On Sunday October 17th, more than 400 music fans came together in the spirit of love and music to 18th & Boston in Tulsa for the sixth annual Tom Skinner Skyline Music Fest, lovingly nicknamed Skinnerfest.

It is one of my favorite events of the year, and I look forward to it like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. The festival included the sound and styles of over 40 Oklahoma musicians in various song swap collaborations and full band sets, all to help honor and celebrate Okie legend Tom Skinner and help raise money for the Red Dirt Relief Fund. The festival raised $15,354 to support grant funds for Oklahoma musicians in crisis.

Of course, the Red Dirt Relief Fund is a non-profit organization that provides a safety net of critical assistance to Oklahoma music professionals. Since it began in 2012, Red Dirt Relief Fund has granted over $500,000 to more than 900 music people in 38 Oklahoma counties including $279,000 in COVID relief grants since last March. This organization is such an Oklahoma treasure, and it is a gift to have it here and thriving. I always love to see how many amazing things they manage to do each and every year. The Red Dirt Relief Fund has done some pretty incredible things over the years, and they are able to do these things because of everyone who comes out to these events and gives generously. That in and of itself is enough to fill the air with magic and love but mix in the fact that it is to honor Skinner and it magnifies it immensely.

Skinner was such a remarkable person who did magnificent things for the music scene as well, simply just by being himself. He seemed to make the magic he created on stage all look so effortless, and I think it really was to him for the most part. Skinner radiated positive light and encouragement and was especially focused on helping upcoming musicians find their footing in the mix. He inspired so many people, in a way only he could with his playful nature, love of dirty jokes and penchant for Braum’s burgers and milkshakes. Now don’t get me wrong, we all know he had a mischievous glint in his eyes, that he was just a big kid at heart, and was probably up to red dirty shenanigans at all times. In short, we know he wasn’t a saint, but we also know he was genuine and talented and had a love for the music community that he shined on us all. His Skyline Festival is nothing short of magical, and it is full of community, love and that positive spirit he was famous for. I think he would be proud to have his name on it. I feel like just like every other year, his spirit and love was shining down on us all that day.

In fact, I always liken the energy of the entire event to that of a big church family, full of shared love for the music, the scene, for Tom, for each other. People were dancing when they could find a little room and everyone was singing along to the fantastic selection of songs performed with heartfelt sentiment, which brings back the feeling of simpler times. Every musician on both of the stages, Mercury Lounge and the Shrine, were putting heart and soul into those tunes, and none of it was lost on those who were there to listen. This wasn’t just some gig, this was Skinner’s church and they offered up the best service to fit the bill. They weren’t just songs, they were the red dirt gospel as we know it, and you could feel them as much as you could hear them. 

To kick things off there was a VIP Brunch at The Shrine with entertainment by the King Cabbage Brass Band, which set the tone for the high energy merrymaking and entertainment of the whole festival.

The brunch was a choice of shrimp and grits or sausage with red beans and rice by The Bachelor’s Table food truck and veggie loaded bloody marys were provided by Provisions Fine Beverage. The set ended when the band led a spirited group waving napkins overhead in a second-line parade across 18th Street to the Mercury Lounge.

A video of this moment, along with videos of sets streamed from both venues throughout the day, can be viewed at the Red Dirt Relief Fund Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/reddirtrelieffund

Directly after that parade of events, the festival officially kicked off with the Women of Song: Monica Taylor, Ken Pomeroy, Kalyn Fay and Briana Wright.

The silent auction was full of great items, including a baseball signed by Tom Skinner himself which was brought to the event by Tom’s son Jeremy.

I only get to catch up with Jeremy about once a year, so this event is always special to me just because I know I’m going to get to see him and hug his neck.

I also got to hang out with Wilma Jenkins, Brandon Jenkins’ momma throughout the event too, and was glad to share the day with her. The friendships and connections I have formed through the love of our okie artists is nothing short of a red dirt family, of which I am honored and grateful to be a part of.

Something that I find both refreshing and novel to the Oklahoma music scene is the diversity of the crowd in styles and age. There were young college aged kids and much older veteran music lovers in attendance, and everyone was in high spirits. There was dancing and singing and just the energy of love filled the air. I think this was also intensified by the fact that we got to even be at the event, after the festival had to be held virtually in 2020.

“Everyone from the musicians and venues to sponsors and fans were so excited to be together again for an amazing day of Oklahoma music. The weather was ideal for bouncing between venues, and the love was palpable,” said Red Dirt Relief Fund Executive Director Katie Dale.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the day, sunny and warm. The beautiful day continued well into the night with musician pairings of Skinner’s friends, including John Fullbright, Wink Burcham, Mike McClure, Bryon White, Dylan Stewart, and more, and raucous full-band sets from Science Project Band, Chris Jones & the Flycatchers and Red Dirt Rangers & Friends. I think it just might get better and better every year.

The music was phenomenal, the food was delicious, the cause was honorable, the people were plentiful, the whole event was a magical celebration of music and love. If you missed it, you missed it. Make sure you make plans to attend next year, and always stay plugged into the Red Dirt Relief Fund for all the events that they host.

Skinnerfest was presented by Tulsa Dental Center, a partner that provides low-cost care to Oklahoma musicians and their families, with support from additional sponsors including The Collaborative, White Claw, Vast Bank, 33rd St. Studios, Horton Records, Radish, Broken Arrow Brewing Company, Provisions Fine Beverage and KOSU.

Renowned Tulsa photographer, Phil Clarkin, documented the day, and as always, I appreciate the use of his photos