Country stars coming to Oklahoma City in June for OKCFEST 2014

Some of country music’s biggest stars will headline a new summer music festival coming to downtown Oklahoma City in June.

FROM STAFF REPORTS • Published: April 10, 2014

Country music stars Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley and Merle Haggard will headline OKCFEST 2014, a new summer music festival dreamt up by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and business leader Fred Hall.

The four-day festival is expected to draw 30,000 people to downtown Oklahoma City in late June, organizers said Thursday morning when plans for OKCFEST 2014 were unveiled.

“Something special is going on in Oklahoma City,” Hall said. “OKCFEST will be a kick-off party to celebrate Oklahoma City’s planned Core to Shore downtown park and new convention center and will give festivalgoers an exciting glimpse of what is possible in the years ahead as this event and downtown evolve together.

“Our event site is literally at the epicenter of these future transformational attractions for our city.”

The festival begins June 26, when renowned jazz vocalist Steve Tyrell and his 8-piece band will kick-off the weekend with an exclusive and independently ticketed Thursday night show for festival underwriters, sponsors and their special guests.

The festival’s first-year line-up resulted from a collaborative effort between Hall and Victor Sansone, the former ABC radio executive and past chairman of the Country Music Association who is serving as a consultant to OKCFEST.

Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Merle Haggard, Randy Rogers, Kix Brooks, Josh Abbott, Casey Donahew and Scotty McCreery will perform on the OKCFEST’s Main Stage on June 27 and 28.

Additional music and other entertainment events on three nearby Myriad Garden stages will be free to the public Friday through Sunday afternoons and evenings, with preferred seating at each stage reserved for those with OKCFEST passes.

One-day and two-day passes for the main stage event area, which will feature food, beverage and unique shopping throughout OKCFEST, go on sale this month one the OKCFEST Festival Website. Tickets are $35 per day and $59 for two-day passes.

“The OKCFEST 2014 is a reflection of the incredible aspirational vision of our business leadership in Oklahoma City,” Cornett said. “The variety of the entertainment offering at the first annual OKCFEST 2014 shows the growing diversity of our community.

“As evident by the big plans for OKCFEST 2014, our city’s national and international standing as a place where arts and culture can flourish continues to grow.”

Country stars coming to Oklahoma City in June for OKCFEST 2014 | News OK (http://newsok.com/country-stars-coming-to-oklahoma-city-in-june-for-okcfest-2014/article/3953811)

OKCFest?

Underwhelmed with the country bent, but I understand this fits the market in some ways. Good for downtown in terms of bringing people down to spend some dough and program the area.

I assume this will be on the property owned by Hall -- the future convention center site immediately south of the Myriad Gardens.

OKC Fest ? Oklahoma's Premiere Outdoor Music Festival ? June 27 - 28, 2014 (http://okcfest.com/)

Underwhelmed with the country bent, but I understand this fits the market in some ways. Good for downtown in terms of bringing people down to spend some dough and program the area.

Agree. This likely won't be appealing to those who don't like country or redneck culture, but it fits OKC like a glove and will be great for downtown business.

country or redneck culture

These are two completely separate things.

Lots of people like country music and aren't rednecks. You'd be surprised by how many friends I have in Cali who love country.

These are two completely separate things.

Lots of people like country music and aren't rednecks. You'd be surprised by how many friends I have in Cali who love country.

I was extremely surprised to hear the amount of Country music that I have up here in Halifax.

As much as I can appreciate country music, I am not a huge fan so I won't be attending but I think it is great for the city and will bring people from all over to see it. I really wish they went all out and got an artist that could appeal to more people as a put us on the map kind of thing like Aerosmith or Paul McCartney. One can dream.

It says "first annual" so hopefully there will be other types of music represented in future years.

This is a huge deal. I bet it draws 50,000 easily. Month of June could be busy for downtown if the thunder make the finals.

As much as I can appreciate country music, I am not a huge fan so I won't be attending but I think it is great for the city and will bring people from all over to see it. I really wish they went all out and got an artist that could appeal to more people as a put us on the map kind of thing like Aerosmith or Paul McCartney. One can dream.I was quite amazed, some 60 years ago while visiting Tulsa, to stop by a small bar where a fellow was blowing piano and sounding very much a member of the "modern jazz" mainstream -- and then I learned that he was a guitarist with Bob Wills!

He pointed out that professional musicians have to eat, and consequently most of them will work at whatever gig will bring in their bean money. I'm sure that rule still applies today. For example, some of the best country artists began as rock musicians -- I mean Kenny Rogers, the Oak Ridge Boys, and I'm sure there are others -- and I just finished writing up an article for my alumni association's magazine about an opera tenor who performed at the Met 89 times, one of whose students has now conbined classic opera and rock music to become one of the latest innovators.

And the C&W genre isn't the only thing for which OKC is known -- we also had Charlie Christian, and an annual festival celebrating his legacy!

The oak ridge boys started as a country gospel band

As a music fan, this sounds terrible.
As a supporter of downtown this sounds great. This crap sells.

Look at two of the oldest and biggest clubs in town. Country music is still very popular here. Grahams has been here forever and Cowboys has been going strong under various different names for several decades also. These are huge clubs. Get outside of the metro schools and look at the strength of the FFA clubs and ag programs. I see nothing wrong with the choice of music as it will bring in a huge crowd from the rural areas which will mean lots of outside money coming in to OKC.

I like country music and if it helps downtown OKC, bring it on.

These are two completely separate things.

Lots of people like country music and aren't rednecks. You'd be surprised by how many friends I have in Cali who love country.

We have rednecks in Cali, too. We rednecks are EVERYWHERE (ever been to rural Maryland?)! We're in Mexico, too, per Gabriel Iglesias, but don't listen to country.

As a music fan with eclectic tastes, I'm all for this.

Would really like to see Merle. I could go for a classic/outlaw country stage.

Not excited.

It says "first annual" so hopefully there will be other types of music represented in future years.

Sadly, they have some country music chairman doing the scouring and pulling in the artists. Don't bet on it being anymore diverse. Definitely not going to appeal to those millenials that okc is trying to attract. Way to pander to stereotypes.

Sadly, they have some country music chairman doing the scouring and pulling in the artists. Don't bet on it being anymore diverse. Definitely not going to appeal to those millenials that okc is trying to attract. Way to pander to stereotypes.

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.

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.
I just moved from Delaware. They started FireFly Festival about 3 years ago. It's huge now. So...
More like this.....https://fireflyfestival.com/lineup/

Merle and several known to exceptionally well known country/pop artists.

I like Merle. Don't hate the others, but prefer the sounds of Little Big Town and Sara Evans to any of the rest of those signed for the event.

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.

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.

Completely agree.

There is actually nothing wrong with having a festival like this. One of Charlotte's largest festivals is Speedstreet, which celebrates NASCAR. However, they also have a decent live music/concert scene and other festivals geared towards the younger generation. They have a wide variety of cultural events and if you don't like country music, you can very easily avoid it. It's not so easy here. OKC's music scene is terrible for a city this size unless you like, you guessed it, country music.

So you guys are upset that a music festival organized by a mayor and a rich guy isn't hip...gotcha.

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.

So, if the event doesn't cater to your taste, then we are not cultural or it is just another state fair event? There is a reason that Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors. There is a reason country music sells out concerts at the peake the same way that other music genres do. If you don't like country, don't go. These are not exactly state fair bands. Lady Antebellum was the headline at BOK last month and is a 7 time Grammy winner. Dierks Bentley has had 10 #1 hits and was nominated for a grammy in 2013. Kix Brooks started back his solo career in 2012 but before that he was half of Brooks and Dunn which has sold more than 30 million records and won more CMA and ACM awards than any other person/group in country music history. Merle is Merle and noting more needs to be said.

So, if the event doesn't cater to your taste, then we are not cultural or it is just another state fair event? There is a reason that Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors. There is a reason country music sells out concerts at the peake the same way that other music genres do. If you don't like country, don't go. These are not exactly state fair bands. Lady Antebellum was the headline at BOK last month and is a 7 time Grammy winner. Dierks Bentley has had 10 #1 hits and was nominated for a grammy in 2013. Kix Brooks started back his solo career in 2012 but before that he was half of Brooks and Dunn which has sold more than 30 million records and won more CMA and ACM awards than any other person/group in country music history. Merle is Merle and noting more needs to be said.
Missed the point completely. Country is just fine. Why not have The Black Keys, Macklemore, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley and a Weezer type band be the headliners. Mix different genres like ACL does, and every other music festival? Nothing wrong with that. That is my point. Plus, it's much more appealing to the masses.

Disclaimer: I just spit balled bands off the top of my head in different genres. Not saying id want to see them.

Agree. This likely won't be appealing to those who don't like country or redneck culture, but it fits OKC like a glove and will be great for downtown business.

Man come the hell on, you are one of the worst when it comes to cramming everything into a stereotype.

Coov your first post here just soundse typical east coast snobbery, "uh why isn't here more accommodating to what everyone else likes" type dribble. You are complaining that people here don't open up to other genres. Here is a thought, why don't you open up to what's been popular here and give it a shot? I love your most recent post though, a mix of different Genres would be great, I say give it some time, we'll get there.

Missed the point completely. Country is just fine. Why not have The Black Keys, Macklemore, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley and a Weezer type band be the headliners. Mix different genres like ACL does, and every other music festival? Nothing wrong with that. That is my point. Plus, it's much more appealing to the masses.

Disclaimer: I just spit balled bands off the top of my head in different genres. Not saying id want to see them.

Give it time maybe? This is just the first year and going with well known country artists makes sense to get it established. I can see it evolving into something more like you describe in time.

Coov your first post here just soundse typical east coast snobbery, "uh why isn't here more accommodating to what everyone else likes" type dribble. You are complaining that people here don't open up to other genres. Here is a thought, why don't you open up to what's been popular here and give it a shot? I love your most recent post though, a mix of different Genres would be great, I say give it some time, we'll get there.

Haha! I'm from okc. Born and raised. Waiting for a political comment from you next. I'll save you the typing time by stating I'm a republican. So, there goes your liberal leg you were standing on.

I lived up there for 4 years while I was in the Air Force. I say I'm republican, but I pretty moderate, actually.

The oak ridge boys started as a country gospel bandTrue of the group, but several of the individuals began in rock.

Haha! I'm from okc. Born and raised. Waiting for a political comment from you next. I'll save you the typing time by stating I'm a republican. So, there goes your liberal leg you were standing on.

I lived up there for 4 years while I was in the Air Force. I say I'm republican, but I pretty moderate, actually.

Then you and I have more in common probably than what you think

I have a problem with them advertising this as an "All Genres" music festival when the only genre advertised is country! There's nothing wrong with country music, not my cup of tee personally but, I digress, its very misleading when the news is comparing this to Bonaroo or ACL. This lineup pales in comparison to those festivals, hell, Tulsa's Center of the Universe Fest and NMF both have better lineups than this. Whats the point of calling it all-genres if your not gonna book one popular act outside of country music. I mean, not even the Flaming Lips, Hinder, AAR, or smaller bands like Horse Thief or Pretty Black Chains and those are just locals. And god forbid there be Hip-hop or Pop music there. Ughh!!! -end rant

I have a problem with them advertising this as an "All Genres" music festival when the only genre advertised is country! There's nothing wrong with country music, not my cup of tee personally but, I digress, its very misleading when the news is comparing this to Bonaroo or ACL. This lineup pales in comparison to those festivals, hell, Tulsa's Center of the Universe Fest and NMF both have better lineups than this. Whats the point of calling it all-genres if your not gonna book one popular act outside of country music. I mean, not even the Flaming Lips, Hinder, AAR, or smaller bands like Horse Thief or Pretty Black Chains and those are just locals. And god forbid there be Hip-hop or Pop music there. Ughh!!! -end rant

I didn't see it advertised as an all genre event so I missed that part. The article that links on here does state that it will kick off with a jazz musician on the first night and that there will be other stages with other entertainment going on throughout festival so who knows what other bands or genres will be there. I had to go back and look though as it is easy to miss these other comments as it most certainly comes off at face value as an all country event. Hopefully they will get some other genres as not only will it pull more people but will hopefully open other people's mind to toher genres if they wander into one of the areas they weren't there to see.

I didn't see it advertised as an all genre event so I missed that part. The article that links on here does state that it will kick off with a jazz musician on the first night and that there will be other stages with other entertainment going on throughout festival so who knows what other bands or genres will be there. I had to go back and look though as it is easy to miss these other comments as it most certainly comes off at face value as an all country event. Hopefully they will get some other genres as not only will it pull more people but will hopefully open other people's mind to toher genres if they wander into one of the areas they weren't there to see.

You're correct. It has not been advertised that way and I think they are starting out by emphasizing what will be sure fire attention getters. It's just not always possible to start a major new event that will be everything for everyone. Give it time people!!!!

I didn't see it advertised as an all genre event so I missed that part. The article that links on here does state that it will kick off with a jazz musician on the first night and that there will be other stages with other entertainment going on throughout festival so who knows what other bands or genres will be there. I had to go back and look though as it is easy to miss these other comments as it most certainly comes off at face value as an all country event. Hopefully they will get some other genres as not only will it pull more people but will hopefully open other people's mind to toher genres if they wander into one of the areas they weren't there to see.

It was advertised as all genres by the Mayor on the news this evening. I hope it does turn out to be an awesome festival but, as of now, I am not interested in attending at all. I am a musician and my taste of music varies greatly but, country music (and heavy metal/skreamo) is one of those genres I find difficult to enjoy. I was so excited to hear there was a "big" music festival in the city but this is not what I was expecting, plus I just went to SXSW last month so I may be a bit jaded.

You're correct. It has not been advertised that way and I think they are starting out by emphasizing what will be sure fire attention getters. It's just not always possible to start a major new event that will be everything for everyone. Give it time people!!!!

Those acts sure fire attention getters? Maybe for country acts. Here is a lineup with some sure fire attention getters Bonnaroo (http://lineup.bonnaroo.com/)

It was advertised as all genres by the Mayor on the news this evening. I hope it does turn out to be an awesome festival but, as of now, I am not interested in attending at all. I am a musician and my taste of music varies greatly but, country music (and heavy metal/skreamo) is one of those genres I find difficult to enjoy. I was so excited to hear there was a "big" music festival in the city but this is not what I was expecting, plus I just went to SXSW last month so I may be a bit jaded.

There was a link in the initial post with a video with extensive comments by Mayor Cornett. He didn't once say anything about all genres. As I said before this is a first time event. People should give it some time to build into something for everyone.

Those acts sure fire attention getters? Maybe for country acts. Here is a lineup with some sure fire attention getters Bonnaroo (http://lineup.bonnaroo.com/)

I have heard of five of those bands. I would be willing to bet that most people in OK are more familiar with the line up here than that line up. Also, they have the previous line up for previous years and look at the first year's line up in 2002. Much much smaller. It has grown over 12 years hopefully much like OKCfest will. As I don't know most of those bands...I can't say how many different genres are involved but I certainly didn't see anything that was a country or red dirt band that I recognized. One again...31 flavors. You don't have to eat the pistachio but apparently enough people like it to keep it out there as an option.

There was a link in the initial post with a video with extensive comments by Mayor Cornett. He didn't once say anything about all genres. As I said before this is a first time event. People should give it some time to build into something for everyone.

Christ, no kidding. The amount of butthurt in this thread over a country lineup is astounding.

It will BECOME a multi-genre event in subsequent years, and will also be growing into multi-stage and multi-venue including places like venues in Bricktown. I am confident of this. The reason I'm confident? I've known about the event for a number of months, having been told about it in a meeting by Scott Booker, director of ACM@UCO and manager of the Flaming Lips. Scott said that the plan was to enter the market with a country focus initially and then grow it quickly into a wide-ranging, multi-genre and multi-stage festival comparable to others around the country.

Scott should know, as he was involved in the planning and as Fred Hall is a big supporter of what Scott is doing at ACM. The announcement and lineup is EXACTLY as described in the meeting months ago, including the location of the festival and specific artists like Merle Haggard and Lady Antebellum, so I don't doubt for a second the veracity of the other details he shared. I know that Scott has for many years wanted to see a quality festival take root in OKC (we talked about it at length close to a decade ago), and he was pretty excited about this one when discussing it, so that's good enough for me.

I agree about the name being a little bland; perhaps that is viewed as a placeholder for now.

Those acts sure fire attention getters? Maybe for country acts. Here is a lineup with some sure fire attention getters Bonnaroo (http://lineup.bonnaroo.com/)

Surefire attention getters to the hipster crowd. People that attend Bonnaroo probably take pride in people NOT knowing who is playing at the festivals they attend, isn't that what they're all about, not mainstream stuff? :)

It will BECOME a multi-genre event in subsequent years, and will also be growing into multi-stage and multi-venue including places like venues in Bricktown. I am confident of this. The reason I'm confident? I've known about the event for a number of months, having been told about it in a meeting by Scott Booker, director of ACM@UCO and manager of the Flaming Lips. Scott said that the plan was to enter the market with a country focus initially and then grow it quickly into a wide-ranging, multi-genre and multi-stage festival comparable to others around the country.

Scott should know, as he was involved in the planning and as Fred Hall is a big supporter of what Scott is doing at ACM. The announcement and lineup is EXACTLY as described in the meeting months ago, including the location of the festival and specific artists like Merle Haggard and Lady Antebellum, so I don't doubt for a second the veracity of the other details he shared. I know that Scott has for many years wanted to see a quality festival take root in OKC (we talked about it at length close to a decade ago), and he was pretty excited about this one when discussing it, so that's good enough for me.

I agree about the name being a little bland; perhaps that is viewed as a placeholder for now.

Good post with solid information, thanks for the background, sounds exactly like what a few of us figured, something to grab attention initially.

In OKC, country is by far the most popular genre. While it may not appeal to the young/hipster crowd, starting this festival centered on country and then slowly bringing in other acts is a good way to build a successful festival given the market here. A similar festival with all hipster/indie bands right from the start would more than likely be a flop, unfortunately.

In OKC, country is by far the most popular genre. While it may not appeal to the young/hipster crowd, starting this festival centered on country and then slowly bringing in other acts is a good way to build a successful festival given the market here. A similar festival with all hipster/indie bands right from the start would more than likely be a flop, unfortunately.

The young/hipster crowd? There are plenty of young people that like bad country music. Most of the under 30 crowd I work with listen to this exact kind of music.

But yeah, I don't think they are trying to pretend that they are creating another Bonnaroo, Sasquatch or even a Forecastle. Hopefully the lineup improves each year, but until then I'll go to NMF and just be happy they are trying something.

It will BECOME a multi-genre event in subsequent years, and will also be growing into multi-stage and multi-venue including places like venues in Bricktown. I am confident of this. The reason I'm confident? I've known about the event for a number of months, having been told about it in a meeting by Scott Booker, director of ACM@UCO and manager of the Flaming Lips. Scott said that the plan was to enter the market with a country focus initially and then grow it quickly into a wide-ranging, multi-genre and multi-stage festival comparable to others around the country.

Scott should know, as he was involved in the planning and as Fred Hall is a big supporter of what Scott is doing at ACM. The announcement and lineup is EXACTLY as described in the meeting months ago, including the location of the festival and specific artists like Merle Haggard and Lady Antebellum, so I don't doubt for a second the veracity of the other details he shared. I know that Scott has for many years wanted to see a quality festival take root in OKC (we talked about it at length close to a decade ago), and he was pretty excited about this one when discussing it, so that's good enough for me.

I agree about the name being a little bland; perhaps that is viewed as a placeholder for now.


This is good news. I was bummed, like most, that we were getting a festival named "OKCfest" that is 100% country like that is the only music genre connotation our city has. Seriously, how can they name it after our entire city and then make it nothing but country? I hate to be BChris, but this is how negative stereotypes are born. And yes I know not all people who listen to country are rednecks, but all rednecks listen to is country.

I attend music festivals all over our country, and I will not be attending this one with a lineup like this. However, as many have said before me I'm sure it will bring in a lot of money for OKC so I'm ok with it.

One thing to note is in the interview, Hall said 95% of the people hired to put this on are from OKC area and all proceeds will go back into the community. That's kind of a big deal for an event of this size. I would assume a lot of that has to do with ACM@UCO.

This is good news. I was bummed, like most, that we were getting a festival named "OKCfest" that is 100% country like that is the only music genre connotation our city has. Seriously, how can they name it after our entire city and then make it nothing but country?...

This is the core of the issue right here. With a name like OKCFest it should represent the diversity that actually exists in the city rather than pandering to the stereotype. I don't think people would have as much of an issue if it was called something like CountryFest.

but all rednecks listen to is country.

not 100%, where i'm from they listened to plenty of rap too, something ironic about a jacked up truck with a stars and bars sticker on the window blaring DJ Screw through the speakers back home

In OKC, country is by far the most popular genre. While it may not appeal to the young/hipster crowd, starting this festival centered on country and then slowly bringing in other acts is a good way to build a successful festival given the market here. A similar festival with all hipster/indie bands right from the start would more than likely be a flop, unfortunately.

As others have said country is te most popular genre for the under 30 crowd as well.

And as for "oklahoma" stereotype. Stagecoach in Palm dessert/Indio California draws 50k a year

Even within the country genre there is a lot of room for diversity. Like I have no freaking clue who Dierks Bently is, and I certainly do not want to listen to Lady Antebellum. Aren't these the people that just sing about trucks and tight jeans and hanging out? Not sure.

But I sure as hell want to see Merle Haggard. Man is a legend.

Even if they staid under the country umbrella they could always find ways to bring in legends (Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Willy Nelson, etc.) or alt-county types (Old 97's, etc.) to keep it interesting.

With that in mind I think keeping a country focus could help this stand out against an increasing wave of indie-rock festivals. Used to be just SXSWm, Coachella, Bonnaroo and Sasquatch. Now it is those plus Forecastle, MusicFestNW, the resurrected Lollapalooza, Norman Music Fest, etc. etc. etc.) A little brand differntiation could go a long ways with this.

I wouldn't mind a little mix of what you get at the Winter Music Conference in Miami either, but then again my musical tastes are broader than most.

I'm a millennial who doesn't love the lineup. That being said if they let me (or most millennials who frequent OKC talk) pick the lineup they might draw 5,000 people. Do you want to have a successful first event that draws 30,000 to 50,000 to downtown and gives you a chance to have this be an annual event? Pretty decent lineup. Do you want an event that makes millenials who frequent OKC talk warm and fuzzy then this wasn't the way to go.

I agree that this event should offer more that Country music. OKC is stuck on country music to the detriment to its desire to expand its offerings across diverse spectrums of music and other cultural genres. They have missed a huge opportunity to draw more diverse peoples to OKC, whereas, the city offers very little today to do so.

I'm a millennial who doesn't love the lineup. That being said if they let me (or most millennials who frequent OKC talk) pick the lineup they might draw 5,000 people. Do you want to have a successful first event that draws 30,000 to 50,000 to downtown and gives you a chance to have this be an annual event? Pretty decent lineup. Do you want an event that makes millenials who frequent OKC talk warm and fuzzy then this wasn't the way to go.
I think most feel like this is a pretty standard move by okc legislature. You can't claim to want to be like ACL and a hip city and pull this lineup. If I had to choose headliners for a music festival it'd be Black Keys, Imagine Dragons, Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert, J Cole and John Legend. That would cover every genre and would attract 60k, for sure. That's a real music festival. Just this millenials opinion.

well you certainly picked two terrible country options ;)

Not excited.

I hope it's not too loud. While I appreciate (but not necessarily like or enjoy) old country music, modern country is just obnoxious and annoying.