It shouldn't just be about money. It should be about quality of life with regards to entertainment options for ALL the citizens of OKC. That's one of the biggest drawbacks to moving to and living in Oklahoma in general and OKC in particular is this steadfast refusal to purposefully incorporate different genres of art, music, film etc ( a more diverse politics might also help) into the State and City's landscape to appeal to a broader base. I have nothing against CW, doesn't do it for me, BUT, when it dominates the market like it does in OKC it doesn't present the city in a way that would encourage others from more progressive locals to give OKC a look. Say what you will, but places like Seattle, Portland, Austin, etc are quirky but thats what makes them interesting and causes people (esp younger) to gravitate towards them. Places like Dallas, Houston etc are not necessarily different than OKC in those areas, but what draws people there is JOBS. OKC needs to venture out of its musty old bedroom/ suburban/ mindset to begin to really soar! There is no reason for so many expatriates like me to be away from the State of their birth except that the lack of significant change and options

OKC really is surprisingly diverse, as pointed out in the population thread. What really needs to be improved how cultures and lifestyles other than the dominant one (suburban, white bread, conservative, C&W music) are represented and marketed to in this city. It's getting much better but there is still more ground to cover. That's why having a country music festival and calling it OKCFest, implying its for EVERYONE in OKC, can be seen as a step backward.

I haven't gone through the ENTIRE thread, but it's interesting that the Kick-Off party for the "underwriters" and "special guests", features a jazz band. So, does this mean that there's sufficient sophistication among the affluent (affluent enough to underwrite a fesitval) that they get a jazz band with it's complex arrangements, and melody lines, while the general population is fed three chords, and some chicken-picken on a telecaster?
"Patronizing", in a word.

How long ago?

Also, OKC has never been a big hip-hop town. This city has never (in recent history) been able to support a real hip-hop/r&b radio station so I doubt a hip-hop concert that was tried probably 5-10 years ago is something to go by to determine the viability of bringing in artists that aren't country or classic rock.

103.5 is a hip-hop/R&B station, been around for a while, don't know if they qualify as "real" to you or not, but I listen to them occasionally, seems legit hiphop/R&B. Remembering a show I went to back in the day now - LL Cool J, Whodini, Run-DMC, and the Beastie Boys, sold out the Myriad, great show...

103.5 is a hip-hop/R&B station, been around for a while, don't know if they qualify as "real" to you or not, but I listen to them occasionally, seems legit hiphop/R&B. Remembering a show I went to back in the day now - LL Cool J, Whodini, Run-DMC, and the Beastie Boys, sold out the Myriad, great show...

That station sounds good but it would be nice if you could actually pick them up in OKC. Coverage is very poor to non-existent north of I-40 and east of I-44 unless the weather is right.

That station sounds good but it would be nice if you could actually pick them up in OKC. Coverage is very poor to non-existent north of I-40 and east of I-44 unless the weather is right.

I believe we get it just fine on NW 164th and May/Penn-ish in the wife's car, in any weather (I don't listen to the radio in the car, just CDs/MP3s). I'll try to remember to check on the way home today, though.

More of the lineup has been announced, and yes, there's *a bit* of variety - a gospel stage and a "Rock en Espanol" stage. Still leans very heavily towards country, western, folk (guy/girl with a guitar), and there is actually a whole stage dedicated to bluegrass, which is surprising

I believe we get it just fine on NW 164th and May/Penn-ish in the wife's car, in any weather (I don't listen to the radio in the car, just CDs/MP3s). I'll try to remember to check on the way home today, though.

Oh yeah, finally remembered to reply, we do get 103.5 up where we live and around that area running errands...

For everyone that was wanting some diversity in music:
Saturday night at deadCENTER, the documentary Take Me to the River will be showing and after there will be a special concert.

"Join the musicians featured in the film Take Me to the River after the screening for a very special encore concert at the Myriad Gardens Water Plaza.
The concert will include:
Stax Record Legend William Bell, Grammy Nominee Otis Clay, Academy Award Winner Frayser Boy formerly of Three 6 Mafia, Critics Choice Award winner Al Kapone, 13 piece house band lead by The Hi Rhythm Section and Ben Cauley and the Royal Memphis Horns, Stephanie Bolton and Memphis rapper Ify, Stax Music Academy students and more!"

For everyone that was wanting some diversity in music:
Saturday night at deadCENTER, the documentary Take Me to the River will be showing and after there will be a special concert.

"Join the musicians featured in the film Take Me to the River after the screening for a very special encore concert at the Myriad Gardens Water Plaza.
The concert will include:
Stax Record Legend William Bell, Grammy Nominee Otis Clay, Academy Award Winner Frayser Boy formerly of Three 6 Mafia, Critics Choice Award winner Al Kapone, 13 piece house band lead by The Hi Rhythm Section and Ben Cauley and the Royal Memphis Horns, Stephanie Bolton and Memphis rapper Ify, Stax Music Academy students and more!"

Man, that sounds good, I'm actually listening to the Complete Stax-Volt Singles sets in my car currently. Wish I could go, but wife's mom is visiting that weekend and just can't make it, dammit!

OKC really is surprisingly diverse, as pointed out in the population thread. What really needs to be improved how cultures and lifestyles other than the dominant one (suburban, white bread, conservative, C&W music) are represented and marketed to in this city. It's getting much better but there is still more ground to cover. That's why having a country music festival and calling it OKCFest, implying its for EVERYONE in OKC, can be seen as a step backward.

That's Oklahoma City... an extremely risk-adverse and very "safe bet" town. We always go for the least expensive sure thing when it comes to anything involving money. That goes for most businesses here or the city itself. OKC = the Minimum Viable Product of cities.

Accept it for what it is, realize it is never going to change and is just part of the culture here, deal with what that means, and you'll sleep better at night tomorrow.

It is easy to spend other's people money when you have nothing on the line.

That's Oklahoma City... an extremely risk-adverse and very "safe bet" town. We always go for the least expensive sure thing when it comes to anything involving money. That goes for most businesses here or the city itself. OKC = the Minimum Viable Product of cities.

Accept it for what it is, realize it is never going to change and is just part of the culture here, deal with what that means, and you'll sleep better at night tomorrow.

OKC does indeed dream grand, when the city lords are doing it with taxpayer money.
You're right about safe bet involving $. Did you see the bricktown Blues fest lineup? Otis Watkins Sat headliner?! Noting against Otis, he's ok, but a decade ago he would have been the 6pm act getting everyone warmed up for the exciting national acts to follow. Obviously someone did the calculation and figuere they'd sell as much BBQ booking cheap local acts, putting bottom line ahead of a special event we could be proud of. Tulsa doesn't have their spring blues fest anymore. Here's a chance for OKC to reverse the traffic of live music fans on the turnpike, and they put on this turkey. Again, noting against Scott Keeton et al, but I've seen them a dozen times. Huge blues fan here and this won't even cause me to drive up from Norman. I've rented a room downtown in the past to make a fun time of it- sigh.

Wait...you live in NORMAN? Why then did/do you show so much heated interest in the politics of Oklahoma City?

Wait...you live in NORMAN? Why then did/do you show so much heated interest in the politics of Oklahoma City?

OKC always claims Norman. Cornett spoke here and said Norman benifits from what's happening in downtown OKC(rolly eyes)
Anyway, grew up in MWC, mom lives NW OKC- I'm qualified, and really am truely bummed out about the Bricktown Blues Fest. Used to very much look forward to it, but it's not valued anymore for some reason.

ACM@UCO to Present Bandshell Stage Featuring Wanda Jackson at 'OKCFEST' (http://broncho2.uco.edu/press/prdetail.asp?NewsID=17572)


ACM@UCO TO PRESENT BANDSHELL STAGE FEATURING WANDA JACKSON AT ‘OKCFEST’

The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) will present a stage with headlining act Wanda Jackson at the first-annual OKCFEST, Oklahoma’s premier outdoor music festival, June 27–29 in downtown Oklahoma City at the cross section of S. Robinson Ave. and W. Reno Ave. in the Myriad Gardens.

The OKCFEST main stage will feature notable country music headlining acts including Dierks Bentley, Merle Haggard, Lady Antebellum, Scotty McCreery, and Randy Rogers Band, among others.

While access to the main stage performances requires a ticket, OKCFEST will include free access to other stages featuring a variety of local musicians, like the ACM@UCO Bandshell Stage, Saturday, June 28. Bands comprised of ACM@UCO students and graduates will perform starting at noon leading up to the headlining act, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wanda Jackson.

The band lineup includes Air Line Road at noon, The Broken Okies at 1 p.m., Jennifay Joy and Diamond Grit at 2 p.m., Mountain Smoke at 3 p.m., Carter Beckworth at 4 p.m., The Hideouts at 5 p.m., Aaron Pierce at 6 p.m. and Wanda Jackson at 7 p.m.

The ACM@UCO Bandshell Stage is located in the Myriad Gardens between Sheridan and Reno avenues.

ACM@UCO-affiliated acts will perform in the Cox Tent located in the Myriad Gardens at Robinson Ave., just west of The Ice House June 27-28. Acts include Kaitlin Butts, Chase Kerby, Mike Hosty, Green Corn Revival, and Graham Colton, among others.

“ACM@UCO is thrilled to be a part of the first-ever OKCFEST and to present the ACM@UCO Bandshell Stage. Being able to perform in the festival setting with heritage artists such as Wanda Jackson and Byron Berline is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students,” said Scott Booker, CEO of ACM@UCO.

“We are also glad to help out with booking local talent for the Bandshell Stage and Cox Tent to provide local cutting-edge artists with the opportunity to get involved in the festival.”

The Queen of Rockabilly.

OKC always claims Norman. Cornett spoke here and said Norman benifits from what's happening in downtown OKC(rolly eyes)
Anyway, grew up in MWC, mom lives NW OKC- I'm qualified, and really am truely bummed out about the Bricktown Blues Fest. Used to very much look forward to it, but it's not valued anymore for some reason.

So, you don't think Norman benefits from what is happening in DT OKC?

Something more like this?
Center of the Universe Festival - 2014 Main Stage Bands Announced (http://centeroftheuniversefestival.com/2014-main-stage-bands-announced/)

80,000 people went last year. It was a good time.

Philip Kaiser? Related to George Kaiser?

I think the ones that are upset is the millenials, like myself. Okc professes to trying to change and be this cultural place. Then they go off and pull a music festival like this. That's not cultural, nor is it appealing to the millenials they are trying to move here. It's the exact opposite. Okc wants to be seen as this new hip city. Bad way of doing it. Mick needs to step aside and let the younger crowd pick the musicians. I linked what most in my generation see as a great music festival.

If okc is trying to aspire and be like ACL, they did it all wrong. Just frustrated to see okcfestival 2014 and click to see it's just like a state fair concert event.

Oklahoma City already hosts a Deep Deuce Blues Festival which is a pretty cool thing.

Norman has a Jazz in June and a 4 day Norman Music Fest, which features a lot of Gen X bands so the area gets coverage.
Nothing wrong with a C-W fest, also. It's not like having a C-W music fest precludes OKC from also having a separate event
which features younger and more current music.

Philip Kaiser? Related to George Kaiser?

It's his son.

Funny fact, Tim Blake Nelson, from O' Brother Where Art Thou? is George Kaiser's nephew.

Oklahoma City already hosts a Deep Deuce Blues Festival which is a pretty cool thing.

Norman has a Jazz in June and a 4 day Norman Music Fest, which features a lot of Gen X bands so the area gets coverage.
Nothing wrong with a C-W fest, also. It's not like having a C-W music fest precludes OKC from also having a separate event
which features younger and more current music.

You are correct. The OKC area has a lot of music festivals that aren't country oriented.

As has already been said, I don't think there would be as much dislike towards this if it was called something other than OKCFest. Having a C&W festival and calling it OKCFest helps re-enforce a stereotype the city is trying to leave behind or simply diversify from.

I don't know why I was expecting the ACM@UCO announcement to distract from the OKCFest = C&W narrative. Hopeless optimism I guess.

FYI VIP tickets for okcfest are 450

The lineup:

Lineup — OKC Fest — Oklahoma's Premier Outdoor Music Festival — June 27-28, 2014 (http://okcfest.com/lineup.php)

This starts tomorrow; stage is up:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/okcfest.JPG

Yee-haw! This is kind of funny, from First OKCFest showcases national, regional and Oklahoma musical talent | News OK (http://newsok.com/first-okcfest-showcases-national-regional-and-oklahoma-musical-talent/article/4969004)

"Plus, a diverse (emphasis mine) slate of Oklahoma talents playing on an array of free stages in the Myriad Botanical Gardens will take OKCFest beyond country and into rock, folk, bluegrass, gospel, jazz and rock en Espanol."

Um, folk and bluegrass can be pretty much lumped in with country (yes, I know they're completely different styles and have different histories, etc., but for practical purposes, they're closely related to country), so that leaves rock, gospel, jazz as being "diverse". Guess so, in the most literal sense of the word, but man, there's soooooooooo many more types of music out there than that. Admittedly, they won't draw all the fans that country will here in OKC, but I wouldn't classify this as a diverse festival. At least they're being upfront about it being OKCountryFest now, though. Little steps, I suppose, we'll see how decountry-ed the fest gets in the next few years...

As I've said before, and have been attacked for saying it, there is nothing wrong with having a country music festival. They should call it something other than OKCFest though. Its my hope that in future years, if it remains a country music festival that it gets renamed to something that reflects that. I know country is the preferred genre of the majority of people who live in OKC but there are people here who don't like it and something with a name like OKCFest should represent the entire city.

This navel gazing about the name, the lineup, etc. is pretty ridiculous at this point. It's happening, let it go.

I will have a good laugh at your expense when this concert is successful, as I expect it to be.

This navel gazing about the name, the lineup, etc. is pretty ridiculous at this point. It's happening, let it go.

I will have a good laugh at your expense when this concert is successful, as I expect it to be.

Not at my expense, I expect it to be wildly successful, they expect 60,000, never said it wouldn't be. Funny enough, it being successful is part of the reason I don't like it, just reinforces that country is the #1 thing around here, in lots of aspects, which I get tired of.

Read some questions and comments on OKCFest fb page and no outside water is allowed in but that there will be water for purchase inside. They also said no re-entry, so you cant go in, then leave for a bit to go see some of the free shows and then come back. Also, no blankets or chairs allowed. So you have a 93 degree day and you are trapped on a parking lot with no shade, comfortable place to sit and the only water you want you have to purchase...sounds incredibly miserable.

Hope the weather holds out tomorrow for the concert. I think venture was showing there was a chance of more severe storms in the afternoon.

Yea the lineup for tonight looks like fantastic weather, save for the stupid wind.

Tomorrow looks like a soupy day with upper 80s to low 90s and HIGH humidity. Then potentially supercells moving into C OK by around Antebellum.

This starts tomorrow; stage is up:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/okcfest.JPG

I see Green parcels of land in this photo.. however they set the stage up in a concrete parking lot. that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. and if they aren't allowing people to come and go from the main stage as someone stated then I don't see the point of touting the free stages with diverse music acts because anyone attending the main stage cannot leave and enjoy other acts. am I missing something?. I am not a big country fan but if they are going to have the festival they should work a bit harder at making it appealing. I do plan on going down to see Wanda Jackson tomorrow evening.

Just checked out the website for myself.. lots of craziness in the planning of this in my opinion. it is true once inside the main stage area you cannot leave and re-enter. You can have blankets and chairs at the other stages in myriad gardens but not in the main stage area. It seems had they put the main stage on the grass at 3rd and hudson and faced it to the east or west it would not only be on grass and more cool it would also allow a sound buffer.. facing the stage to the north will leave little sound buffer between main stage and the Myriad gardens.

Not at my expense, I expect it to be wildly successful, they expect 60,000, never said it wouldn't be. Funny enough, it being successful is part of the reason I don't like it, just reinforces that country is the #1 thing around here, in lots of aspects, which I get tired of.

I am a bigger fan of OKC than I am of any music genre. If we get 60K people in downtown spending $ and having a good time thats a win in my book.

You should really take your complaints up with the owners of venues and promoters who do a half-assed job bringing acts into this city, as well as the citizentry who do an even bigger half assed attempt at supporting what little comes. Not these people, who are actually trying to create something with enough success that it can be improved upon in the future. Just my 0.02.

I am a bigger fan of OKC than I am of any music genre. If we get 60K people in downtown spending $ and having a good time thats a win in my book.

You should really take your complaints up with the owners of venues and promoters who do a half-assed job bringing acts into this city, as well as the citizentry who do an even bigger half assed attempt at supporting what little comes. Not these people, who are actually trying to create something with enough success that it can be improved upon in the future. Just my 0.02.

Exactly how would I go about that? How do I convince the citizens of OKC to go to shows they normally wouldn't go to and promoters to bring in more, different acts? I don't have a personal fortune to give to promoters and say "Here, do what you can to bring this act here" and then to say to the OKCitians "Here are a bunch of free tickets, go see them, promote more diversity in our live music scene". That might be about the only way to do it, and that might not even work (at the risk of being flamed to death, I'll say this - based on decades of personal observation, people that like country music are pretty averse to a lot of other genres, except classic rock). I don't have a personal fortune to start a new promotion company to bring those acts in, either, but damn, I wish I did.

Not really sure what I can do as one citizen without much money or power (just like a lot of things that I believe are beyond my control that still frustrate the hell out of me), although I did get them to change the promotion of it from "Oklahoma's Premiere Outdoor Music Festival" to "Oklahoma's Premier Outdoor Music Festival" (but it should never have gotten past any proofreaders). :-D

..I know country is the preferred genre of the majority of people who live in OKC...

How exactly did you decide this? You took a poll? If I were to label OKC as any one thing in particular I would probably call it a classic rock town.

Man, that's about the fourth post in this thread today I've written up and then deleted on account of not really wanting to pick a fight.

what's the over/under non-caucasians at OKCfest?double digits?

Just go away Edgar.

what's the over/under non-caucasians at OKCfest?double digits?

What's the over/under on the amount of times Edgar complains about this concert?

For a festival that many here claimed would only attract coal rolling rednecks, I have seen lots of tweets and instagrams tonight from all types, including Barons players and other non natives. Hate the music if you will (I like it but I would t mind more diversity myself) but this event is a huge plus.

Disappointed about not allowing outside water. It's balls hot, thinks of patron safety before profits for a moment

What was the estimated attendance. It looks from photos maybe to not have met projections

What was the estimated attendance. It looks from photos maybe to not have met projections

I have a bunch of friends that went down for the weekend from KC for this, and they texted me last night saying it was pretty packed. I think I saw somewhere that there was around 20K+ at the main stage when JAB finished his set, but don't quote me on that.

On a side note, my buddies have only been down to OKC a couple times and they're staying DT for the concerts all weekend. They kept sending me pictures throughout the day as they were making their rounds DT and kept telling me how cool OKC is.

Was anyone else there last night? I thought I heard Merle welcome Robert Earl Keen to the stage for "Okie from Muskogee", although I couldn't tell if it was actually him. Can anyone else verify this/tell me I'm crazy?

H&8th --> Ambassador --> OKCFest... just one of many "I don't feel like I'm in OKC" moments.

Was anyone else there last night? I thought I heard Merle welcome Robert Earl Keen to the stage for "Okie from Muskogee", although I couldn't tell if it was actually him. Can anyone else verify this/tell me I'm crazy?

it was toby keith. there's a pic on newsok.com.

I'm afraid the weather today will deter people from attending. Hopefully it clears up for this evening.

I'm apparently not in the target audience for this event. Literally two people have said anything positive about it on my Facebook feed, and I think both of them are affiliated and / or volunteers for the organizers.

This seems like a good idea if there were actually diversity of talent.

Hang on... ...you're using your FACEBOOK FEED as a barometer of cool? LOL

Seriously, I know patience is not the long suit of posters on this board, but after a conversation I had the other day I now believe even more strongly that the event is going to grow into a strong multi-genre festival in future years.

It was country-heavy this year mostly because there was a short ramp-up and because Fred Hall has developed some strong Nashville connections that allowed them to get some A-list country acts with not a lot of advance notice and without a track record, neither of which will be an issue in the future. They fully-intend to have a more well-rounded lineup going forward. I know that hearing this won't be good enough for a lot of folks here, but it's good enough for me.

I had a dream last night that Incubus and Metallica were going to headline OKCFest 2015.

Too country oriented for me.

That's fine if that's what they want to play, different strokes for different blokes. Just not my thing, I'd attend if there were some other genres. I know several other people who have said the same thing.

I had a dream last night that Incubus and Metallica were going to headline OKCFest 2015.

This would be sweet.

I'm afraid the weather today will deter people from attending. Hopefully it clears up for this evening.

Yep only 30k or so

Downtown, Bricktown, and the river area were packed tonight. I caught Wanda's concert and it was a lot of fun. She still has a very strong voice and was spot on in all of her songs. Her audience was surprisingly young also.

8414
8415

I didn't stay for the fireworks but the river was really hopping with all kinds of activity. Anyone who didn't have fun downtown today had to be trying hard not to.

8416
8417
8418

In addition to the two festivals there was a baseball game tonight at the Brick and a dog show happening at the convention center.

It was packed. It was fun. Bright days ahead to hell with the negativity.

Music fans fill venues for first OKCFest | News OK (http://newsok.com/music-fans-fill-venues-for-first-okcfest/article/4983956)


“This is amazing that all this has come together in four months and the first time we’ve ever tried to do it,” OKCFest founder Fred Hall told The Oklahoman on Friday. “I think Oklahoma City will all unite, from every area of Oklahoma City, behind music. Let’s bring Oklahoma City together more and more, and this could be a great way to do it.”



Organizers of the festival plan to do it again next summer, with more acts and genres. Hall said he wants to add more rock music for next time. Chase Kerby said he thought continuing the festival would be a good idea for the city.

Hang on... ...you're using your FACEBOOK FEED as a barometer of cool? LOL

Seriously, I know patience is not the long suit of posters on this board, but after a conversation I had the other day I now believe even more strongly that the event is going to grow into a strong multi-genre festival in future years.

It was country-heavy this year mostly because there was a short ramp-up and because Fred Hall has developed some strong Nashville connections that allowed them to get some A-list country acts with not a lot of advance notice and without a track record, neither of which will be an issue in the future. They fully-intend to have a more well-rounded lineup going forward. I know that hearing this won't be good enough for a lot of folks here, but it's good enough for me.

Why is Fred Hall a concert promoter? Do you think Fred Hall is a barometer of "cool?" It is what it is. Not my cup of tea. Hope you had a great time.

Where did I say Fred Hall was a barometer of cool? He's just the financial backer who in this case also had a bunch of Nashville connections. I WILL say that I am glad that there (for the first time I am aware of) is a very wealthy guy who is taking an interest in the OKC music scene. Seems like a positive development to me.

Appears in hindsight that the Nashville connections came in handy thanks to the short run up and no event history to sell. Barring that Wanda Jackson might have been the headliner. Or Foghat. Next year they'll have more time AND more industry credibility. And it says right there in black and white that they specifically want more diversity going forward. I don't get the pervasive negativity.

And by the way, I didn't attend. Not my cup of tea. :D

...just reinforces that country is the #1 thing around here...


Duh! Why would anyone have any other kind of festival here unless they just wanted to throw their money away? lol