Denton, TX: A college town brimming with musical talent

How’s your week going, fellow Seekers? We’ve been busy prepping for a busy festival season, and populating our Music Roadtrip app with even more awesome spots and itineraries for your next musical adventure. It’s completely free, so make sure to give it a spin and tell your fellow music obsessives! Download it now for iPhone and Android devices.

DENTON, TX

This week, we’re digging into Denton, Texas. A town with a distinct musical legacy, but it has also benefited from sitting in the orbit of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington, with all the crossover and regional gigging that comes with it. Denton may not be able to “claim” Pantera, Old 97’s, The Chicks, or Erykah Badu, but it exists within the same North Texas atmosphere that produced them.

And there’s one thing Denton has that the others don’t: the University of North Texas. It has an acclaimed jazz program, and has produced alumni like Norah Jones, Don Henley, and Meat Loaf. Bowling for Soup, Neon Indian, and Eli Young Band all got their start in the local scene.

Between hosting a nationally respected college of music and being just up the road from a major metro, Denton’s venues are never hurting for players. Spots like Dan’s Silverleaf and Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios are deeply plugged into and cherished by the local community. Others, like Harvest House, take advantage of the North Texas air with stages set outside under the stars. And its two major festivals are free to attend.

Ready to put a dent in Denton? Check out these spots.

Dan’s Silverleaf

Back when Dan Mojica opened Dan’s Silverleaf on Industrial Street, his only neighbors were “two feed stores and a place where you could buy incense,” according to their site. Times have changed.

Today, Dan’s sits at the center of a busy stretch of bars, restaurants, venues, and art galleries, due in no small part to the work they’ve put in over the years. Two more spots we’re highlighting are just a few doors down.

The 245-capacity room is a haven for Americana, Red Dirt country, Southern rock, and singer-songwriters of all stripes, but the booking rarely stays in one lane. Found art, taxidermy, and Madonna sculptures line its turquoise walls, leading to a surprisingly sizable stage for such an intimate room. That stage wasn’t always so substantial. When Leon Russell wanted to play the club, Dan’s expanded it to make it happen. 

The venue has hosted its share of recognizable names, including Red Clay Strays, Ian McLagan, and even Grimes. Still, one refrain comes up again and again: it doesn’t matter if you know the artist or follow the genre. You’re likely to see talented musicians in their element, in a space that feels warm and unpretentious.

“Small venue live shows, in my opinion, are the best bang for your buck,” Mojica told Denton County Magazine in 2024. “You get to see some really good music up close and personal, plus you get to meet the artists after the shows. There’s not a bad seat in the house.”

Steve’s Wine Bar

Two doors down from Dan’s, you’ll find Steve’s. 

Steve and Karen Severance opened Steve’s Wine Bar in 2016 — the culmination of decades spent traveling the West Coast and European countryside in search of great wine. You’ll certainly find it at Steve’s, but there’s another key focus that sets this place apart. 

“We are the place for people to come to hear jazz,” Steve says. And considering the UNT Jazz program is in their backyard, this place is never short on incredible instrumental and vocal talent. But Steve’s still branches out more than you’d think: Irish and Bluegrass jams are held here on alternating Saturday afternoons, and there’s even a classical jam session on the third Friday of the month. It’s an inviting, intimate space perfect for spending a long afternoon or evening, but you can also take part of Steve’s with you. 

“Denton is also an open container town,” Steve says, “Which allows a place like ours that does only beer and wine, to offer to-go beverages by-the-glass or bottle and enjoy that as they are walking around downtown.”

But where to stroll to next? We know a place just around the corner.

Harvest House

We’d venture to guess that no other U.S. state boasts more outdoor stages than Texas, and there’s a great one at Harvest House, situated among plush sofas, pool tables, fire pits, string lights, and a giant arch made out of of bicycle parts.

Obviously this place has won a slew of local awards for “best patio,” but also for its extensive menu of cocktails, craft beers and THC drinks. It’s the kind of space where jam acts thrive, but it’s also a killer spot for weekly karaoke and regular community markets.  

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios

This place is a pillar of Denton’s DIY community — and nothing in the area comes close to matching its longevity. A former Redi-Mix warehouse, Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios began life strictly as a rehearsal space for local bands in 1996. Within two years, they’d built a stage and bar from scrounged lumber, and brought in touring acts like future indie giants Modest Mouse and the Get Up Kids.

Locals were crushed when it closed its doors in 2016, but a Denton music booster bought, renovated and reopened the venue in 2019. Today, it boasts three stages, including an outdoor patio that’s operational nearly year-round thanks to the weather here. And the name still fits — 30 years in, Rubber Gloves is still leasing rehearsal space for local acts. 

Recycled Books and Records

For crate-diggers and bookshelf scroungers, Recycled Books and Records is truly a palace — and it looks like one, as its lavish pink-and-lavender building was the city’s opera house in the early 20th century.

Its labyrinthine layout holds 20,000 CDs, 15,000 vinyl records — oh, and somewhere around a half-million books, making it the largest used independent bookstore in the state. We can’t think of a better place to get lost for an hour or two. 

More to dig in Denton

KUZU 92.9 FM is Denton’s community radio station, founded to give local creatives and overlooked genres a platform through nonprofit, locally driven programming. They also host an annual record convention.

Thin Line Fest takes over Denton’s downtown square each spring with documentary film, live music, and photography, all within walking distance of one another. It’s free, volunteer-run, and spreads across theaters, small stages, and galleries throughout the weekend.

Denton Arts and Jazz Festival is the city’s signature fall event, held at the North Texas Fairgrounds and anchored in jazz but stretching into blues, folk, country, and more. It’s one of the largest free festivals in North Texas and draws crowds from across the region.

Discover Denton is the city’s official tourism and visitor resource, offering guides to live music, festivals, restaurants, and local events happening throughout the year. It’s a solid first stop for planning your trip and keeping tabs on what’s going on around town.