Lubbock Music

Lubbock lost a favorite son on December 15, 2025.  Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and performer extraordinaire Joe Ely passed away.  Ely is one of those musicians who grew up and began performing in Lubbock.  As his career took off, he performed with the likes of ZZ Top, The Clash, Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Keys, Jesse “Guitar” Taylor,

By Abi Avitia-Lopez Music is a moment captured, recorded, and replayed. Drop the needle, spin a tune, and stories surface again and again. Lubbock has a rich musical presence that has influenced far beyond West Texas. From live venues and recording studios to school programs and DIY scenes, sound has long been part of the

By:  Stacy Keith, Director There are people in the world who leave a legacy and make an impact.  Lubbock has held many of those people and one of them was Doug Smith.  Smith was a composer and pianist, and his song “West Texas” has charmed audiences for many years at the Omni Theater in the

By Jonny Verbeten The Lubbock Cultural Arts Foundation (LCAF) is celebrating its fifth anniversary on Saturday, September 6, with a “Hi 5 Celebration” that is free and open to the public. Taking place at the Hollingsworth Cultural Center at 42nd and Boston from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the day’s schedule will highlight the many

By: Dr. Jonny Verbeten The Lubbock Cultural Arts Foundation (LCAF) is marking its five-year anniversary with a “Hi 5 Celebration” on September 6th at the Hollingsworth Cultural Center, located at 42nd and Boston. Running from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., this free event will feature art booths, musical performances, food trucks, games, theater and dance

Tuning In to Opportunity: Learn About the Texas Music Incubator Rebate Program Calling live music venues and promoters in West Texas! If you’ve ever felt the financial strain of putting on live shows, or if you’re simply passionate about supporting Texas musicians while growing your venue’s impact, we’ve got an event you won’t want to

By:  Jonny Verbeten, Ph.D. (Updated 2026 by Stacy Keith) Every August, the downtown streets surrounding the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts and Two Doc’s Brewing Co. transform into a vibrant celebration of music and art. Since its founding in 2021, the Lubbock Live Festival for the Arts has become one of the city’s

By:  Jonny Verbeten, PhD Edited/Updated by: Stacy Keith As the sun sets over Lubbock on July 4th, the South Plains Fairgrounds will come alive with the boom of fireworks, the sounds of live music, the scent of food trucks, and the unmistakable spirit of community.  This year’s line up includes: H-E-B’s Parade H-E-B’s Parade will

By:  Jonny Verbeten, Arts Educaton Coordinator In the summer of 1982, Jack Lang and France’s Ministry of Culture conceived of a festival-styled celebration of music held in communal spaces and completely free to the public. From this concept came the first Fête de la Musique, now a federal holiday in France. In the forty-three years