OF FORT WORTH) – More than 130 cooking teams from across the region packed The Shack at Panther Island last year to help the Cops for kids program serve disadvantaged children.

Join many of Fort Worth’s Finest on the banks of the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion for the third annual Cops for Kids barbecue cook-off, car show and kids zone.All the proceeds from the March 23-24 event go to support Fort Worth Cops for Kids. Dozens of barbecue cooking teams will compete for top honors. Admission and parking are free. Cops for Kids shows local law enforcement’s concern for children in the community by encouraging them to build stronger family relationships and foster quality friendships, with a focus on education.

Purchase tickets online.

To learn more, call Carolyn Gilmore at 682-551-6678.

BY ROBERT PHILPOT, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

The Trinity River Vision Authority is promising “— a BBQ cookoff, a popular taco fest — there’s also a big one involving foam.

Foam that gets sprayed onto the audience, that is. “Festival producers tell concertgoers to get ready for the world’s largest foam production,” a TRVA release says about the Foam Wonderland Unity Tour 2018, the latest edition of a fest that started in 2013.

Or, in the words of the organizers: “This year, we invite you and your friends to leave your worries behind as we UNIFY the masses for one spectacular storm-like experience, dancing to the sounds of the world’s hottest DJs and biggest foam production on the planet!”

Along with the foam will be EDM and DJs such as Cookie Monsta and FuntCase from the U.K. and b2b from Italy. Bonnie X Clyde, who performed at Panther Island last year, will return.

A pair of peppy panthers were spotted pedaling playfully at Panther Island Pavilion on a purrfect Tuesday.

During Spring Break, Fort Worth Bike Sharing will have several B-cycles out in the bike share system with a big green shamrock on the basket. If you find one, snap a pic and share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Be sure to tag Bike Share in your post or tweet!

Four lucky riders will win a FREE 6-month membership to Fort Worth Bike Sharing. But hurry, contest ends Sunday, March 18.