While the MTV generation was zoned out on what was happening in LA yesterday, I was thinking about good music – music with integrity.
One of our favorite Oklahoma summer events happens this weekend.
Woody Fest!
Folkies and music lovers in general from across the country descend on the little town of Okemah, Oklahoma to celebrate the life and music of Woody Guthrie on the weekend near his birthday. Woody wrote and sang songs of the working-man, the common folk.
I’m not going to go into the tragic details of Woody’s final battle with disease. You can get that elsewhere online or in books. You can read Woody’s words, you can sing the songs and feel a little camaraderie with your fellow humans and the plight of the average Joe.
Each year there are favorite performers that we look forward to seeing again. And as always we anticipate the joy of finding a new “favorite” to add to the list. Such acts as Monica Taylor, Barton & Sweeny, John Fullbright, The Red Dirt Rangers, The Burns Sisters, Randy Crouch, Buffalo Fitz, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, and Don Conoscenti just to name a few. (Don’t expect any of these people to wear a sequin glove or do the moonwalk.) For links to the performers check the WoodyFest site on the 2009 Entertainers Page.
And it’s not just the performers we look forward to seeing. It’s the people. I’m horrible at names, faces I’m pretty good at though, and the first glimpse of some of those faces brings joy to my spirit. The young hippie couple from Krebs, she is from the
Lovera family and they have a new baby that we’ll see for the first time. Mary Ann and her sister from back East, Sam from Tulsa who we’ve watched grow into his teens, the fellow vendors like Dana, Diane, Charley and Chance.
The Sisters of the Purple Veil will no doubt be there too.
I think we've even figured out how to keep the shea butter fresh and will be bringing that along this year. So if you're planning on coming to Woody Fest - come say hello!
This is going to be a great weekend!!!
crossposted on lostcityknits.blogspot.com
