By Joel Langton
Lone Star Sounds

A small barbecue joint off Highway 377 in Bluff Dale did something most places never pull off.

It became one of the best listening rooms in Texas.

On May 30, it will close.

Double D BBQ, built by Texas singer-songwriter Dana Deatherage, wasn’t just another roadside stop. It was a place where music came first — where artists weren’t background noise, and where fans showed up to actually listen.

“It’s been a great ride,” Deatherage wrote in an April 29 Facebook post announcing the closure. “We would love for our Double D Family to drop by and celebrate the last month with us.”

“I Gave It My All”

Deatherage’s post reads like a man taking a final look at something he built the right way.

Over the years, Double D racked up more than 600 five-star food reviews and held a 4.9 overall rating. It earned recognition as the No. 1 listening room in the state of Texas, voted on by the public, radio, and artists.

But that’s not what stood out most in his message.

“I love cooking and the musicians, I’ve gotten a lot of soul pay over the years,” he wrote. “I met so many people, made so many new friends and got to host almost all of my favorite singer-songwriters.”

Then the line that hit hardest:

“I did my best. I gave it my all.”

Texas artist Mark Allan Atwood said the loss goes beyond one venue.

“Dana has done everything right — the promotions, the artists, the environment,” Atwood said.

He warned that places like Double D are disappearing, not because they fail, but because support fades.

“If you don’t go to those places and spend your money there,” he said, “you’re choking out the very foundation of the music you love.”

Atwood added that most fans live close enough to venues like this, but often choose bigger shows instead — missing the kind of experience where artists connect directly with the crowd.

“These are the places where the magic happens,” he said.

Atwood’s full rant can be seen here: Be forewarned, Atwood can rant with the best of them. 

Many agreed with Atwood, as the Texas Music Chart Awards and Fort Worth Weekly named them the best listening room in the state in 2025. Read the story here.

One Last Month

For now, Double D is still open.

Live music is scheduled every weekend through May. The full menu will be served. The beer will stay cold.

A closing celebration is planned for May 30, with talk of an all-day open-stage jam — one last run for the artists who helped build the place.

There’s also an August show with Chris Knight that may move to a nearby venue if ticket sales support it. If not, refunds will be issued.

One Last Chance

For the next few weeks, the doors are still open in Bluff Dale.

The stage is still there.

And for a little while longer, you can still sit down, hear a songwriter tell the truth, and be part of something real.

After May 30, that gets a little harder to find.