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Head outdoors for these hot shows.
“Dance like no one iswatching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you’ve never been hurt andlive like it's heaven on Earth.”
—Mark Twain
In July, one of the few places left to practice Mr. Twain’s brilliant piece of advice without getting slapped with a protective order is at one of the four music festivals in and around Tulsa.
Do not let me catch anyone complaining that there is nothing to do this month or I’ll have you do my yard work while I head to one of these shows.
Woody Guthrie Free Folk Festival
What better way to celebrate the music and work of Oklahoma’s own Woody Guthrie than to throw a music festival for the entire family to enjoy?
Make it free, that’s how.
There will be on-site camping for a mere $10 parking fee, but the music, as Woody would have wanted it, is free.
This show is his show, this show is your show, this show was made for Woody and you.
July 8-12. Okemah, Okla., www.woodyguthrie.com
Rocklahoma
This tribute to all of the over-the-top rock bands of the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s will offer everything a music festival aficionado could want: camping, open fields, ample facilities, improved sound and video, new roads and a slew of other improvements made to this festival site. Some of the 24 bands scheduled are: Twisted Sister, Stryper, RATT, Thin Lizzy, Great White, Warrant, Anthrax and Night Ranger.
It’s still a hard call to make no matter which band is playing at Rocklahoma.
Do I watch the bands or the countless people who have been drinking beer in the sun all day. People whose grip on reality becomes tenuous at best when darkness falls.
July 9-12. Pryor, Okla., www.rock.feverfest.com
Poor and Loud Festival
This first-year festival is being assembled by La Panther Happens, aka Jhohn Shrum. Said Shrum: “Poor and Loud will feature wild garage sounds from Oklahoma and beyond.” So far scheduled to play are a Two Headed Phantom reunion, A + Setup (from Fort Smith, Ark.), La Panther Happens and Motown Blood (from Oklahoma City). Shrum is working around-the-clock to book more bands and get an outdoor stage built. At the same time, he adds, “Most of this is coming out of my pocket. Let’s hope for the best.”
Want to actually support local music rather than just saying you do?
July 17-18. 409 N. Main St.
Dfest
Formerly a way to help founders Tom Green and Angie DeVore-Green’s band win a contest for Rolling Stone magazine, this festival has now become a full-time job. Their job this year includes producing a yoga symposium, a music conference with support from the Grammy Foundation and as much music as you can possibly handle. 
There will be emerging artists such as Callupsie, Native Lights and Ali Harter. Some of the signed artists include: The Black Crowes, Cake, Gogol Bordello, Citizen Cope, Bassnectar, Metro Station, Rooney, DJ Rekha, Dusty Rhodes & The River Band, Gil Mantera’s Party Dream, Ra Ra Riot, Other Lives and The Uglysuit.
July 24-25. Blue Dome District, Tulsa, www.dfest.com
