SUNDAY FUNDAY PLANNED FOR TOM SKINNER’S SKYLINE MUSIC FEST
-Oklahoma musicians honor a hero while raising funds for fellow music people in crisis-

This is the 4th year for the Tom Skinner Skyline Music Festival, coming a little earlier this year than past years when it has been held in the fall. The first was held in 2016, the year after Skinner passed away from heart complications at the age of 61.

More than 45 Oklahoma musicians will come together play the intimate festival celebrating the life and songwriting tradition of Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee, Tom Skinner.

Tom Skinner was one of the founding godfather’s of the Red Dirt Scene with a reach long and wide for influencing the sounds and fellow musicians of this great state. Honoring him with a red dirt family reunion of sorts while raising money to help each other out is one of the best ways his legacy can be celebrated.

Ask pretty much anyone who met or got the privilege of playing music with Skinner and they will all tell you he was their best friend, and that he helped them immensely with encouragement and support. Anyone who can make everyone feel like they are his best friend, is someone special indeed.

Skinner was down to earth and kind, with a love for helping other musicians find their place, especially the younger ones still trying to find their footing. It was a great loss to the Red Dirt community when he left his earthly body, and the void is still painfully felt by so many.

The Skyline Festival proceeds will provide grants to Oklahoma musicians in crisis through the Red Dirt Relief Fund. Skinner, along with nine musicians performing at the festival, benefited from RDRF grants in the past.

This day of musical surprises showcases some of Oklahoma’s best songwriting talent in unique acoustic pairings and ramps up to full band sets from Pilgrim, The Damn Quails, Randy Crouch & Flying Horse Band featuring Paul Benjaman and Tom Skinner’s own Science Project Band.

Inspired by Skinner’s Sunday Gospel Jam at Stone River Music Festival, this year’s VIP Brunch will be hosted by Grammy-nominated songwriter John Fullbright. Backed by a full band, Fullbright will invite artists from throughout the festival lineup to join him for Skinner songs and stories, sharing the “gospel according to Tom Skinner.” A VIP Brunch ticket includes Burn Co. BBQ’s famous brunch, Deep Eddy Bloody Mary bar, Broken Arrow Brewing Co. beer plus admission to the full festival.

WHEN: Sunday, August 18th from 12:30-10:30pm
WHERE: The venues are located at the intersection of 18th & Boston in Tulsa:
Venue Shrine, 112 E. 18th St.
Mercury Lounge, 1747 S. Boston Ave.
Burn Co. BBQ (VIP Brunch), 1738 S. Boston Ave.

Deep Eddy VIP Gospel Brunch, Burn Co. BBQ (all ages)—VIP ticket required
12:30-2:30pm: John Fullbright & Friends

Venue Shrine (21+)
3:30-4:15pm: Steve Liddell, Casii Stephan, Joe Mack
4:30-5:15pm: Craig Skinner, Mark Chamberlain, Monica Taylor, Scott Evans
5:30-6:15pm: Amy Lee, Austin Hayworth, Cassie Latshaw
6:30-7:15pm: John Williams, Greg Jacobs, John Cooper, Kurt Nielsen
7:30-8:40pm: Science Project Band & Friends
9:10-10:15pm: Randy Crouch & The Flying Horse Band with Paul Benjaman

Mercury Lounge (21+)
3:00-3:45pm: John Fell, Chloe Johns, Wink Burcham
4:00-4:45pm: Chris Blevins, Nellie Marie Clay, Jacob Dement
5:00-5:45pm: Jesse Aycock, Jason Scott, Dustin Pittsley
6:00-6:45pm: Jacob Tovar, Jared Tyler, Kalyn Fay
7:00-8:10pm: The Damn Quails
8:25-9:35pm: Pilgrim

HOW: Advance GA tickets (Mercury Lounge and Shrine) are $12 at reddirtrelieffund.org/skyline or $20 at the door. A limited amount of VIP tickets which include fest admission plus the VIP Gospel Brunch (Burn Co.) are $50 in advance only.

WHY: All festival proceeds benefit the Red Dirt Relief Fund, a non-profit organization that provides a safety net of critical assistance to Oklahoma music people. Skinner was a grant recipient of RDRF and remained a committed supporter of the organization until his death in July 2015. Operated by an all-volunteer Board, RDRF has granted over $160,000 to musicians in the state since 2012.

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.reddirtrelieffund.org/skyline.