JAMBALOO Announces 2027 Free Week Festival & Music Prize Dates

Free festival returns to Dallas-Fort Worth Feb. 11–21; submissions for $20,000 album prize opened September 22^nd ahead of June 5 finale at the Longhorn Ballroom

DALLAS, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- JAMBALOO, the Dallas-Fort Worth music initiative backed by Mullen & Mullen Injury Law, today announced the return of its two signature programs in 2027: the JAMBALOO Free Week Festival and the JAMBALOO Music Prize.

The 2027 JAMBALOO Free Week Festival will take place Feb. 11–21, bringing 60+ artists to 15+ independent venues across the DFW Metroplex for free performances and an eclectic mix of genres including indie, electronic, hip-hop, punk, Americana, soul and more. The artist lineup, participating venues and full schedule will be announced in December.

Submissions for the 2027 JAMBALOO Music Prize will open September 22nd at jambaloo.live. The annual competition recognizes the best independent full-length album released by a Dallas-Fort Worth artist and awards its creator $20,000, along with recording, promotional and industry support. There is no fee to enter.

The competition will culminate Saturday, June 5, at the historic Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, where the finalists will perform and the winner will be announced live. Details about eligibility, judging, public voting and the timeline will be available on the website. The complete prize package and the event lineup will be released at a later date.

"Dallas-Fort Worth has extraordinary artists and venues, but talent and hard work alone do not guarantee that an album will be heard or that an independent stage will remain open," said Joe Morrison, JAMBALOO co-founder and attorney at Mullen & Mullen Injury Law. "JAMBALOO Festival brings audiences into the venues where music communities grow, while the Music Prize gives a local artist meaningful resources to keep creating. Together, these programs invest in the people and places that make North Texas music special."

Unlike a traditional festival centered at one site, JAMBALOO Free Week connects independent venues across Dallas and Fort Worth, giving audiences opportunities to discover new artists and explore the rooms that support live music throughout the year.

The 2026 festival drew 8,200 attendees, an increase of 43% from the previous year, expanded from four to 15 venues and generated an estimated $5 million in economic impact. More than $30,000 was also raised for local arts and nonprofit partners.

Fort Worth singer-songwriter Matthew McNeal received the inaugural JAMBALOO Music Prize in 2026 for his album HIGHLONESOME. McNeal earned $20,000 and the opportunity to record at Luminous Sound with four-time Grammy-winning producer and engineer Tre Nagella, along with airplay and promotional support from KXT 91.7, Josey Records and other partners. He was announced as the winner during a packed event at the Longhorn Ballroom headlined by Dallas native Marc Rebillet.

In less than two years, JAMBALOO has grown from a local concert series into a year-round effort supporting the infrastructure behind the Dallas-Fort Worth music community. In addition to Free Week and the Music Prize, JAMBALOO has awarded $20,000 to help an independent venue remain open, invested in arts education and musicians' mental health, and earned the 2025 Obelisk Award for Best New Arts Initiative.  This summer saw the quiet but notable launch of JAMBALOO.live, a stunning online music magazine with world-class ambitions.

For updates about the 2027 Free Week Festival and Music Prize, visit https://jambaloo.live/.

About JAMBALOO:

Founded in 2025, JAMBALOO is a Dallas-Fort Worth-based music initiative dedicated to strengthening the North Texas music ecosystem through festivals, competitive artist awards, venue support programs, local music journalism and direct investment in arts education and musicians' mental health. JAMBALOO programs are supported by Mullen & Mullen Injury Law and a network of regional music, civic and cultural partners.

SOURCE Mullen & Mullen Law Firm