It’s that time of year again!

On Sunday, October 17th, more than 30 Oklahoma musicians will gather at Mercury Lounge and Venue Shrine at 18th and Boston in Tulsa to play an intimate festival celebrating the life and songwriting tradition of Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer, Tom Skinner.

If you have attended any of the previous years events, you know what a special day of musical collaboration and comradery this event is.

The festival will benefit Oklahoma musicians in crisis through the nonprofit Red Dirt Relief Fund that has granted $270,000 to out-of-work musicians during the pandemic.

In fact, the Oklahoma Arts Council named Red Dirt Relief Fund as a recipient of The Community Service Award among 14 individuals and three organizations that will be honored for their contributions to the arts during the 44th Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Awards on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

According to Executive Director Katie Dale, “In the first 8 years, Red Dirt Relief Fund (RDRF) helped 87 grantees total. In the past 18 months due to COVID-19, that number has grown to 852. We had no idea this little grassroots nonprofit would become so vital to the survival of individual music professionals in Oklahoma, but this Governor’s Arts Award is validation that Oklahomans value the talent, energy and hard work music people pour into creating art in our state. We are so grateful to the Oklahoma Arts Council and Governor Stitt for recognizing this work, but more importantly the individuals we serve, the donors who support us and the fans who help hold up the music industry through it all.”

For eight years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, RDRF established itself as a vital source of critical assistance for individuals working in Oklahoma’s music industry. Since 2012, RDRF has granted more than a half million dollars to more than 850 Oklahomans. Through its grant funding activities, RDRF has come to the aid of people recovering from accidents, cancer treatment, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and other circumstances. Available to residents involved in the creation, production, promotion, and other jobs directly tied to the state’s music industry, RDRF grants historically covered living expenses and medical bills. Since spring 2020, as music venues across Oklahoma have been closed or limited in operations, the work of RDRF has taken on new significance. In March 2020, as the pandemic abruptly emerged, RDRF immediately shifted to providing emergency aid for those impacted by cancelled and postponed shows. It then began convening a task force of state music industry leaders to disseminate vital information about COVID-19 relief programs. To date during the pandemic, RDRF has raised and delivered funding totaling several times its normal annual budget.

“The efforts of our Governor’s Arts Awards honorees are why the arts continue to inspire hope and resilience for Oklahomans during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said. “Their commitments reflect the investment necessary to ensure the arts endure to meet the important needs in our state. We look forward to celebrating their steadfast devotion to their communities through their efforts in the arts.”

The Governor’s Arts Awards will be presented by Governor J. Kevin Stitt during a special ceremony beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the fourth floor rotunda at the Oklahoma State Capitol. A reception will follow in the second floor rotunda. The event is free and open to the public.

So we can all see just how important the Red Dirt Relief Fund is to our community and state, which is just one of the many reasons you should be purchasing your tickets to Skinnerfest now.

Skinner was often quoted for his description of Red Dirt music as “more of a brotherhood and a community thing than it is necessarily a style.”  This festival seeks to celebrate that community in a safe festival atmosphere that will surprise music fans of all genres by showcasing all Oklahoma talent. Skinner was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame just four months before his death on July 12, 2015.

Skinnerfest is 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, Oklahoma Arts Council, White Claw, Vast Bank, 33rd St. Studios and Radish.

Here’s the impressive lineup:

12pm: VIP Brunch hosted by King Cabbage Brass Band (Venue Shrine, VIP ticket required)

Venue Shrine (21+)

3:00-3:45pm: John Williams, Larry Spears, Greg Jacobs

4:00-4:45pm:  Women of Song with Becky Hobbs & Monica Taylor

5:00-5:45pm: Dustin Pittsley, Brandon Clark, Travis Kidd

6:00-6:45pm:  John Fullbright & Friends

7:00pm SILENT AUCTION CLOSES

7:00-7:45pm: Science Project Band & Friends

8:00-8:45pm:  Red Dirt Rangers

Mercury Lounge (21+)

2:15pm, Second line parade with King Cabbage Brass Band

2:20-3:15pm:  Women of Song with Kalyn Fay, Ken Pomeroy, Briana Wright & Monica Taylor

3:30-4:15pm: Chris Blevins, Chloe Beth

4:30-5:15pm: Jacob Tovar, Wink Burcham

5:30-6:15pm: Jared Tyler, Mallory Eagle

6:30-7:15pm: Bryon White, Dylan Stewart, Mike McClure

7:30-8:15pm: Chris Jones & the Flycatchers

9pm, Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing Afterparty at The Colony

The day kicks off at noon with a limited capacity VIP Brunch at Shrine featuring King Cabbage Brass Band, Oklahoma’s own New Orleans-inspired 7-piece outfit performing pop, R&B, rock and New Orleans favorites. VIP tickets include brunch from The Bachelor’s Table food truck, a complimentary Bloody Mary, festival merch discount and general admission to both festival venues.  As the brunch comes to a close at 2:00pm, the band will lead fans in a second line parade to open general admission at both stages for acoustic song swap sets and eventually full band sets stretching into the evening.

There will also be a silent auction held at the event, with various items that have been generously donated. However, we can always use more items. If you or your business would like to donate an item for the silent auction, you can contact Tonya Little at LittleOkieLand@yahoo.com, or by contacting the Red Dirt Relief Fund directly.

After taking the festival virtual in 2020 due to pandemic, organizers are excited to bring the sixth annual Skinnerfest back in person and will require everyone in attendance to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event.  According to Red Dirt Relief Fund Executive Director Katie Dale, “We personally know hundreds of stories of how this pandemic has devastated individuals working in all facets of the music industry in our state. These individuals are working hard to recover their losses, provide for their families and continue performing in the safest ways possible. We hope to honor that at this festival while bringing people back to work making music for audiences to appreciate live.” You can view the 2020 virtual festival in its entirety HERE.

Tickets can be purchased at reddirtrelieffund.org/skinnerfest starting at $15 for General Admission in advance, $50 for VIP Brunch (limited) and up to $100 for “Friends of the Festival” that include a t-shirt and show poster. The event is 21+.  

Visit reddirtrelieffund.org/skinnerfest , friend Red Dirt Relief Fund on Facebook or follow @reddirtrelief for more information and festival updates.

 For media or sponsorship inquiries, please contact Katie Dale at reddirtrelieffund@gmail.com or 918-407-4599.