Site ranks Tulsa among top 10 cities for music
BY JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
3/28/12 at 4:44 AM
Tulsa is one of the country's top 10 cities with the best music scenes, according to research from Livability.com.
If you remove the three "obvious" cities with runaway populations of musicians and people - Nashville, New York City and L.A. - the aural landscape takes on a richness and depth that's not always visible at first glance.
"People have a vast array of things to do in bars and concert halls to arenas, and a whole lot of it is centered around live music," said Chad Rodgers, general manager of the 1,700-capacity Cain's Ballroom and its side venue, Bob's, which holds about 350.
Great local music cities top out with Athens, Ga.; Minneapolis and Portland, Ore. They are followed by Chapel Hill, N.C.; Omaha, Neb.; Cambridge, Mass. and Fort Worth.
Rounding out the top 10 are Madison, Wis.; Tulsa and Concord, Calif.
Livability.com picked the 10 cities that won praise for the number and quality of music venues, independent record stores and local musicians, and its ability to attract and produce talent. It also considered other variables, including a vibrant nightlife and higher education opportunities.
"To be in the top 10 nationally, wow," Rodgers said. "This is success that every city hopes for - or should hope for."
Paige Reese, BOK Center director of sales and marketing, agrees.
"The fans in Tulsa have shown great support in music, which brings in great acts," Reese said. She said she was "especially happy" that events like the Rock 'n Rib Festival and Mayfest also were named by the site for their strong community support.
There's a music outlet to suit every size, every sound and every personality, said Danny Finnerty, director of entertainment for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
"Tulsa has a long-standing tradition of offering an outstanding and diverse live music scene,'' Finnerty said. "We're proud of the positive impact The Joint has had in bringing more national acts to Tulsa and providing music fans more opportunities to see the bands they love."
Tulsa has many well-known musicians including Leon Russell, Garth Brooks, David Gates, Roy Clark, Sam Harris, Dwight Twilley, J.J. Cale, Flash Terry and Tommy Allsup and others.
Back in the '30s, Texas western swing musician Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys also made the area their home - and Cain's Ballroom famous.
Original Print Headline: Tulsa named to top 10 cities for music
Upcoming concerts
BOK CENTER
tulsaworld.com/bok
April 12: Miranda Lambert
April 28: The Black Keys
May 1: Van Halen
BRADY THEATER
tulsaworld.com/brady
April 13: The Avett Brothers (sold out)
April 14: Leon Russell
April 19-20: Eddie Vedder (April 19 sold out)
CAIN'S BALLROOM
tulsaworld.com/cains
April 1: Yonder Mountain String Band
April 6: Robert Earl Keen
April 11: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
THE JOINT AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO TULSA
tulsaworld.com/hardrockcasino
March 29: The Doobie Brothers
April 12: Billy Currington (sold out)
April 13: Roy Clark
OSAGE EVENT CENTER
tulsaworld.com/osagecasino
April 23: Tanya Tucker
RIVER SPIRIT EVENT CENTER
tulsaworld.com/riverspirit
April 13: Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis
April 27: Bachman & Turner
April 28: Merle Haggard
Associated Images:
Cain's Ballroom general manager Chad Rodgers stands in front of a sign at Bob's side stage at Cain's. Tulsa was named one of the top 10 U.S. cities for its music scene by Livability.com. Tulsa World file
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