On Thursday night, the Studio at the Bomb Factory pulsed with energy as Citrusfest made its Dallas debut. The showcase brought together Grammy Award-winning producers, emerging Dallas artists, and national industry executives in what many described as a pivotal moment for the city’s cultural future.
Founded by Dallas-based entrepreneur Sydney Peters, Citrusfest was created to bridge the gap between rising talent and the music industry. Originally conceived as an in-person festival but launched virtually during the pandemic, the showcase returned with full force, offering an intentional stage for local artists to share the spotlight with global names.
“Dallas is the largest metro in the South and sits at the center of the country,” Peters said. “This debut isn’t about one night. This is about showing Dallas as a competitive force in global entertainment and music, with the talent and energy to rival any city in America.”
Grammy Winners Meet Local Talent
The lineup proved her point. Heavyweight producers J. White (Beyoncé, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, 21 Savage) and Tre Nagella (Lady Gaga, Kirk Franklin, Travis Scott) headlined the event. At the same time, Dallas’ own rising stars took the stage. Performances included rapper Jason Lyric, pop artist Rachel Teague, R&B visionary Brae Leni, The Voice finalist Danny Joseph, and 2025 Dallas Entertainment Award winner Gracen Wynn.
For Joseph, the night was about more than exposure. “Whether there are five people or 5,000, if your music touches even one person, it’s worth it,” he told Dallas Weekly. “Citrusfest gave us a chance to do that on a big stage in front of people who can help us grow.”
A Platform for Discovery
The showcase drew crowds of fans alongside producers, record label representatives, and influencers scouting the next wave of talent. For artists like Lyric, it represented something Dallas has long needed.
“There are Grammy producers and studio execs in the room,” Lyric said. “Opportunities like this don’t come around often—you have to shoot your shot. Citrusfest reminded me there are hidden gems right here in the city.”
Dallas on the Global Stage
Beyond the music, the event carried larger implications. As Dallas continues to grow rapidly as a center of business, culture, and innovation, Citrusfest offered a glimpse of how the city could also rival Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta as a creative hub.
By uniting established producers with local talent in an intentional, curated setting, the showcase highlighted Dallas’ potential as not just a regional player, but as a global entertainment hub.
Peters confirmed that Citrusfest will return annually, with plans already underway for 2026. For the artists who performed and the industry leaders who attended, last night was more than a concert—it was a statement about Dallas’ place in the future of music and culture.
Despite going head-to-head with one of the busiest nights in Dallas nightlife, the event pulled an impressive crowd and proved its staying power. The energy in the room was undeniable—performances weren’t just background entertainment, they commanded attention, holding the audience from start to finish. That kind of engagement is the ultimate validation for any artist and a testament to the atmosphere the showcase created. Even more remarkable, the vision behind it all comes from a founder still in her mid-twenties. With that kind of ambition fueling a collaborative movement, it’s clear this platform is only at the beginning of its trajectory—and the potential to scale beyond Dallas, even onto a global stage, feels not only possible but inevitable.
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