Nightflying: The Entertainment Guide

WoodyFest Recap

---Nancy Paddock
    Folks, I wish you had been at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah Oklahoma this year. It was a stellar event beginning with Arlo Guthrie at Crystal Theater on Wednesday night all the way to the “Hoot for Huntingtons” hootenanny on Sunday morning. It is the best little folk festival in the world and it’s free. Free because of the hard work of the all volunteer staff. Free because all the musicians that donate their talents.
    All this in honor of Woody Guthrie. Pretty amazing. There was music all day long at the two daytime stages, the Brick restaurant and the historic Crystal Theater in downtown Okemah. There were so many truly great singer songwriters this year. A few my favorites were Travis Linville, Randy Weeks, The Burns Sisters and Austin’s BettySoo. I love the music of Sam Baker, whose show was one of the highlights for so many and of course, Don Conoscenti who it seems never left the stage all week. So much music, at times the stages were jammed with the likes of John Inmon formally Bonnie Raitts guitarist, David Amram the world-renowned musician composer and cool cat, Radislac Lorkic pianist and accordionist, and Oklahoma’s favorite band the Red Dirt Rangers. As well as the music there were films on Woody’s life, presentations and talks about his work and what he means to a new generation. After the daytime shows it was time to head to the Pastures of Plenty and it was plenty hot out there in the field at the big stage.
    But that didn’t stop the music from rocking. I can’t describe it all so here are some highlights. Sonia lifted the crowd off the ground with her world encompassing songs. Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines on Friday night was exceptional. The Great jazzy rocking roots band from Michigan “Steppn’ in It’ started the Saturday night set in the blazing sun and had some of us dancing in the heat. Later that night the all woman band ‘Red Molly’ wowed the crowd with their incredible playing and harmonies.
    But the best part is everyone plays with each other. David Amram had at least twenty people on stage by the end of his set, all singing his song about how to spell Okemah. Really, you had to be there.
    After the stage shows, the music in the campgrounds goes on until dawn and beyond. At the campfire circle where I spent most my time I heard Randy Crouch, Jonathan Byrd, Michael Blackwell, Nancy Apple, and a amazing little band called Mockingbird from Little Rock….It’s goes on all night, around and around the camp circle everyone takes a turn and plays a song. Even after you crawl into your tent the music goes on and on.
    I heard it said over and over it was the best Woody Fest yet. As Terri Hendrix said, “This festival means a lot to me and so many other musicians” It feels at times like a big family reunion. It was so hot, 108 at one time on the bank clock, and everyone said they wished it would never end, an unlikely combination. So next year around July 14th head west on interstate 40 and come celebrate Woody Guthrie’s birthday in Okemah Oklahoma. I promise you won’t regret it. For more information on this and next years festival go to www.woodyguthrie.com

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