The party finally ends

The road goes on to Billy Bob's for Robert Earl Keen's final Fort Worth show

Robert Earl Keen is at the end of the road.

Photo by Melanie Maganias Nashan

The road, it seems, does not go on forever, and the party — at least the live one — is wrapping up for legendary Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen. In January 2022, he announced his decision to retire at the top of his game, and the acclaimed musician is now making the most of his final touring year with a romping, rowdy set of shows across his home state of Texas — including a final show in Fort Worth.

He'll bring his "World Tour of Texas" to Billy Bob's Texas for one night only, Thursday, August 25. (It'll be a return "final tour" engagement in Fort Worth, as he just played there as part of the PBR World Finals Concert Series at Will Rogers Auditorium on May 21.)

The night before, he'll stop at The Factory in Deep Ellum for one show.

“I’ve been blessed with a lifetime of brilliant, talented, colorful, electrical, magical folks throughout my life,” Keen shared in a video on his social media channels. “This chorus of joy, this parade of passion, this bull rush of creativity, this colony of kindness and generosity are foremost in my thoughts today. It’s with a mysterious concoction of joy and sadness that I want to tell you that as of September 4, 2022, I will no longer tour or perform publicly.”

The final leg of his final tour will kick off in Corpus Christi on August 4 and run through September 4, making stops at several Texas institutions, including two nights at the legendary Gruene Hall in New Braunfels (August 17-18), one show at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion near Houston (August 20), and two nights at ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin (August 28-29).

With a catalog of 21 albums, his band of stellar musicians, and many thousands of shows under his belt, Keen has earned living-legend status in the Americana music world. A Houston native, he grew up on classic rock and Willie Nelson records, teaching himself the guitar by the time he entered Texas A&M University. Keen co-wrote “The Front Porch Song” with fellow Texas legend and friend Lyle Lovett, which both artists recorded on their debut albums.

Keen followed in the footsteps of some of the Lone Star State’s most revered singer-songwriters, producing and financing his first album No Kinda Dancer before moving to Nashville. By the time he moved back to Texas, he had a publishing deal, a new label, and a national booking agent. He released The Live Album and West Textures, the seminal album which debuted what remains his all-time fan favorite, "The Road Goes on Forever."

Since then, two more albums, A Bigger Piece of Sky and Gringo Honeymoon, produced instant classics like "Corpus Christi Bay," "Gringo Honeymoon," "Dreadful Selfish Crime," and "Merry Christmas from the Family.” Keen’s acclaim as a writer has earned him membership in the Texas Heritage Songwriter Hall of Fame, The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Institute of Letters.

While Keen will continue to write music, host his popular podcast, support young artists, and follow his artistic muse wherever it takes him, his already-sold-out final public concert will be September 4 at John T. Floores Country Store in Helotes, Texas, followed by a fan appreciation party at the same venue on September 5.

Below is the complete list of dates and venues for his World Tour of Texas. Local presale tickets will go on sale on Thursday, May 26, from 10 am-10 pm. All tickets will be on sale Friday, May 27, at 10 am, through his tour site.

August 4 — Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi
August 5 — Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio
August 6 — KOKE Fest, Hutto
August 12 — Starlight Ranch, Amarillo
August 17-18 — Gruene Hall, New Braunfels
August 19 — The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston
August 20 — Texas Uprising, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston
August 21 — Julie Rogers Theater, Beaumont
August 24 — The Factory Deep Ellum, Dallas
August 25 — Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth
August 26 — Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland
August 28-29 — ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin
September 1 — Floore’s Country Store, Helotes (sold out)
September 2 — TBA, College Station
September 3-4 — Floore’s Country Store, Helotes (sold out)

texas music tours

Weekend Event Planner

These are the 10 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Broadway at the Bass presents Mrs. Doubtfire

Photo by Joan Marcus

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This weekend, Fort Worth may not have as many events on the docket, but the ones taking place pack a punch. They include two theater productions (including a touring Broadway musical), screenings of an acclaimed animated film, three concerts (including two at a huge venue), a well-known comedian, monster trucks, the opening of a new art exhibition, and a celebration of Texas country music.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, November 7

Broadway at the Bass presents Mrs. Doubtfire
Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny comes to Fort Worth in Mrs. Doubtfire. The musical, based on the beloved 1993 film starring Robin Williams, tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. The production runs through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Friday, November 8

Magnolia at the Modern: Memoir of a Snail
Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook) is a book-loving, snail-collecting misfit who falls into a series of misfortunes after being separated from her twin brother Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee) in this stop-motion animated film. Despite her hardships, inspiration and hope arise when Grace begins a friendship with an eccentric elderly woman named Pinky (Jacki Weaver). The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Linkin Park in concert
Through their first seven albums, rock band Linkin Park could lay claim to being the pre-eminent member of the genre in the 21st century. Five of their seven albums went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and all of them finished in the top 3. But then original lead singer Chester Bennington died by suicide in 2017, causing the band to go on indefinite hiatus. The band reformed in 2023, now with Emily Armstrong as lead singer, and is set to release a new album, From Zero, on November 15. They'll play at Globe Life Field in Arlington, joined by Bad Omens, Jean Dawson, and Helmet.

Hyena's presents Jamie Kennedy
Jamie Kennedy, a comedian-actor-writer-producer, is a true hyphenate. He may be seen acting in a film one minute and on stage doing stand-up the next. Kennedy skyrocketed to fame in Wes Craven's Scream and Scream 2. He has gone on to work with some of Hollywood's biggest names, including George Clooney, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, and Will Smith. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.

Saturday, November 9

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party
At the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party, fans will be able to see favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks like Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Demo Derby, Bone Shaker, Bigfoot, Gunkster, and the brand new HW 5-Alarm, the firetruck hero of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks. The Glow Party production features a laser light show, theatrical effects, dance parties, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. There will be three performances through Sunday at Dickies Arena.

Casa Mañana presents A Tuna Christmas
It's 24 hours before Christmas and all comic hell is about to break loose. Tuna’s delightfully eccentric characters attempt to cope with seasonal traumas, like a disaster-prone little theatre production of A Christmas Carol and a yard decorating contest that’s being sabotaged by a mysterious Christmas phantom. The production runs through November 17 at Casa Mañana.

Cody Johnson in concert
Country singer Cody Johnson is an example of someone who created his own success. His first six albums, from 2006 to 2016, were self-released, with the final two of those going against the odds and charting high on the Billboard Country chart. That got him signed by a major label, where he has continued to build on his popularity. He'll play at Globe Life Field, joined by special guests Jon Pardi, Tracy Byrd, and Ella Langley.

Photo by Joan Marcus

Broadway at the Bass presents Mrs. Doubtfire, taking place through November 10 at Bass Performance Hall.

Robert Earl Keen in concert
Even through Texas legend Robert Earl Keen brought his touring days to a close in 2022, he - like fellow legend George Strait - has continued to play one-off concerts and release new music. His 2023 album, Western Chill, the 20th release of his career, is part of a special boxed collector's set. A member of the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame, he has written songs for music superstars like George Strait, The Chicks, The Highwaymen, and Nanci Griffith. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Sunday, November 10

Kimbell Art Museum presents "Dutch Art in a Global Age: Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston"
"Dutch Art in a Global Age" brings together paintings by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Gerrit Dou, Jacob van Ruisdael, Maria Schalcken, and other celebrated artists from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s renowned collection. These are joined by four Dutch paintings from the Kimbell’s permanent collection, along with prints, maps, and stunning decorative objects in silver, porcelain, glass, and more, from the 17th and the first half of the 18th centuries. The exhibition will remain on display through February 9, 2025.

Texas Country Music Awards
The 2024 Texas Country Music Awards will feature performances by headliner Jason Boland and the Stragglers, as well as The Great Divide, Will Carter Band, Brandon Rhyder, Larry Joe Taylor, Ryder Grimes, five emerging artists finalists, and more. The event takes place at Billy Bob's Texas.

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