On October 2, community members and visitors will be transported to Dallas’ 80’s music scene

The most ambitious historical exhibition yet, Behind the Music,
is about to open at the Deep Ellum Community Center at 6:00pm on October 2, 2025.

Honoring Deep Ellum’s musical past, the new exhibition is bringing together music venue
owners, bookers, managers and artists who left an indelible mark upon the neighborhood and
the broader music scene to tell their own story. The exhibition will unfold in three parts, kicking
off with a view into the spaces that made Deep Ellum rock in the 1980’s followed by explorations
of the music venues of the 90’s and 2000’s beginning in 2026.

As Deep Ellum has evolved through waves of economic change, integration, and urban
development, one constant has been the centrality of live music venues. From the historic clubs
of the 1920s to the punk rock and alternative spaces of the 1980s and '90s, and into the eclectic
stages of today, venues in Deep Ellum have not only hosted millions of performances but have
shaped the very identity of the district. They have served as incubators for emerging talent,
gathering places for diverse communities, and cultural landmarks that preserve and reinterpret Deep Ellum’s musical legacy.

“The rebirth of Deep Ellum in the 1980s changed Dallas culture forever. Theater Gallery,
Prophet Bar and Club Clearview opened up the opportunity for artists all over the southwest to
manifest their dreams and find their destiny. The Deep Ellum historic neighborhood is the soul of Dallas.” - Russell Hobbs, founder of Theater Gallery & Prophet Bar

The exhibition will present a timeline of live music venues spanning nearly 50 years as well as several feature walls curated in partnership with Jeff Swaney, Russell Hobbs, Jeff Yarbrough
and their teams who led Club Clearview, Theater Gallery and the Prophet Bar. In pairing
those who quite literally set the stage for the incomparable district’s recent music history with
Deep Ellum Foundation staff with expertise spanning historical archiving, design, art and
construction, The Deep Ellum Community Center is building a national model for how
communities can collectively uncover, uplift and share their own histories.

“if you weren’t in Deep Ellum or even if you were to experience the magic and explosion of the
scene in the 80s and 90s, you are encouraged to check out this incredible event. Kudos to the
staff that put it together - excellent work!’ - Jeff Swaney, founder of Club Clearview

The 80’s segment of the exhibition will run for 3 months, punctuated by programming featuring
panel discussions as well as exclusive screenings. Visitors are also invited and encouraged to share their own stories and Deep Ellum music collectables through one exhibition wall
designated for guests to make their own mark. All guest contributions will be chronicled in the Deep Ellum Archive. Operated out of the Deep Ellum Community Center, the Deep Ellum
Archive, a partnership with the Dallas Public Library, has collected over 2000 artifacts to date for students, researchers and interested Dallasites to explore.

Come Back for the Deep Ellum Block Party, November 22
Fittingly, the exhibition will overlap with this year’s Deep Ellum Block Party, Neighborhood-wide Edition, on November 22.

Before immersing themselves in shows featuring over 50 artists across over a dozen venues, Block Party attendees are encouraged to stop by and get a glimpse into the history that made Deep Ellum’s music scene today.