Total community support for the fund has reached $20,000 with 83 individual grants. The fund will stay open as long as donations continue to come in.

Donations during the Billy Bob’s concert included a corporate gift from Fort Worth-based Dickies.

“So much of the vibrancy of Fort Worth comes from the makers and shapers of our creative community,” said Craig Errington, Vice President of Marketing, Dickies.  “In these challenging times, with events and performances being canceled across the globe to ensure our communities are safe, innovative platforms and fundraising efforts like this are key to keep the creative community moving forward.”

Smoothvega, one of the musicians featured in the Billy Bob’s 39^th Anniversary concert is also a recipient of the creative industry relief grant.

“It really means a lot to have the support of the community right now,” said Smoothvega, a Fort Worth based rapper. “All of my gigs have been cancelled and I’m not sure when I will work again. Every little bit helps.”

Filmmakers and visual artists are among the 83 individuals to receive grants so far.

“Film, video, and photo production have come to a complete standstill,” said Grant Daniels, a Fort Worth based visual artist and photographer. “I had a handful commercial shoots cancel for March and my spring calendar cleared overnight. It’s inspiring to see the community come together to support the creative class during this unprecedented crisis.”

The initiative spearheaded by Hear Fort Worth is an extension of Fort Worth musician Rachel Gollay’s Artist & Service Worker Relief Fund, which raised the first $10,000 and provided support of $200 grants to 50 individuals.

Fort Worth Weekly, the local music resource featuring local musicians is the first promotional partner for the effort, helping spread the word through its publication, website and network.

The fund is open to Tarrant County musicians, filmmakers and visual artists. Qualified applicants will be eligible for a one-time grant of $300. Gifts to the fund will be 100% tax-deductible, with tax acknowledgements provided by United Way of Tarrant County for any individual donations of $250 or more.

For more information or to donate, please visit www.unitedwaytarrant.org/creatives.

The post Billy Bob’s Texas Celebrates by Giving Back first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

While Fort Worth (and most major cities) poses no threat of bumping New York City from the pedestal of “Best Place” to ring in the New Year, our neck of North Texas offers no shortage of great events and locales to celebrate the festive holiday.

The Near Southside-based restaurant Fixture is celebrating the New Year with its 2nd annual Casino Party. The $125 ticket includes a chef-prepared buffet, adult beverages, and gaming chips. Several prizes are at stake so brush up on your poker face and start off your evening in true Las Vegas flare.

Shipping and Receiving has been a reliable source of DIY art shows and creative projects since opening in 2013. New Year’s Eve is no exception. The Future Show is an “illustrated vision of a not-so-distant time where humanity, technology, and nature have collided.” I’m not quite sure what that means, but throw in some booze and I’m getting excited! Joking aside, the multi-media event features works by Jay Wilkinson, Nicole Ofeno, Brandon Pederson, Madison Piper, and others. The band lineup includes several local heavyweights like Ronnie Heart, Squanto, Starbass Laboratories, and others. (Full disclosure: I already bought tickets.)

Another popular destination to end the year is Billy Bob’s Texas. Crowned the world’s “biggest honky tonk,” the facility holds 20 bar stations, several music stages, and arcade and billiards tables. Doors open at 6pm for a New Year’s Eve show featuring Eli Young Band with Green River Ordinance. The VIP package includes a commemorative champagne glass, hors d’oeuvres and appetizers, access to exclusive bars inside the Texas Club, specialty cocktails for purchase, and more. Ticket information is available here.

The Near Southside gastropub Live Oak is putting on a show featuring the musical/visual group Spoonfed Tribe and satiric cover band Poo Live Brew. Reggae-rockers Sally Majestic is heading a show at Lola’s Saloon, while White Elephant Saloon features tunes by Jamie Richard and Bomber Spur.

Admittedly, competition is high for holiday revelers in the 817, and we’ve only scratched the surface of possibilities. If you have a favorite haunt, your best bet is to see what that business has planned. Otherwise, keep one of these picks in mind. And as always, drive or Uber safely.

Edward Brown writes about music, arts and news for a variety of publications. He’s an award-winning writer for the Fort Worth Weekly and blogger for Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has published articles in Musical Opinion (U.K.), Canadian Music Educators Journal, and Clavier Companion,among others. When Brown isn’t writing about music, he’s actively involved in the local music scene as an educator, performer, lecturer, and judge for student music competitions. His professional affiliations include the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth, where he volunteers as education director, and the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, where he serves on the board and artistic committee. Brown was born in Bowling Green, Ohio in 1982. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas and currently resides in Fort Worth. His favorite leisure time activities include local music concerts and perusing Fort Worth’s growing gastropub scene.

The post New Year’s Eve in the Fort first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.