Festival City: Local flavor
Local music and arts festivals to check out this summer.
Tulsa International Mayfest
Now in its 42nd year, Tulsa International Mayfest (just Mayfest for short) fills downtown streets with art and music performed on three stages. Headliners gracing the Williams Green stage at 3rd and Boston include the rootsy Paul Thorn Band, funk and soul singer/guitarist Black Joe Lewis, and singer/songwriter Bob Schneider. Local music will be in abundance, too, with performances by old-timey string band Klondike5, indie-rock Radiohead disciples The Lukewarm, the roots/rock/reggae/folk-tinged Steve Liddell Band, and more, all on the stages at Williams Green, 4th and Boston and Bartlett Square. Free to attend.
5/15-18 // Downtown Tulsa
Blue Dome Arts Festival
Blue Dome Arts Festival has grown up. Though it got its start in the shadow of Mayfest, it’s now just as big a part of that mid-May weekend as it’s neightbor down the street. Blue Dome has a stronger emphasis on local artists and vendors, and the same rings true for the musicians gracing its stage, including Nehemiah Akbar, Jay Coop, Dirty Creek Bandits, and The Move Trio, as well as comedic performances presented by the Comedy Parlor. Nearly twenty local food trucks and vendors will be on site, as well as vendors of art, clothing, and more. Free to attend.
5/16-18 // Blue Dome District
Hop Jam
Last year Hanson entered the world of brewing with their oh-so-Hanson-y pale ale, MmmHops. Now, the brothers are taking their “Beer + Music = Awesome” credo a step further by treating Tulsa to this new beer-and-music festival. Fifteen Oklahoma craft brewers will be onsite, including Tulsa-based Prairie Artisan Ales, Marshall Brewing, and, of course, Hanson Brothers Beer. HBB will introduce a new beer at the festival and will make MmmHops available for online purchase for the first time. The music side of the festival, which is open to music fans of all ages, will feature performances by Hanson, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, as-yet-unannounced special guests, and a local band chosen by fans as the winner of the “Awesome Music Contest.” Free to attend.
5/18, 3-10 p.m. // Brady Arts District
Backwoods Bash
Held each Memorial Day Weekend since 2008, Backwoods Bash offers a camping festival where families and regional music acts can coexist on the shores of Lake Keystone, just 20 minutes outside Tulsa. Nearly 40 bands and DJs will appear, including Groovement, Ego Culture & Move Trio, Totojo, Wink Burcham, Center of the Universe, and Dirty Creek Bandits. There will also be yoga, a drum circle, belly dancing, and arts and crafts; the festival’s close proximity to the lake make it possible to take a swim while listening to bands onstage. Food vendors will be onsite, and attendees are invited to bring their own grills and coolers. Tickets are $75 and include camping fees. Kids 12 and under get in free. RV and boat passes are also available. Proceeds benefit Sheep Dog Impact Assistance.
5/23-26 // Prue
Tulsa Music Festival
Kicking off Memorial Day weekend at Guthrie Green will be this tulsanightout.com joint starring Tulsa Symphony Orchestra as it presents a symphonic rock show. TSO will perform classic rock from the likes of Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, and Queen, plus music by the likes of Lady Gaga, Lorde, and more. Other performers include indie-rock band We The Ghost, local X-Factor contestant Briana Wright, and another classical-meets-rock performance from Tulsa Rock Quartet. Boston Avenue will be closed off for vendors, food trucks, and a kids’ area. The festival benefits Project Reach of Tulsa and Tulsa SPCA. Free.
5/24, 2 p.m. // Guthrie Green
Center of the Universe Festival
Back for its second year, Center of the Universe Festival will once again take over the Brady Arts District with performances in several venues in the area, plus three outdoor stages, this year including Guthrie Green. Most of the promised 100 acts appearing at the festival remain unannounced, but headlining the Main Stage will be AWOLNATION, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Twenty One Pilots on Friday, July 25, and Young the Giant, Capital Cities, and Cold War Kids on Saturday, July 26. Cain’s and Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ will serve as the VIP Zone, and the bulk of the live music over the weekend will be found at The Yeti, SoundPony, The Hunt Club, The Vanguard, Chimera, Laffa, Zin, Mason’s, and Hey Mambo. As with last year, the festival will offer vendors and food trucks and all-ages fun. Tickets are $25 for single day passes and $40 for weekend passes through July 11 after which they’ll cost $35 and $50, respectively. VIP passes have sold out.
7/25-26 // Brady Arts District
centeroftheuniversefestival.com
Hound Dog Blues Festival
The Hound Dog Blues Festival offers eight solid hours of blues music for a good cause (all proceeds benefit animal aid) on one of Tulsa’s choice hilltops. Headliners are Moreland & Arbuckle, 2014 International Blues Challenge winner Mr. Sipp, Kris Lager Band, and Kentucky Gentlemen. The festival is free to attend, though parking is $10, campsites are $25 per night, and a limited amount of VIP tickets, which go on sale August 1, are $75.
9/20, 2-10 p.m. // Chandler Park
Claremore Bluegrass & Chili Festival
This year marks the 35th Claremore Bluegrass & Chili Festival, made especially for those who believe one just isn’t as good without the other. The lineup for this year’s festival has yet to be released, but the festival consistently puts together three days’ worth of world-class shows. Headliners of recent years have included New Grass Revival founder Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and Ricky Skaggs. This year, for the first time, the festival will feature not one, but two days of International Chili Society cook-offs. Free to attend; parking is $10 per car.
9/4-6 // 400 S Veterans Pkwy, Claremore
facebook.com/claremorebluegrass
More on festivals
Festivals around the state worthy of a road trip
A look at the evolution (and demise) of historic Tulsa fests
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