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    Music Friendly Certified

    Come for the ACMs, stay for even more music in Frisco this May

    CultureMap Create
    Mar 20, 2024 | 12:00 pm

    The Academy of Country Music Awards are returning to Frisco for a second year in a row, on May 16, 2024.

    ACMs Frisco

    Photo courtesy of Academy of Country Music Awards

    Tickets are on sale now for the ACMs.

    And it makes perfect sense, considering Frisco has been officially designated a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community by the Texas Music Office (TMO). In case you didn't know, the Music Friendly Texas program, the first in the nation since it was introduced by TMO in 2016, seeks to foster music business-related economic development and job creation in Texas cities and communities.

    As the ACMs bring big names to the city for "Country Music's Party of the Year," whether you're attending the awards or not, May is an exciting time in Frisco,

    Take a vacation that strikes a chord and experience Frisco's sights and sounds this spring:

    • During the month of May, the Frisco Live concert series will have local musicians playing at hotels and restaurants around town — and best of all, these concerts are free and open to the public.
    • The Chainsmokers are playing at Toyota Stadium on May 4.
    • On May 14-15, attend the ACM Country Kickoff at Tostitos Championship Plaza at The Star in Frisco. This free event includes live music, including performances from several up-and-coming musicians, a handful of which are ACM Award nominees. You'll also find good food, good drinks, and great company.
    • The big show itself happens May 16 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, and tickets are on sale now through Seat Geek.

    Need to stop for a bite but still want to groove? Chow down while enjoying live music at Rail Yard, Didi’s Downtown, The Revel, and Rockin’ Taco.

    Where to stay

    Omni PGA Frisco Resort
    Enjoy 500 guest rooms and suites, 10 four-bedroom ranch houses, four pools — including an adults-only rooftop infinity pool — a full-service Mokara Spa, and Lounge by Topgolf.

    For golfers and non-golfers alike, sun-up to sundown fun and enjoyment opportunities abound at the Monument Realty PGA District, where a variety of signature dining and retail concepts, virtual game experiences, programmed entertainment, and more are available.

    Omni PGA hosts live music regularly and will feature live music in May surrounding the ACMs.

    The Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa
    The hotel sits on 400 acres of land, ideally located near top Frisco attractions. It offers a rare destination to gather, connect, and experience laidback luxury with plenty of room to roam.

    The resort has revitalized the pool area to include a water slide and private cabanas, added a luxurious full-service spa, a Westin Family Kids Club, and a Topgolf Swing Suite.

    The Westin Stonebriar features live music regularly and will feature live music in May surrounding the ACMs.

    Hyatt Regency Frisco
    The Hyatt Regency Frisco features 303 sleeping rooms, including 34 suites, along with over 27,000 square feet of light-filled meeting space. The hotel is a contemporary reflection of the city's journey from wagon trails and cattle drives to a premier shopping destination and the sports stadiums it is known for today.

    Rooted in timeless traditions, stay connected to all that the city has to offer and enjoy subtle hints of Texas at every turn. Socialize at Copper & Steel Table & Bar or dip, dine, and unwind at the Steel Horse pool and cabanas. The evaluated service the team offers and the amenities you will experience ensure you will feel refreshed and recharged throughout your stay.

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    In Memoriam

    Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

    KVUE Staff
    Dec 16, 2025 | 2:00 pm
    Joe Ely
    Joe Ely/Facebook
    Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

    Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

    In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at his side.

    Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

    As with many local legends, it's hard to tease out what specifically made Ely's time in Austin so great; Austin treasures its live music staples, so being around and staying authentic from the early days is often the most important thing an artist can do.

    Ely got his local start at One Knight Tavern, which later became Stubb's BBQ — the artist and the famous venue share a hometown of Lubbock. He alternated nights with emerging guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughn. He built his own recording studio in Dripping Springs, and kept close relationships with other Texas musicians. Later in his career, Ely brought fans into the live music experience, publishing excerpts from his journal and musings on the road in Bonfire of Roadmaps (2010), and was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022. Austin blues icon Marcia Ball was among Ely's friends who played the induction show.

    "Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

    In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

    "His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings. [...]"

    --

    Read the full story at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added two paragraphs of context about the Austin portion of Ely's career.

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