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Holy cats, people!!
Published: 2/14/2008 11:18 AM
Last Modified: 2/14/2008 11:18 AM

The Polyphonic Spree

Yeah, this is awesome. And I mean awesome as in totally awesome.

An April, The Polyphonic Spree (!), The Octopus Project (!) and British Sea Power (!) will all perform -- free -- at the first-ever Norman Music Festival, in the heart of Norman, Okla.'s art district.

What's more, there's a reunion planned for influential Oklahoma icon the Chainsaw Kittens!!

Kick! Expletive! Deleted!

Did I mention it's FREE?

The event will run noon to 11: 30 p.m. April 26, and will take place on the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of historic Downtown East Main Street, east of the railroad tracks in the Arts District in Norman.

"Norman is known as the city of festivals," said Jim Wilson, NMF Chairman. "This is a great opportunity for Norman to expand and offer a music festival that the community can identify with."

The Polyphonic Spree, NMF's headlining act, hails from Dallas. The Spree is a large band with more than 20 band members who contribute to its unique rock sound.

Also from Texas, the Octopus Project comes from Austin with its latest release "Hello Avalanche." Rolling Stone magazine said, "the thirteen songs on 'Hello, Avalanche' are all tightly composed bundles of synthesized whoop and circus-calliope cheer, dotted with throaty Duane Eddy-treble guitar and powered by prancing-elephant drumming." Indeed, this band is one you must see to believe.

All the way from England, British Sea Power is here to rock. Its latest album, released in January, "Do You Like Rock Music" comes from legendary Rough Trade Records.

"Brilliant songs … stirring anthemics … the glorious sound of a band going for broke," wrote English newspaper The Guardian. Rolling Stone magazine said, "The first few songs are so jaw-slackeningly great it can take days to get to the album's highlight, the epic eight-minute medley of 'Please Stand Up and North Hanging Rock'." The band has been around since 2001 and has toured with the likes of The Flaming Lips, The Killers and Interpol.

Other local and regional bands to play include: Dorian Small (Norman), Neighborhood (Norman), Umbrellas (Norman), Colourmusic (Stillwater), Evangelicals (Norman), Ghost of Monkshood (Norman), Ryan Lindsey (Norman), Cheyenne (Brooklyn, NY), Starkweather Boys (Tulsa), John Arnold (Oklahoma), Groupo Fantasmo (Austin) and Debris (Chickasha).

And, to make this a safe and enjoyable festival, the Norman Arts Council needs about 75 volunteers for crowd control, clean up, hospitality, parking and many other various duties. If interested in helping, email your email, phone number, preferred responsibility, availability and T-shirt size to volunteer@normanarts.org.

The NMF is made possible by Wimgo.com, Fowler Auto Group, the Norman Arts Council and other non-profit and for-profit businesses.

Here's a video from the Chainsaw Kittens:

More information available at

www.tulsaworld.com/NormanMusicFestival ... or call (405) 360-1162.

Reader Comments

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-Jason (5 years ago)

That's a great lineup and a great price to boot.Nice work.

ellen williams (5 years ago)

you are becoming a very good writer.
More and more I can see you getting better.
Aspire to write as well as Jason A. Wright

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Barrelhouse Beat

Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

Beat: The time or timing. Ex: The band played with a solid beat. Also used as a term describing a reporters specific area of expertise. Ex: The music beat.

About me: I'm Okie born and raised, and have lived all over the state: Oklahoma City, Enid, Moore, Norman, Edmond and Tulsa. I am a music geek, writer, graphic designer and amateur photographer and videographer who's followed the Tulsa and regional music scene since I moved to Green Country more than 10 years ago. I've been enmeshed in Tulsa's varied and vibrant musical night life, what some of us affectionately call a modernized throwback to the Barrelhouse scene, since that time. I fell in love with it. I fell hard.

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Archive

Past Articles By Jennifer Chancellor

2/17/2013		Tulsan Johnny Polygon a rapper who delights in hometown crowd
2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
2/15/2013		Lady Gaga tour is canceled
2/15/2013		Audio Adrenaline concert moves to April 7
2/14/2013		The Who brings 'other' rock opera to Tulsa's BOK Center
2/14/2013		Okies nominated for several top ACM awards
2/14/2013		Epic moments of rock 'n' roll history in Tulsa
2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

Jennifer Chancellor's Blog Archive:

2/2013	1/2013	12/2012	11/2012	10/2012	9/2012
8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
2/2012	1/2012	12/2011	11/2011	10/2011	9/2011
8/2011	7/2011	6/2011	5/2011	4/2011	3/2011
2/2011	1/2011	12/2010	11/2010	10/2010	9/2010
8/2010	7/2010	6/2010	5/2010	4/2010	3/2010
2/2010	1/2010	12/2009	11/2009	10/2009	9/2009
8/2009	7/2009	6/2009	5/2009	4/2009	3/2009
2/2009	1/2009	12/2008	11/2008	10/2008	9/2008
8/2008	7/2008	6/2008	5/2008	4/2008	3/2008
2/2008	1/2008	12/2007	11/2007	10/2007	9/2007

Jennifer Chancellor
BarrelhouseBeat

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