Deep Ellum community members aim to brand Dallas as the “New Music Capitol” and form a network connecting artists to venues.
Deep Ellum community members aim to brand Dallas as the “New Music Capitol” and form a network connecting artists to venues.
Deep Ellum community members aim to brand Dallas as the “New Music Capitol” and form a network connecting artists to venues.
DALLAS — A bold new campaign to brand Dallas as the “New Music Capitol” of the U.S. is gaining momentum — starting with a series of candlelight concerts.
The effort kicks off April 13 with On DECC Sunset Sessions, a free concert series launching in Deep Ellum and headlined by singer-songwriter Ivan Dillard. Dillard, a Dallas-based musician and SMU Meadows School of the Arts alum, is best known for combining heartfelt 90s pop with modern flair with songs like “She’s The One.”
The event marks the first of many monthly performances designed to elevate emerging musicians while reinforcing Dallas’ status as a hub for creativity and live music.
The Sunset Sessions series will offer artists a professionally recorded live set, a press launch and exposure through Deep Ellum Radio and other regional outlets.
The series is just part of an initiative, spearheaded by the Deep Ellum Community Association, Conscience Conduit, Livegy and TORC Texas, to gather 50,000 signatures supporting Dallas as the country’s next great music city. With backing from Visit Dallas, DO214 and local businesses, organizers hope to build a support network, linking artists and venues across cities.
The campaign’s urgency is underscored by numbers: according to the 2025 State of the Arts Report, Dallas generated $1.27 billion in taxable music and entertainment sales—more than double any other Texas metro area.
Organizers say those figures reflect Dallas’ prominence as a music city. Those interested in signing the “New Music Capitol” petition can do so here.
The Deep Ellum performances are free, with $5 optional donations supporting local arts programs and community services, including the neighborhood’s Narcan vending initiative. Future sessions will spotlight venues like Kettle Art, Everything Ellum Store, and Deep Ellum Art Co., with plans to expand across the DFW metroplex.
The April 13 performance begins at 7 p.m. at the Deep Ellum Community Center, with doors opening at 6 p.m.