Alternative Valentine's Day Celebration Draws Music Fans to Growl Records

Punk and metal bands perform at Bloody Valentine show in Arlington, Texas

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In Arlington, Texas, more than 100 people gathered at the independent record store Growl Records to celebrate an alternative Valentine's Day with a concert featuring local punk and metal bands Halfwit, Rekt, Usiris, and Cloudvase. The Bloody Valentine show provided a gritty, distortion-filled contrast to the typical romantic holiday festivities.

Why it matters

The Bloody Valentine concert at Growl Records highlights the vibrant local music scene in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where independent venues and grassroots music communities provide an alternative to mainstream entertainment options. The event also demonstrates how music fans come together to celebrate holidays in their own unique way, fostering a sense of community around shared interests and values.

The details

The Bloody Valentine concert was organized by the local music collective Football Team Creative and featured Halfwit as the headlining act. The show drew a crowd of punk and metal fans who moshed and cheered along to the heavy, distorted sounds. Between sets, attendees gathered outside to take photos in front of a large cardboard heart display, share cigarettes and pizza, and eagerly await the next band to take the stage.

  • The Bloody Valentine concert was held on February 13, 2026, the day before Valentine's Day.
  • Halfwit had recently reformed with a new lineup and was planning to make their comeback in February.

The players

Halfwit

A local band that headlined the Bloody Valentine concert, playing a mix of grunge, post-metal, and self-described "sludgegaze" music.

Football Team Creative

A local music collective that organized the Bloody Valentine event at Growl Records.

Growl Records

An independent record store in Arlington, Texas that hosted the Bloody Valentine concert.

David Groves

The frontman of the band Halfwit.

Aisling Summerlin

A University of Texas at Arlington student who attended the Bloody Valentine concert.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We started the band up again, got a new lineup going and we were prospecting that we were going to come back in February. And at the time, I was like, 'Well, if we're going to come back in February, we should do a Valentine's Day show.'”

— David Groves, Halfwit frontman (arlingtonsentinel.org)

“I love smaller venues where you can feel the bass in your soul. Like, I love it. That's my favorite [expletive deleted]. And everyone's been [expletive deleted] nice. The moshing has been all respectful.”

— Aisling Summerlin, University of Texas at Arlington student (arlingtonsentinel.org)

“I want [the crowd] to feel excited and I want them to feel anticipatory for the next thing. I want them to leave being like, 'Wow, I love local music. Local shows is where it's at.' And I think that they are.”

— Annemarie Van Zelfden, Football Team Director of Membership (arlingtonsentinel.org)

What’s next

The Bloody Valentine concert was a one-time event, but Growl Records and the local music community in Arlington continue to host regular live music performances and events that celebrate the area's vibrant underground music scene.

The takeaway

The Bloody Valentine celebration at Growl Records demonstrates how independent music venues and grassroots music communities can provide an alternative to mainstream entertainment, fostering a sense of belonging and shared passion among fans of punk, metal, and other genres that may not receive as much mainstream attention. The event highlights the importance of supporting local music scenes and the power of music to bring people together, even on a holiday traditionally focused on romantic love.