Live Music Brings Life Back to the 806

Story by: Mary Vivian Ivey, Cole Brackett, Tyler Rodriguez

The live music scene in the Canyon/Amarillo Area has seen some growth in the past few years. Located in the heart of the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo, Texas, is no stranger when it comes to fun, adventurous, and eventful Saturday nights out. Being smack dab in the middle of US Route 66, Amarillo has been a monumental city that has grown extremely rapidly over the past couple years. Rising to glory around the 1960s when one of its most fundamental restaurants opened up right off of Route 66, The Big Texan. Amarillo has grown expediently ever since this hugely historic restaurant similarly other big corporations have sprouted all along Route 66.

Just a half mile West down the road, among these huge companies, co-owner of The Big Texan, Bobby Lee, has just opened a brand new event center. Officially opening its doors on May 6th 2017, Starlight Ranch is focusing on bringing the live music scene back to the Texas Panhandle. As of 2025, Starlight Ranch has been voted by the people as the number one venue for live music in the Amarillo area. Having hosted numerous concerts, stretching from artists as big as Cody Johnson, Turnpike Troubadours, Koe Wetzel, Parker McCollum, Robert Earl Keen, and many more. Hosting rock and roll artists, country artists, big or small, anyone who rolls through the Texas Panhandle has a chance to play here at the glorious Starlight Ranch Event Center. Starting in May, and running the entire Summer all the way till mid or late October. Starlight Ranch can hold from 1,400 to 1,500 people for a single concert. But not only is Starlight a concert event center, it’s a massive two hundred acre venue, consisting of multiple zip lines and a maze. This is a spectacular place to bring the whole family for an adventurous outing. While also being another place for out of town visitors to spend the day.

Due to all of this new found attention, Starlight will also bring a large amount of additional income for the city of Amarillo. Plus, it will create nearly seventy new jobs for the people of Amarillo.With Summer being just around the corner, and that being their peak season, Starlight Ranch is expected to be even more popular and booked up than usual. Starlight posts all of their events a few weeks or even months in advance on their Facebook page or the official event calendar online. For instance, on May the 4th, they are hosting a Muttfest. Muttfest is primarily targeted at dog owners, but it is completely free for anyone, and consists of live music, food, beverages, vendor booths, and so much more. Then soon after on July 25th, Paul Wall along with special guest Chalie Boy will be making their Starlight Ranch debut. Tickets go on sale July 22nd at 10am.

So overall, not only is Starlight Ranch a place for families and friends to catch up and enjoy some live music. It truly has something for every generation, for the kids, for the adults on date night, and even the older folks just trying to catch a vibe. It is now a massive part of the community, bringing music lovers, dog lovers, and just about anyone in the Texas Panhandle together for a wonderful and glorious experience that might only last one night, but those memories will last their lifetimes. 

Beneath the high, windy skies of the Texas Panhandle lies the historic Route 66. In Amarillo, the historic highway represents more than a nostalgic district of antique shops and neon signs; it is the heartbeat of a music scene that often hums just beneath the radar. While Route 66 once funneled travelers through the city's core, it now serves as a permanent home for the weathered venues that quietly shape the community’s identity. The journey into these historic spaces often begins at The 806 Coffee + Lounge. Located in the heart of the Sixth Street Historic District, it functions as the scene's artistic hideaway. The 806 is a dedicated "listening room" where bar-room commotion is replaced by focused attention on indie-folk and experimental acts. Without a formal stage to separate the artist from the audience, the atmosphere is immersive. It caters to the creative fringe and the collegiate crowd alike, offering a dim, art-filled corner for those who prefer an intimate acoustic set over a crowded dance floor.

A few doors down, the GoldenLight Cantina offers a starkly different flavor of history. While the burger counter has been a staple since 1946, the wood-paneled Cantina in the rear is a legendary rite of passage for Red Dirt and Americana musicians. It is a classic Texas roadhouse—cramped, weathered, and soaked in the scent of green chilies. Here, the music isn't just heard, but felt in the rattling window frames as floorboards flex under the weight of two-steppers. For local performers like Stephane Brackett, these stages are where the "magic" happens. "Performing live music is like magic to me, especially when you can make music with people you’ve never met," Brackett says. "It’s like a universal language. I love bringing joy to people and playing old country songs. I call it playing memories!"

While the Sixth Street regulars indulge in history, Hoot’s Pub on South Western Street acts as Amarillo’s high-energy engine room. Larger and louder than the Route 66 mainstays, Hoot's provides the professional stage and lighting rig that serves as a proving ground for bands transitioning from garage rehearsals to the professional circuit. It is a reliable weekend cathedral for Texas Country and rock-and-roll, drawing a rowdy crowd that keeps the local energy surging. Whether at a large pub or a small cafe, the scene relies on a tight-knit network of artists. Brackett notes that solo acts provide a vital flexibility to the ecosystem, often stepping in on short notice to cover cancellations. "All the musicians in our area are a circle of friends, and we all have each other’s backs," Brackett explains. "We try to keep all the music venues covered." Ultimately, this interconnectedness defines Amarillo's musical impact. By connecting with strangers through song, musicians turn these venues into spaces where everyone feels like family. As Brackett puts it, the true power of the performance is "bringing people together and seeing them all sing along!"

The lumberyard is a new bar, restaurant, and event center in Canyon, TX. It stands in the old Lumberyard building. The lumberyard has been open for only about a year, having officially opened its doors on March 29th 2025. “This place has quickly become a huge hit in Canyon,” according to Boone Begert. They have started hosting many concerts and have a great concert lineup this summer, according to their website. They also have a fantastic restaurant open for dining from Wednesday to Saturday.

The Lumberyard also has a bar inside the restaurant and a really cool self-serve beer wall feature. For this beer wall, you get a wristband that you scan and fill up your cup with the beverage of your choice. This awesome feature helps reduce lines and keeps track of how much each person has had.

Although the lumberyard has already hosted many concerts, they are having their largest concert to date on Thursday, April 30th. The band Flatland Calvary is coming to play, and it has all of the community and college very excited. Boone Begert said, “This is going to be a great thing for Canyon. It will bring tons of people to our community, not only to enjoy the concert venue but also the restaurants, shops, and hotels.”

This goes to show that the lumberyard also has a great impact on the economy. It is bringing people from out of town here when they usually wouldn’t come here. Because they are here, they will purchase things in this town.

It has also been good for the community because the lumberyard hosts many smaller local artists. This is a great community event where community members can support each other. They have people like Casey Berry and Seth Ward come every Thursday. They also have many vendors from the community set up at the concerts, such as Joe Taco, HteaO, and the Blessed Buffalo. This provides even more opportunity for the community to get involved. They also have an event venue that a lot of community members utilize for many kinds of events. This is another way the community is brought together because it gives them another gathering place. According to the lumberyard's website, they also have many sponsors from the community. This also brings community members together. You can also find a list of upcoming concerts and events on their website.

The lumberyard also offers many opportunities. According to Boone Begert, “It gives us college kids and other members of the community a chance to get out and have fun.” It also gives local artists a chance to get their music heard and name out there. Boone Begert said, “I have heard tons of people talking about how much they love the live music and being able to support these new people.”

The live music Scene is alive and well in the Canyon/Amarillo area. It is really bringing life back to the 806.