7th annual Skinnerfest raised more than $18,000 for financial assistance grants for Oklahoma music professionals in need!

The Red Dirt Relief Fund held the 7th annual Skinnerfest (Skyline Music Festival) on October 16th at the corner of 18th & Boston in Tulsa. The much-loved fundraiser event is held every year between the Mercury Lounge and The Shrine, where you can bounce back and forth all day to take part in the phenomenal array of music available.

     The RDRF, formed in 2012, is celebrating it’s 10th year and since it’s inception, the nonprofit has granted more than $580,000 in emergency assistance, to more than 800 music professionals in 38 Oklahoma cities and towns, most notably almost $300,000 to those facing venue closings and gig cancellations during the pandemic. This organization is one of the few, if the only, safety net many self-employed musicians and music related employees have, making it a vital part of our music scene and it’s very existence.

     The festival of course is named after and honors the late, great Tom Skinner, who was a beacon of light in the red dirt world. Much loved by all, this fun loving, mischievous and talented musician made a huge mark on the red dirt world as one of its leading founders and we come together every year to not only raise money for the Oklahoma music scene, but to also pay tribute to Tiny and everything he was. Skinner not only was a fantastic musician who made it all look so easy, but he was an inspiration, mentor and friend to everyone and anyone in the scene. His legacy runs deep and wide and his spirit is alive and well at each of these festivals, and I truly believe that’s what makes this festival so different than the rest.

     RDRF also hosts the annual Bob Childers Gypsy Café every spring, and someone who had only been to that festival asked me if Skinnerfest was the same. I don’t believe it is. While they both feel like a big music family reunion full of love and camaraderie, I feel like they both have a different energy about them. Gypsy Café feels like a big party, there are more venues and things to do which makes it a faster and more frantically paced event. Also being in Stillwater, the birth of the red dirt scene and a thriving college town, I feel like this draws in a much younger crowd at times and makes it feel more like one big all-consuming street party. But Skinnerfest to me always feels like a laid-back, easy going, slower paced event. It’s almost like a musical church for the soul, and while the crowd is a mix of young and old, it tends to have more of the older generation of music fans, which brings it an entirely different energy. There is a deeper family and music respect energy, at least to me it seems. While I absolutely love Gypsy Cafe and in no way, shape or form think one is better than the other, they are both phenomenal events, they just feel different to me. Also, it could be that Skinnerfest is held on Sunday every year, which just makes for a more laid-back day in general. But I’m gonna stick with my theory that Skinner has his hand it in all, and his easy going and laid-back nature is the vibe that this festival takes on.

     Now don’t get me wrong, laid back and easy going doesn’t mean the music is not flowing loudly and jubilantly, because it does, all day long. People dance, sing along and enjoy it to the fullest, and this year was no different. The weather was overcast and a bit gloomy to begin the day, but it made for the perfect temperature and weather to sit on the porch of either of these fine establishments and kick back and enjoy it all.

     Skinnerfest kicked off with the VIP Bloody Mary Brunch with Paul Benjamin’s Oklahoma All Stars including Ayilla, Kalyn Fay, Jacob Tovar, Jared Tyler and Jesse Aycock. The music flowed and a delicious brunch was served, and it was only just the beginning. As you can see with this impressive line-up.

     So many great artists played and shared a stage together, and they all did a fantastic job. Phil Clarkin was on hand as always snapping photos and videos and he’s always so kind to let me use them.

     I got to organize the silent auction again this year and we had some amazing items donated, including the Red Dirt Randy t-shirt quilt, which was made from Randy’s concert t-shirts donated by his brother after Randy’s passing last fall. We also had large prints of Randy Crouch taken by Tom Harris, who had gone to Crouch’s home to have them signed. Harris also had Skinnerfest and Gypsycafe lights made for the auction.

Those are just a couple of the fantastic items that were available for auction that day and also included handwritten lyrics by Mike McClure, a hand burned Skinnerfest hatchet made by Bryon White, Skinner stone coasters made by Legacy Customs, and a gorgeous Buffalo painting with a handmade frame using repurposed wood by Jeremiah Lee who has an art studio, The Dusty Pig, located in Tulsa. There were so many great items donated to the auction from a wide variety of people and organizations. The silent auction raised $1740, and I’m always honored to get the chance to help put it together, but I couldn’t do it without the help, generosity and giving spirit of everyone who both donates and bids on items, as well as helps me organize and run the auction. Thank you everyone.

     This event is always special to me because it tends to be the one time of the year that I get to catch up with Jeremy Skinner, Tom’s son, and hug his neck.

And I get to catch up with Wilma Jenkins, Brandon Jenkins’ momma.

     I also get to see others I don’t get to see much of, like Gene Collier, a wonderful musician who has been making his mark on the scene since the 70’s. If you didn’t already know, Collier wrote the song made famous by Cross Canadian Ragweed, Boys from Oklahoma, and is an impressive musician in his own right. Collier won the auction for one of Monica Taylor’s CDs and T-shirt and when he came to pick it up and asked how much he owed, I said his price included a hug as well and I wasn’t about to let him get away without it. There’s always so much love in this scene, and I’m here for it.

     Katie Dale, Executive Director of the RDRF and all around joyful and beautiful human being, always makes it look so effortless every year. She’s a pleasure to work with on the events, and I’m always impressed with how much she does for the organization and this scene, and she deserves all the love. The RDRF and all of us are lucky to have her.

     As always it was a successful event, raising $18,513 for RDRF to give grants in the music community. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make the day as awesome as it was.

You can also see a video highlight of the event here.