photo by Ismael Quintanilla, provided by Fortress Festival.
CHVRCHES performs in Fortress Festival 2019.
Don’t look now, but Fort Worth’s music scene might be making some serious strides.
The fourth annual Fortress Festival is right around the corner, returning to the Cultural District on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26. It’ll boast an impressive and diverse lineup with renowned artists like Diplo, Miguel, Big K.R.I.T., and company; It’s primed to be a pivotal year for the continuously developing show.
Meanwhile, Fort Worthians have had ample time to acquaint themselves with the brand new Dickies Arena, a top-notch multipurpose venue that serves as a great host for concerts. It’s already hosted shows by Twenty One Pilots, The Black Keys, and George Strait, with plenty more on the horizon.
With these happenings in mind, alongside a continuing dialogue in advocacy for the local music scene, we asked our editors — Brian Kendall, Samantha Calimbahin, Scott Nishimura, and Matt Payne — this: Fort Worth’s live music scene appears to be progressing. What acts on your wishlist would you like to see perform here?
Brian: The acts I adore couldn’t sell out Main at South Side, much less fill a tenth of Dickies Arena (I hope that remains the smuggest thing I ever write). So, for this, I’m thinking big … real big. OK, not AT&T Stadium big — Beyoncé ain’t got time for a 14,000-seat venue — but acts that frequent American Airlines Center could opt for a two-night stint at Dickies if it’s in the middle of hockey and basketball seasons. In this dream scenario, the White Stripes get back together and include the Fort on their reunion tour — and Meg White’s drumming remains as rudimentary as ever. If you consider that too far-fetched, I’ll opt for a Willie Nelson/Kris Kristofferson/Emmylou Harris/Jimmy Webb quadruple bill.
Samantha: I appreciate the musical diversity Fortress Festival has brought to Fort Worth, especially the focus on pop/rap/hip-hop/indie, but I'm still waiting on Fortress to have a big rock headliner. If we still want to keep in line with the branding and market to younger audiences, (and, OK, anyone who knows me knows I'm showing some personal bias here, but!) Fall Out Boy as a headliner would be such a dream — a more transitional artist that straddles modern rock and pop/hip-hop. And, from the local scene, The Unlikely Candidates would also make a fun addition to the lineup.
Scott: OK, I decided to poll some folks I know on this one. Jamey Ice: "I've been on a big '90s rock kick recently. Would love to see thirdeyeblind, Matchbox 20, Goo Goo Dolls, or Pearl Jam." From my 19-year-old college daughter: "I would love to see Green Day; Florence and the Machine; Tyler, the Creator; Post Malone, or The 1975 come to Fort Worth." And from my middle-age friend Patricia: "Trisha and Garth." Dead folks who received votes in my poll: Mac Miller, Prince, Tom Petty, and George Michael.
Matt: Something tells me Kanye isn’t particularly aching to swing into Cowtown, even though I’m pretty sure the majority of Fort Worthians still have “Closed on Sunday” on loop. In all seriousness, I’d simply like to see more variety within the city. A group I’ve been into lately is metalcore band Wage War. On the more traditional side of things, a show by surging country artist Luke Combs would no doubt sell out in Fort Worth.
