Folkin' Okies

Oklahoma musicians set for international showcase

The Folk Alliance International Conference, a gathering of musicians and industry professionals from across the world, will convene for its 28th edition this month in Kansas City, MO. And, once again, the Sooner State will be well represented.

For the third straight year the conference will house the Oklahoma Room, a private showcase featuring a selection of the best folk and roots musicians from across the state, including established favorites and fresh-faced up-and-comers. 

“It’s a chance to shine a spotlight on the great individual talent from all over the Oklahoma music scene,” said Brian Horton, president of Tulsa nonprofit Horton Records. Horton spearheads the Oklahoma Room planning committee along with Scott Aycock, co-host of the “Folk Salad” radio show; Deana McCloud, executive director of the Woody Guthrie Center; and music industry veteran and talent manager Larry White.

“In addition to celebrating great Oklahoma music, one of our goals was to shorten the distance between cities on the turnpike,” Horton said. “One of the greatest benefits that we’ve seen through this effort is the relationships and collaborations that occur as the musicians meet one another and hang out for three or four days.

“That sense of community is one of the things that makes the Oklahoma Room stand out. It really does feel like one big family of artists. That’s not by design—that’s just how things happen around these parts all the time.”

Currently scheduled to perform at the showcase are Travis Linville, Jesse Aycock, Wink Burcham, Jacob Tovar, Paul Benjaman, Kyle Reid, Beau Roberson, Chris Lee Becker, Scott Aycock, Levi Parham, John Calvin Abney, Cody Brewer, George Barton, Desi and Cody, Steve Liddell, Kalyn Fay, Annie Oakley, Andy Adams, Don Morris, Carter Sampson, Dan Martin and Susan Herndon.

Horton Records also put together a compilation album to support fundraising efforts for the musicians traveling to the conference, which features new or unreleased tracks from the likes of Paul Benjaman, Travis Linville, Wink Burcham and more, along with previously released cuts from other performers set to appear at the showcase. Scott Aycock and his “Folk Salad” co-host Richard Higgs have invited many of the musicians to record live performances and interviews in-studio for a show to air Sunday, Feb. 7 on KWGS 89.5 FM. 

Fundraiser shows for the Oklahoma Room have been held across the state in recent weeks, a run that will culminate with a grand send off celebration and performance Friday, Feb. 12, at The Colony in Tulsa. The show is for ages 21 and over and will feature three separate sessions of music for just $10 at the door. 

Since the Folk Alliance International Conference is intended for musicians and music industry professionals, the Colony show will serve as a special chance for the rest of us to see what it’s like when this diverse selection of musicians get in the same room together, and the unique collaborations that will inevitably occur. 

“We hope to have 80 percent or more of the artists perform at The Colony,” Horton said. “It should be a lot of fun and will give everyone a taste of what happens at the Oklahoma Room every year in Kansas City.”

Folk Alliance send-off celebration
with performances by artists to be featured in the Oklahoma Room
Friday, Feb. 12
Early session: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Late session: 10 p.m.-midnight
Family jam: Midnight-close
The Colony, 2809 S. Harvard Ave.
Suggested donation: $10 for the whole evening of music

CORRECTION: The print version of this story lists the wrong day and time for both the send-off celebration and Folk Salad performance. The above dates are correct; we regret the error.

For more from Matt, read his review of the debut EP from Grazzhopper.