A Year of Live Music Challenge: Q1 Recap
We kicked off this challenge in 2026, and honestly, it’s already become one of our favorite things we’ve done.
At the end of last year, we realized some of our best memories came from nights spent listening to live music, especially Red Dirt music.
Instead of saying “we should do that more,” we decided to be intentional about it.
Our goal is to see live music once a month, whether it’s a big concert, a small venue, or even a random night out with a local band.
We also didn’t want to add any pressure to this challenge by imposing rules, since it’s supposed to be fun—no strict rules, no pressure for perfect seats, just more of what we love.
Why We Started the Year of Live Music Challenge
When we reflected on 2025, we noticed that we saw quite a bit of live music and made some of our best memories during those times. We wanted to be more intentional about doing what we love.
We decided to build our year around that.
This challenge is really about:
- Spending intentional time together
- Supporting artists we love and discovering new ones
- Saying yes to experiences that light us up
We’re also using this as a way to push ourselves by trying new venues, seeing lesser-known artists, and stepping outside our comfort zone and normal routines.
And if we’re being honest? We fully expected this to get expensive, but more on that later.
What Counts as “Live Music” for This Challenge?
Short answer: anything goes.
We’re not limiting this to big concerts, and honestly, that would get expensive quickly!
For us, this includes:
- Major concerts
- Small venue shows
- Acoustic sets
- Festivals
- Even casual live music spots around town
Some months might be a big-name artist we’ve been dying to see.
However, in other months, it might be a random, spontaneous night at a local spot.
We’re especially excited to explore more Red Dirt artists this year and find some new favorites along the way.
Q1 Recap
January
January started with a bang and set the tone for the rest of the challenge.
Aaron Watson – Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
We saw Aaron Watson at Billy Bob’s Texas, and it was so much fun.
We grabbed last-minute tickets, which meant we didn’t get our ideal seats, but that didn’t really matter as much as we thought it would.
The unexpected highlight?
We were seated with a group of people who instantly became our concert crew for the night. We ended up laughing and chatting, and we even went to a karaoke bar together afterward, singing our hearts out.
No pictures. No perfectly curated moments. Just being present, and honestly, that made it even better.
Aaron Watson had been on our bucket list for a while, and while we wished the show lasted longer, it was 100% worth it.
Turnpike Troubadours – Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
A couple of weeks later, we went back to Billy Bob’s for Turnpike Troubadours, thanks to last-minute free tickets from a friend.
And here’s the real talk, this one wasn’t our favorite.
The show was completely sold out and packed. Most of the tickets were general admission, which means standing room only.
With it being so packed, we couldn’t get a good view of the stage, so we settled for a small table at the entrance and watched it on the screen. We ended up leaving early.
While we love this band, we realized we prefer seeing them in a larger stadium setting where their full production really shines.
Still, it counts, and that’s part of the challenge.
Truck Yard – Fort Worth, TX
To round out the month, we decided to check out the Truck Yard instead of spending an evening on the couch watching TV.
To our surprise, this turned out to be a fun experience.
With food trucks, fire pits, a Ferris wheel, and live music, it had such a fun, laid-back vibe. The kind of place you could easily spend hours without realizing it.
This is exactly what this challenge is about: trying places that have been sitting on our list and finally saying yes.
February
February slowed things down in the best way.
We spent Valentine’s evening at Union 28 seeing Dustin Perkins.
This event was a completely different experience, an intimate acoustic set with about 20 people in a speakeasy. They also had craft cocktails, which was a nice touch to the experience.
And wow, we loved it!
There’s something special about hearing an artist in a stripped-down setting, especially when they share stories before each song. It felt personal, relaxed, and genuinely memorable.
One of my favorite things from this night was that, at the end, he played Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, which is one of my favorite songs. I really loved the stripped-down version.
We even got to meet Dustin afterward, and he was incredibly kind. Safe to say – we found a new artist and will absolutely be seeing him again.
March
Well, March didn’t go as planned.
We had plans to see Pecos & the Rooftops at Union 28, but life got in the way, and we couldn’t make it.
And you know what? That’s part of this, too.
This challenge isn’t about perfection; it’s about intention. For us, flexibility is key. Even though we plan to go to a live music event every month, we understand it won’t always work out that way.
Missing a month doesn’t mean we failed.
The interesting thing is, we actually saw more live music than we set out to do, even though we missed a month. We call that a win in our book.
Was the Year of Live Music Challenge Worth it So Far?
Heck yes!!
We’ve already created some great memories, and we’ve spent more intentional, quality time together.
What surprised us the most?
It didn’t cost nearly as much as we expected.
Between last-minute tickets, smaller venues, and spontaneous local spots, we’ve found this challenge to be accessible and budget-friendly.
We have already met some really cool people.
And maybe the biggest surprise of all…. This goal felt huge at first, but it’s actually been easier and more fun than we thought.
Year of Live Music Challenge FAQs
Get answers to common questions about starting your own live music challenge.
Is this challenge expensive?
It doesn’t have to be. We’ve found that mixing in smaller venues, local spots, and last-minute tickets can make this surprisingly budget-friendly, with the occasional splurges for artists you really love. The great thing about this challenge is that it is customizable for all budgets.
What if you miss a month?
Life happens, and that’s ok. This challenge is about being intentional, not perfect. Just pick it back up next month and keep going.
Do you have to go to big concerts?
Not at all. Some of our favorite experiences so far have been small, intimate shows. Those often turn out to be the most memorable.
Year of Live Music Challenge: Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far, it’s this:
Make time for the things you love and be intentional about it.
Life passes us by so fast, and before we know it, another year has ended.
For us, that’s live music.
For you, it might be something completely different.
Start your own version of this challenge, whatever lights you up, and go for it.
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what challenge you want to start.
And if you’re local to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, we’d love to hear your favorite live music spots. We’re always looking for our next stop.
I couldn’t resist leaving these photos out of this post…..
Look at this Dolly themed bathroom at the Truck Yard! Love it!
