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.
