John Fullbright. Courtesy
This week, I'm celebrating the centennial of folk musician and human rights activist Woody Guthrie, who would have turned 100 years old this Saturday.
The 15th annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival kicks off Wednesday night with a concert from his son Arlo in Woody's home town of Okemah. It runs through Sunday.
Oklahoma rising music star -- and Okemah native --
John Fullbright performs 7:30 p.m. Friday. He recently spoke to me about his music and the festival.
“I try to write songs that will last,” the musician said during a telephone call during recent visit to his home town.
“Out here, we’re all very proud of our Dust Bowl heritage, of our survival, of the way our grandparents made a living. I’m definitely one of Woody’s contemporaries. Back then, when people didn’t have anything — and even when they did — they shared. That’s a good rule to live by.”
READ MORE IN THURSDAY'S WEEKEND SECTION IN THE TULSA WORLD. +++
Woody Guthrie Folk FestivalBelow are some highlights from the festival schedule. For a full list of concerts and other events, visit
tulsaworld.com/woodyfest. Schedule and lineup may change at any time without prior notice.
Thursday-SaturdayThe Woody Children’s Festival runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Okemah City Park. Free.
Wednesday7:30 p.m.: Arlo Guthrie with Gretchen Peters, at the newly renovated Crystal Theatre. This is the only paid, ticketed event of the festival. Funds go to support the free festival. General admission is $35, balcony seating is $25. Order by phone at 918-623-0123.
ThursdayOn two stages
11 a.m.: WoodyFest House Band
Noon: Radoslav Lorkovic
1 p.m.: Nancy Apple
2 p.m.: Monica Taylor
3 p.m.: Susan Herndon
4 p.m.: The Damn Quails
5 p.m.: Miss Brown To You
7 p.m.: 1st Place Songwriting Contest winner
7:30 p.m.: Larry Long
8:30 p.m.: Butch Hancock
9:30 p.m.: Red Dirt Rangers
10:30 p.m.: Billy Bragg
Also: Noon and 1:30 p.m. will be movie screenings of “1913 Massacre” and “Woody’s Children” at the Crystal Theatre
FridayOn three stages
10:45 a.m.: 2nd place Songwriting Contest winner
11 a.m.: Jesse Aycock, Bill Chambers
Noon: 3 Penny Acre, Burns Sisters
1 p.m.: Samantha Crain, Michael Fracasso
2 p.m.: Michael Prysock, Ronny Cox
3 p.m.: Mike Blackwell, Ramsay Midwood
4 p.m.: Bob Livingston, Johnsmith
5 p.m.: Bob Childers Memorial Set, Carolyn Hester
7:30 p.m.: John Fullbright
8:30 p.m.: John McCutcheon
9:30 p.m.: Joel Rafael
10:30 p.m.: Jimmy LaFave
SaturdayOn three stages
8:30 a.m. at Lou’s Rocky Road Tavern: Woody’s 100th birthday and Mary Jo Pancake Breakfast, featuringwith many of the festival performers
10:45 a.m.: 3rd place Songwriting Contest winner
11 a.m.: Greg Jacobs, Ronny Elliott
Noon: Happenstance, Catherine Britt
1 p.m.: Grant Peeples, Audrey Auld
2 p.m.: Butch Morgan, Don Conoscenti
3 p.m.: Lauren Lee & Liberty Road, Sam Baker
4 p.m.: Mike Stinson, Kevin & Dustin Welch
5 p.m.: Randy Crouch, David Amram
7:30 p.m.: Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines
8:30 p.m.: Ellis Paul
9:30 p.m.: Melanie
10:30 p.m.: Judy Collins
SundayNoon: The Hoot for Huntington’s — Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Hootenanny: Free, but donation’s to Huntington’s Disease Society of America (Oklahoma Chapter) are appreciated.
