Music Friendly Certified

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

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

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.

music concerts awards vacation promoted

Easter Eggs galore

Special episode of The Simpsons features couch gag by Meow Wolf artists

The Simpsons couch with Meow Wolf collaborative elements.

Photo courtesy of Disney+

The infamous couch gag on The Simpsons is getting a Meow Wolf makeover in new episode.

Acclaimed art space Meow Wolf is headed to Springfield. The company has collaborated on a double-episode of The Simpsons to be released this week as part of the famous couch gag that opens each show. Easter eggs from the various locations, including Houston's Radio Tave, appear.

“Getting the opportunity to be part of the show that has warped our minds since we were kids is a huge honor and an experience we will never forget,” Meow Wolf co-founder Emily Montoya said n a statement. “Working with Matt Selman and his team was fantastic. From the beginning, they supported and encouraged all our crazy ideas and helped us hone the piece into its final form. We’re especially grateful for their help encapsulating Matt King’s rainbow wizard essence into cameo form.”

The double episode, "Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition," premieres on Wednesday, June 17 on Disney+. In it, Marge dreams how life with her husband, Homer, could have turned out differently, including an homage to Joker: Folie à Deux and a world where Homer is an extreme sports enthusiast. The all new, streaming exclusive episodes following the animated show's record-breaking 37th Season.

The iconic couch gag has long been a venue for guest artists. Everyone from horror master Guillermo Del Toro to street artist Banksy to indie animation innovator Don Hertzfeldt have collaborated on the pop culture institution, putting Meow Wolf in very good company.

Even in just the preview, several famous Meow Wolf installations can be briefly seen, like references to Omega Mart in Las Vegas. Houston gets a shout out as Barney shares a drink with Meow Wolf co-founder Matt King in Cowboix Hevvven, the venue's on site bar. As the couch gag goes on, the fourth wall breaks and a team of Meow Wolf artists craft a recycled art installation of the Simpsons in their living room (see picture above).

Matt Selman, showrunner and executive producer of The Simpsons, is a huge fan of Meow Wolf, and decided to work with the organization after visiting several of their installations.

“This has been a dream collaboration, in that I had to do almost nothing, other than a few Zoom meetings,” he said. “The brilliant minds at Meow Wolf reimagined the ‘couch gag’ in a way that only they could — delivering the silliness and surreality and homemade outsider sensibility that has blown so many minds. Thank you to all the artists and artisans (not sure of the difference, but maybe there is one) at Meow Wolf for crafting this superbly joyful couch gag!”

meow wolf tv the simpsons

Music Friendly Certified

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

Easter Eggs galore

Special episode of The Simpsons features couch gag by Meow Wolf artists

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