APPLY FOR BOOKING CONSIDERATION

We've made this extra easy for musicians.

WANNA PLAY?

To avoid creating unnecessary duplicate work for musicians, ArtsGoggle will utilize some existing tools in our tool belt for 2026 ArtsGoggle music booking.

ArtsGoggle is produced by Near Southside, a small but mighty team of six dedicated to producing community events, promotions, development initiatives, public policy efforts, and supporting the many institutions that make our district thrive. In addition to ArtsGoggle, Near Southside also produces Third Thursday, Open Streets, and our newest event, Lost ’N Sound South Main.

Lost 'N Sound is our South Main Village music festival that has two dates on the calendar for 2026 - April 25 and November 21. Last year alone, Lost ’N Sound booked more than 200 musicians for over 300 performances.

To manage this scale, Lost ’N Sound maintains an online Lost 'N Sound Musician Directory. Musicians—both solo artists and groups—are invited to create a profile that includes music links, bios, photos, videos, performance fees, and availability. These profiles are published in the directory and used to book music for all Near Southside events. Additionally, Near Southside business owners can use the directory to book musicians for private events throughout the year.

For 2026, ArtsGoggle will utilize this same Lost 'N Sound music booking application. Musicians will only need to complete one application to be considered for multiple Near Southside events.

All musicians wishing to be considered for the 2025 ArtsGoggle (October 24) or the 2026 Lost ’N Sound season (April 25 and November 21) must complete the Lost ’N Sound Music Booking Application.

HOW BOOKING WORKS

ARTSGOGGLE MAIN STAGES ON MAGNOLIA will be booked by ArtsGoggle management. In addition to relying on relationships with talent scouts and booking agents, ArtsGoggle management will reference the music database when booking.
 

ARTSGOGGLE VENUES ON MAGNOLIA sometimes also host music. The Boiled Owl, The Chat Room, Maggies R&R are all great examples of venues that often produce music on ArtsGoggle day. These venues owners are also invited to use the music database to book music for ArtsGoggle day.

 

AS MUSICIANS ARE BOOKED the music database will allow venues to share their plans with other venues. This helps to ensure that musicians who have already been secured to perform are not bombarded with other requests for the same day.

 

LOST N SOUND SOUTH MAIN MUSIC BOOKING is handled directly by participating venues for the festival. South Main Village businesses use the Lost 'N Sound musician directory to search for musicians that are a good fit for their venue and budget. The venues reach out directly to musicians to discuss availability, set times, performance fee and equipment needs. Venues who book musicians then declare their music line up to Lost 'N Sound event managers using their official LNS Venue Application. Participating Lost 'N Sound venues are asked to provide free live music to the public on Lost 'N Sound South Main event dates. Venues book and pay musicians directly. 

APPLY FOR BOTH EVENTS USING ONE FORM HERE

OUR APPROACH

The ArtsGoggle stage has always focused on local musicians. Cut Throat Finches, J/O/E, Royal Sons, Squeezebox Bandits, Jacob Burr, Dead Heirs, SageModeWrex, Ishi, Henry the Archer, Phantomelo, Brave Little Howl, Sur Duda, Cotinga, Yokyo, Lou Charles, The Cush, Lazer Blazer, Brandi Waller Pace, Ferals, Avery Burk, Caftan, Go-Go Rillas, Mobley, Simon Flory & the Young Guns, Matt Tedder, Learning Names, Hotel Satellite, Generational Wealth, Celestial L'amour, Spring Palace, Igimèjí, Mobley, Brandon Kareem & The Kollective Soul, Ginny Mac, Carlos Ramos, Taylor Craig Mills, Carey Wolff, Jaybirds, Gaby Minton, Denver Williams & The Gas Money, Jake Paleschic, Zuriel Merek, Mel Garsek, Holy Moly and the Near Southside's own Texas Piano Man Robert Ellis are all recent ArtsGoggle performers. 
 

ArtsGoggle strives to host a diverse lineup of regional artists across genres. In that effort, we are working to curate entertainment that reaches a broad audience and offers opportunity to lesser know artists as well as regionally acclaimed artists. When booking, ArtsGoggle shows strong preference to artists with a personal connection to the Near Southside and Fort Worth and prefer to book acts with original music, not cover or tribute performances. 
 

Nationally touring acts also grace the ArtsGoggle stages, and in recent years the festival has hosted a stellar headliner performances from the likes of indie artists Sarah Jaffe, Ben Kweller, and Sir Woman.

ArtsGoggle also partners with non-profit music organizations across Fort Worth to draw attention to their programs. In years past, ArtsGoggle has hosted The Cliburn for pop-up concerts, showcased Ballet Folklorico de Azteca for a colorful dance performances, and invited programming from a variety of music schools. 
 

ArtsGoggle performances start every hour on the hour at our official ArtsGoggle stages main stages. Entertainers are asked to perform 40-45 minute sets. A team of friendly stage managers and volunteers support all musicians performing at ArtsGoggle as we work to share the musical talent of Fort Worth with our community.