PK becoming a live music mecca

Story by Steve Nussbaum

On any given Friday or Saturday night, there’s a variety of restaurants and bars at PK offering live music.

Over the past year several new venues have opened up, offering live entertainment year-round. It really doesn’t matter what type of atmosphere folks are looking, either. They’ll be able to find it at the lake, where live music and relaxing go hand in hand.

“We all do it a little differently, but it helps build a live music community,†said Felicia Ongley of PK Icehouse.

The venue owners and managers agree that live music is good for business, attracting people from all over the area. Many of the artists who perform have their own following, bringing in local fans and customers as well as visitors from the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

The business owners all strive to use local talent, with some venues use booking agents while others book the bands themselves.

“I book my own talent and would rather let the band get the extra fee,†said Jan Verdi of Boondocks.
Verdi, who has owned Boondocks for 10 years and has built a rapport with all the area talent, said she has little trouble finding groups wanting to play at PK. The business owners use YouTube to find local groups to perform.

All these unique venues offer larger bands and events during holiday weekends and key lake events, leading to a wide and diverse local music scene. It’s a great way for folks to enjoy being at the lake well after dark.

Local Live Music Happenings around PK

West Side
World Famous Fox Hollow Restaurant and Cantina: Offering live music every Friday and Saturday evening. Foxy’s Cantina is a full service restaurant and bar on the lake, with a brand-new outdoor stage. The business offers a large, covered seating area and a relaxed atmosphere. Boaters can park their watercraft just a few feet from the restaurant and bar. Artists perform indoors from October through March. The venue features mostly country artists playing new and traditional country songs, and it’s a great atmosphere just a few feet from the lake.
https://www.facebook.com/foxhollow.possumkingdom
4705 Fox Hollow Road, Graham TX 76450
(940) 549-1801

Possum Hollow: Offering live music for more than 20 years. Well-known local artist Howard Lee has been playing Possum Hollow every Saturday night for the past 12 years. Lee plays all types of music and takes requests from the crowd. Possum Hollow has a small inside dance floor. Possum Hollow is a full-service restaurant and bar offering a wide variety of dining and beverage options, with lake views and access.
https://www.possumhollowcamp.net
4801 Possum Hollow, Graham TX 76450
(940) 549-1873

East Side
Boondocks: One of the original restaurants and bars in the area offering live entertainment. A true lake bar with a fun atmosphere. Boondocks features a wide array of artists playing country, rock and “red dirt†country. Boondocks features a large indoor stage and dance floor, with live music every Saturday night. It’s one of the few places that offers karaoke on Friday evenings. Open late every weekend until 1 a.m. Music and karaoke usually start around 8:30 p.m.
https://boondocks-bar-and-grill.business.site/
501 FM 2353, Graford TX 76449
(940) 779-2200

Hemmingway’s Craft House: Hemmingway’s offers a more upscale dining and bar experience, but it’s still “lake casual.†Hemmingway’s is located right on the lake, with a beautiful, tree-covered stone patio bar and a beautiful, rustic interior. Hemmingway’s ben be accessed by boat, and those watercraft can park right outside the restaurant in one of nine courtesy slips. Hemmingway’s features a large wine list and craft cocktails, as well as live music both indoors and outdoors every Friday and Saturday evening beginning in March. The musical venue features acoustic blues and upbeat country artists.
https://www.hemmingwayscrafthouse.com/
3415 Scenic Point Road, Graford TX 76449
(940) 779-2522

PK General Store: PK General Store is a long-established local grill and convenience store, but new owners Chad and Nicole Morrill have taken the property through a complete metamorphosis. It still serves as a full-service convenience store but the Morrills have added homemade pizzas and other items to the grill menu. PK General amenities include an indoor stage and a great space to enjoy a fresh pizza and cold beer during the winter. This spring the new owners opened “The Corral,†which is a covered patio for relaxing and enjoying live music. The Morrills also have added a huge stage for larger groups, with dance space and a large area for patrons to bring their own chairs and relax. The outdoor space has room for more than 200 people and can host larger events by flipping the stage so that it faces the yard. PK General Store serves cold beer and wine outside and will add mixed beverages this spring. The business also has added a unique container bar outside for easy access for customers. PK General Store is a place to take the whole family and enjoy live music under the beautiful Palo Pinto skies.
https://www.facebook.com/PKGeneralStore/
2503 Highway 16, Strawn TX 76475
(Entrance to Sportsman’s World)
(940) 659-3394

PK Ice House: PK Ice House is a newcomer to the local food and entertainment scene, opening in August 2021. It features comfortable indoor seating with small gathering spaces for private parties. There’s also a covered outdoor bar with warmers during the winter months. The business also has a huge open yard, with a covered stage and dance space. PK Ice House has a definite Texas vibe, and it’s family friendly and dog friendly outside, too. The music venue features mostly Texas country artists, with additional events throughout the year. The menue is casual, with cold beer and wine available. PK Ice House will be adding full bar service this spring. It offers live music every Friday and Saturday night from March through September, but on Saturdays only during the offseason.
https://pkicehouse.net/
359 FM 2353, Graford TX 76449
(940) 779-2655