Oklahoma

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival draws musicians and fans back to folk icon’s Oklahoma hometown

Published

3 days ago

July 5, 2024

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival draws musicians and fans back to folk icon’s Oklahoma hometown

Even 35 years later, Monica Taylor still remembers her first trip out to The Farm, the Stillwater homestead now recognized as the birthplace of Oklahoma’s Red Dirt music.

“The first thing I thought was, ‘Oh my God, I’ve found my people,’” the Perkins singer-songwriter recalled with a laugh. “All the picking, all the (song) circles, oh, wow, it was just amazing. That was about 1989 or so … and ever since then, those people have been my family.”

If the Oklahoma songwriters’ scene is a big family, the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah is one of its biggest yearly reunions. Affectionately known as WoodyFest, the long-running event brings together dozens of Sooner State musicians, along with players from far and wide who admire the iconic folk troubadour the fest is named for.

“There are so many people there that you see. … With the artists, there’s some that you join on stage, some that you just chat with backstage and some that you pick with all night long in the parking lot,” Taylor said. “But it’s not just the artists: People come from all over the country — actually, from all over the world; there are always people who come from Europe, Australia and Canada, for sure — to enjoy every single day and every moment of the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. And they are family.”

Dubbed “The Cimarron Songbird” by the early WoodyFest staples the late Bob Childers and Jimmy LaFave, Taylor has become a fixture at the 27th annual event, playing 25 editions so far. The recent Restless Spirit Award honoree will join fellow WoodyFest legacy artists Ellis Paul and Joel Rafael in performing at this year’s opening-night concert, “Twenty-Seven Julys in Okemah: Memories of WoodyFest,” at 7 p.m. July 10 at Okemah’s historic Crystal Theatre.

In 2021, Taylor embarked with her husband, fellow musician Travis Fite, on recording her current project, the multi-volume “Red Dirt Ramble.” Paying tribute to the pioneers of Red Dirt music, the collection features 55 guest vocalists and musicians, and she’ll be playing selections from Vol. 1 during her WoodyFest opening-night set. She’s also planning to perform a few songs from her early WoodyFest days with the Farm Couple, her former duo with the late Patrick Williams.

“There is not a line, really, between the audience and the artist, and the artists make lifetime fans and friends at WoodyFest. And it’s a beautiful thing for everybody,” said Taylor, who will host on July 15 her Annual Post Woodyfest Concert featuring Don Conoscenti and Tim Easton at the Old Church Center in Perkins.

Organized by the nonprofit Woody Guthrie Coalition, WoodyFest 2024 is scheduled for July 10-14 at multiple venues in Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah. Here’s what you need to know about the 27th Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival:

Who was Woody Guthrie?

Legendary singer-songwriter Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912, in Okemah. He would have been 112 years old this year.

The festival annually takes place on and around his July 14 birthday in his Okfuskee County hometown, which he once described as “one of the singingest, square dancingest, drinkingest, yellingest, preachingest, walkingest, talkingest, laughingest, cryingest, shootingest, fist fightingest, bleedingest, gamblingest, gun, club and razor carryingest of our ranch towns and farm towns because it blossomed out into one of our first Oil Boom Towns.”

Guthrie died Oct. 3, 1967, at the Creedmoor State Hospital in Queens, New York, of Huntington’s disease, a degenerative genetic neurological disorder. He was just 55 years old.

But in his relatively short life, he wrote prose, poetry and thousands of songs — including “This Land is Your Land,” “Oklahoma Hills” and “Pastures of Plenty” — and influenced a wide range of musicians, from Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger to Lead Belly and Guthrie’s own son, Arlo Guthrie.

More than half a century after Guthrie’s death, the iconic singer-songwriter’s influence continues to grow: He has been cited as an inspiration by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Ani DiFranco, Joan Baez and many more. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2006.

Who will be playing WoodyFest 2024?

Along with the trio playing the July 10 opening-night WoodyFest retrospective, this year’s festival will feature more than 50 musical acts performing at the Crystal Theatre, Rocky Road Tavern, Bound for Glory Stage at the Hen House restaurant and Pastures of Plenty outdoor stage.

The lineup features Guthrie’s granddaughter Annie Guthrie as well Guthrie great-granddaughter Serena Guthrie.

Oklahomans on this year’s WoodyFest roster include the Red Dirt Rangers, Ken Pomeroy, John Fullbright, Carter Sampson, Travis Linville, Selby Minner, Gypsy Twang, Jacob Tovar, Jared Deck, Jared Tyler, Randy Crouch, Susan Herndon, Melissa Hembree, Cassie Latshaw, Peggy Johnson, Miss Brown to You, RT Valine, Joe Baxter, Kierston White and Nellie Clay.

The lineup also features David Amram, Beat Root Revival, Butch Hancock, Jaimee Harris, The Deslondes, James McMurtry, Jamie Lin Wilson, Opal Agafia, Crys Matthews and Willi Carlilse.

Several daytime song swaps are on the schedule for this year’s festival, plus the WoodyFest House Band — Norman guitar hero Terry “Buffalo” Ware, bassist Uncle Don Morris, accordion and keyboard player T.Z. Wright and drummer Michael McCarty — will play their new House Band Happy Hour each day July 11-13.

Hosted by Dan Martin, the open mic is another daily festival highlight: It’s set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rocky Road Tavern.

WoodyFest 2024 will include camping, poetry, Children’s Festival and more

WoodyFest 2024 will include two longstanding traditions that raise money for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America: Mary Jo’s Pancake Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. July 13 at the Rocky Road Tavern and the event-closing Hoot for Huntington’s at noon July 14 at the Crystal Theatre.

This year’s free WoodyFest Children’s Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 13 at Okemah City Park will include harmonica instruction, a water slide, games, storytelling and a children’s stage. The Red Dirt Rangers and the winners of the Children’s Festival songwriting contest will perform.

Also on July 13, the Woody Guthrie Poets will perform at 11 a.m. at the Okfuskee County History Center, while the Native Spirit Collection Art Show, hosted by the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, will be on view from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside The Grind coffee shop.

WoodyFest is famous for its campfire jams. Camping will be available at the Okemah Round-Up Club Arena starting at 3 p.m. July 5. All sites are first come, first served, and limited camper hookups are available.

What panels and workshops will be presented at WoodyFest 2024?

WoodyFest annually includes a slate of free educational panels, with experts and activists covering timely topics as well as Guthrie’s life and legacy. This year’s sessions include:

“Something to Say: Making Music that Matters,” with Barry Ollman
“Legends and Legacy — Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame Induction,” with Deana McCloud
“Secrets from the Woody Guthrie Archive,” with Guthrie granddaughter Anna Canoni and Rafael
“Lead Belly’s Contributions to American Roots Music,” with Alvin Singh
“Struggles and Victories: United Mine Workers of America,” with Tom Breiding
“Native American Music of Oklahoma,” with Hugh Foley
“I Didn’t Want to Tell You: Mental Health and Musicians,” with Chad Cochran
“Growing Up with Woody,” with Tamara Logsdon Hawkinson
“Arlo Guthrie’s Guthrie Center,” with Annie Guthrie and Shivadas (Mo) Guthrie

In addition, the festival will feature songwriting workshops with Paul and Canoni.

How will the free WoodyFest app and shuttle help attendees navigate the festival?

Last year’s debut of the WoodyFest mobile app was successful, especially when Oklahoma’s unpredictable weather forced organizers to move the event’s outdoor performances at the last minute, so the coalition is making the app available again in the Google Play store.

Plus, festivalgoers who have mobility issues or just want to beat the heat can catch a ride on the event’s new free daytime shuttle service, which will make continuous loops among the festival venues, stopping at each one in 30-minute intervals.

How much are WoodyFest tickets and how can people get them?

WoodyFest offers several free panels, activities and concerts, including all indoor daytime performances on July 11.

Tickets to the opening-night concert on July 10 are $30 in advance or $35 at the door of the Crystal Theatre.

Music lovers ages 17 and older will need wristbands to enter the Crystal Theatre and the Hen House’s Bound for Glory stage July 12 and 13 as well as to attend all evening performances at the Pastures of Plenty.

Attendees 16 and younger will be admitted free of charge at the Pastures of Plenty if accompanied by an adult.

Single-day tickets for July 12 or 13 are $60. Passes for the Pastures of Plenty on July 11 are $40.

Weekend and three-day passes range from $100 to $250.

All passes purchased in advance must be exchanged for wristbands at the all-ages festival.

Tickets and information are available at woodyfest.com.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: July 7

Published

4 hours ago

July 8, 2024

Press Room

Join News 9 Sports Reporter Chris Williams and News On 6 Sports Director John Holcomb for this week’s edition of Oklahoma Ford Sports

Sunday, July 7th 2024, 8:54 pm

By:

News On 6,

News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY –

This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Chris Williams and John Holcomb begin the show with their opening takes.

OKC Thunder Offseason Update

OSU Football Offseason Update

OU Football Offseason Update

Viewer Question

Play The Percentages

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Oklahoma

CU Buffs opponent preview: Experienced Oklahoma State takes aim at Big 12 title

Published

11 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Press Room

CU Buffs opponent preview: Experienced Oklahoma State takes aim at Big 12 title

At a time in college sports where player movement is more prevalent than ever, Oklahoma State’s football team might be an anomaly.

Head coach Mike Gundy comes into his 20th season with the Cowboys and they are loaded with experience and returning starters.

With 10 starters back on offense and 10 on defense, Oklahoma State could be the best team in the Big 12 and one of the top teams in the country.

This summer, BuffZone is previewing each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2024 season and in this final installment we look at Oklahoma State, which will visit Boulder for the season finale on Nov. 29.

Gundy, a former OSU quarterback, went 4-7 in his first season leading the Cowboys (2005), but has taken them to 18 consecutive bowl games since then. It’s the sixth-longest active bowl streak, with only Georgia, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Alabama and Clemson enjoying longer streaks.

This season, the Cowboys return almost everybody from a team that went 10-4 last year and played in the Big 12 title game.

“It was really fun this spring to move quickly through terminology from a football standpoint,” Gundy said recently in an interview with ESPN. “Last year we had 28 new players.”

One of those new players last year was quarterback Alan Bowman, who transferred in from Michigan. Bowman wound up as the starter, but not until after the Cowboys used three different quarterbacks early.

The Cowboys averaged just 29.6 points per game last year, the first time they finished under 30 since 2014. Gundy feels that will improve with Bowman back and firmly entrenched as the starter.

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy reacts with fans when leaving the field after an NCAA college football game against BYU Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala)

“We put a lot on our quarterbacks,” he said. “We ask them to put us in the best situation. We’ll have more availability with that this fall than we did last year because we were rotating guys through. Bowman has come though and had a terrific spring for us. He now understands our system. I think he’s very comfortable in communication and understanding where we want to attack the defense.”

It certainly helps that Bowman can hand off to last year’s Big 12 offensive player of the year, running back Ollie Gordon II, and has the entire offensive line back.

The receiver room is stacked, too, with Brennan Presley (101 catches last year) leading the way. The Cowboys should also get a boost from De’Zhaun Stribling. A transfer from Washington State last year, he missed the last 11 games with an injury. In two seasons at WSU, he caught 95 passes for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Defensively last year the Cowboys were 10th in the Big 12 in points allowed (28.6) and last in yards allowed (441.8). Ten players with starting experience are back, though, including a pair of linebackers – Nick Martin and Collins Oliver – who are among the best in the Big 12.

OSU will lean on its defensive line, led by nose tackle Justin Kirkland, to take some steps forward in order for the defense to improve as a whole.

Under Gundy, the Cowboys have been a virtual lock to post a winning season and get to a bowl. But, with a boatload of experience on both sides of the ball, the Cowboys are gunning for much more than just getting to the postseason. A Big 12 title and spot in the expanded college football playoff are realistic goals.

“We all know that we have the potential to be really good, so we just got to put the work in, come together as one and we’re going to be really good,” Bowman said during spring practices.

“Obviously we’re coming back to do one thing and that’s to win a Big 12 championship and to make the College Football Playoff. I think that’s the goal that everybody has, to take what we learned last year and use everything that we’ve done to be able to launch us forward into (this season).”

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Head coach: Mike Gundy, 20th season (166-79)

2023 season: 10-4, 7-2 Big 12; Beat Texas A&M in Texas Bowl

Series with CU: Buffs lead 26-20-1

The Game

Who: Oklahoma State at Colorado Buffaloes

When: Friday, Nov. 29, 10 a.m. MT (ABC)

Where: Folsom Field in Boulder

Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman looks to pass the ball against Texas A&M during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

5 Guys to Watch

QB Alan Bowman: A transfer from Michigan a year ago, he started 13 games and completed 60.7% of his passes for 3,460 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for two touchdowns. In his collegiate career, he has thrown for 8,789 yards and 49 touchdowns.

RB Ollie Gordon II: The offensive player of the year in the Big 12 in 2023, he led the country with 1,732 rushing yards and was second in rushing touchdowns (21). He was also a big part of the passing game, finishing third on the team with 39 receptions for 330 yards.

LB Nick Martin: A first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2023, he ranked sixth nationally with 140 tackles, while also record 16 tackles for loss, six sacks and two interceptions.

LB Collin Oliver: Named by the media as a preseason choice for the All-Big 12 team. Last year, he was second-team all-conference after posting 73 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

WR Brennan Presley: The 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior is the go-to target for Bowman. Last year, he caught 101 passes (tied for third nationally) for 991 yards and six touchdowns, while also handling punt and kick return duties. In his career, he has 225 catches for 2,548 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Good to know

• CU and OSU were previously conference rivals from 1960-2010. The two teams met every year from 1960-1997. CU’s last win in the series came in 2005. OSU has won the last three meetings, matching its longest win streak in the series.

• Oklahoma State made its first-ever Big 12 title game appearance in 2021 (losing to Baylor) and made a return trip last year (losing to Texas). OSU is the only team to reach the title game twice in the last three years.

• Quarterback Alan Bowman will be in his seventh season of college football, as he was granted a medical hardship waiver for a season-ending injury three games into the 2019 season. He played three seasons at Texas Tech (2018-20) and was a seven-game starter as a true freshman. He made 16 starts with the Red Raiders before playing two seasons (2021-22) at Michigan, where he threw just 11 passes.

• In 2023, Oklahoma State reached the 10-win mark for the eighth time in the last 14 seasons (2010-23). From 1901-2009, OSU had just three 10-win seasons.

• Last year, seven different offensive linemen combined for 70 starts, with each of them getting at least three starts. All seven are back for the Cowboys, including preseason first-team All-Big 12 choices Dalton Cooper (tackle) and Joe Michalski (center).

• While the Cowboys are loaded with returning starters, they will have a new kicker. Alex Hale, was second-team All-Big 12 last year, has graduated. Junior Logan Ward is taking over those duties. He has been the kickoff specialist the last two years, handled punting duties in 2022 and was 7-for-7 on extra points last year.

• Punter Hudson Kaak is back. He averaged 39.7 yards per kick last year, landing 20 of his 38 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Portal movement

OSU lost 11 players to the transfer portal, only one of which who started last year: receiver Jaden Bray, who caught 30 passes for 382 yards and is now at West Virginia. The other key loss was cornerback DJ McKinney (38 tackles, five pass breakups), now at CU. Running back Jaden Nixon and receiver Blaine Green (Stephen F. Austin) were also contributors last year. The Cowboys have added eight scholarship players through the portal, mainly to fill out some depth. Running back Trent Howland rushed for 354 yards at Indiana last year, while AJ Green ran for 951 yards in three seasons at Arkansas. At receiver Gavin Freeman (Oklahoma) and Da’Wain Lofton (Virginia Tech) should be in the rotation. Defensive end Obi Ezeigbo (Gannon University) could be a solid addition up front.

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Oklahoma

24 Oklahoma Counties Designated Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Published

18 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Press Room

24 Oklahoma Counties Designated Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. (Photo: Getty Images, Unsplash)

OKLAHOMA CITY — This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

Impacted Area: Oklahoma

Triggering Disaster: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 and continuing

Application Deadline: December 19, 2024

Primary Counties Eligible: Hughes, Love, Murray

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Oklahoma: Carter, Coal, Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, McIntosh, Marshall, Okfuskee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Seminole

Texas: Cooke, Grayson, Montague

Disaster 1, Amendment 1: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 and continuing

Application Deadline: January 3, 2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Carter

Contiguous Counties: Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, Murray, Stephens

Disaster 1, Amendment 2: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 and continuing

Application Deadline: January 7, 2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Okmulgee

Contiguous Counties: Creek, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Tulsa, Wagoner

Disaster 1, Amendment 3: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 and continuing

Application Deadline: January 9, 2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Osage, Pontotoc

Contiguous Counties Eligible:

Kansas: Chautauqua, Cowley

Oklahoma: Coal, Garvin, Hughes, Johnston, Kay, McClain, Murray, Noble, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Tulsa, Washington

Disaster 1, Amendment 4: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 and continuing

Incident Period: April 24, 2024 through May 9. 2024 (changed from April 24, 2024, and continuing).

Disaster 1, Amendment 5: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 through May 9, 2024.

Application Deadline: January 13, 2025

Primary Counties: Washita

Contiguous Counties: Beckham, Caddo, Custer, Kiowa

Disaster 1, Amendment 6: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 through May 9, 2024.

Application Deadline: January 16, 2025

Primary Counties: Cotton

Contiguous Counties:

Oklahoma: Comanche, Jefferson, Stephens, Tillman

Texas: Clay, Wichita

Disaster 1, Amendment 7: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 through May 9, 2024.

Application Deadline: January 17, 2025 Primary Counties: Johnston, Pittsburg, Tillman

Contiguous Counties:

Oklahoma: Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Kiowa, Latimer, McIntosh, Marshall, Murray, Pontotoc, Pushmataha

Texas: Wichita, Wilbarger

Disaster 1, Amendment 8: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 through May 9, 2024.

Application Deadline: January 22, 2025

Primary Counties: Kay, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Pottawatomie, Washington

Contiguous Counties:

Kansas: Chautauqua, Cowley, Montgomery, Sumner

Oklahoma: Cleveland, Creek, Garfield, Grant, Hughes, Logan, McClain, McIntosh, Noble, Nowata, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Payne, Pontotoc, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa

Disaster 1, Amendment 10: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 through May 9, 2024

Application Deadline: January 28, 2025

Primary Counties: Coal, Haskell

Contiguous Counties: Atoka, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, McIntosh, Muskogee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Sequoyah

Disaster 1, Amendment 11: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 through May 9, 2024

Application Deadline: February 12, 2025

Primary Counties: Craig, McClain, Nowata, Ottawa

Contiguous County: Johnston

Disaster 1, Amendment 12: Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on April 24, 2024 through May 9, 2024

Application Deadline: February 12, 2025

Primary Counties: Seminole, Wagoner

Contiguous Counties: Cherokee, Hughes, Mayes, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Tulsa

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.

FEMA offers different assistance programs for individual citizens, public groups including government agencies and private nonprofit organizations. To find the FEMA help you need following a disaster event, visit fema.gov/assistance.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

–USDA FSA Oklahoma

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