On Sunday, October 12th, more than 50 Oklahoma musicians will play two stages at 18th and Boston in Tulsa for the tenth annual “Skinnerfest” celebrating the life and songwriting tradition of Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer, Tom Skinner. The festival, presented by Tulsa Dental Center, will benefit Red Dirt Relief Fund’s Financial Assistance fund to aid music creators facing unavoidable emergencies.
The festival begins at noon with a limited-capacity VIP Brunch featuring King Cabbage Brass Band at Mercury Lounge (additional ticket required). Brunch tickets include general admission to the festival along with a Cajun brunch from Nicky’s Smokehouse and two complimentary beverages.
After the brunch, King Cabbage, who recently toured as the horn section for Oklahoma superstar, Zach Bryan, officially kick off the festival with a signature second line parade. Music follows from rising funk-country-bluegrass star, Johnny Mullenax, country rockers, Keyland, Red Dirt music trailblazers, Red Dirt Rangers featuring Randy Crouch, Amber Watson, Brothers Moore, Science Project, Casii Stephan, BC & the Big Rig, Beau Jennings & Friends, Poppa Foster, Micefolk, HiFi Hillbillies, Drew Winn, Travis Linville, Jesse Aycock, Dustin & Ayngel Pittsley, Beau Roberson and more! With support from a Tulsa Vision Arts Grant, Red Dirt Relief Fund is also partnering with local comedy visionary, Evan Hughes, to deliver laughs at both stages throughout the day, with stand-up comedy from local comedians between musical sets. A full festival schedule can be found here.
New to the fest this year and with support from a Tulsa Vision Arts grant, Red Dirt Relief Fund has Hughes and LA comedian and actor, Josh Fadem, are also hosting “The Low Stakes Comedy Show, Skinnerfest Edition” at Chimera on Saturday, October 11. This evening of “sloppy comedy and sloppy laughs” includes a performance from local band, The Gremlins. This is a free, all-ages event with a suggested donation of $10 to support Red Dirt Relief Fund.
Skinnerfest attendees will have the chance to shop a vendor’s fair, along with a silent auction and festival merchandise all to benefit the cause. Anyone interested in becoming a spsonsor, vendor or volunteering at the festival can contact katie@reddirtrelieffund.org.
According to Red Dirt Relief Fund Executive Director Katie Dale, “Tom Skinner was always making people laugh, so this year we decided to add a little comic relief to the fest by partnering with our amazing Tulsa comedy community. We are grateful to the musicians, venues and all our partners for making it possible!”
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 while surprising 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.
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 $1 million to more than 800 music creators in 100 Oklahoma communities including $305,000 in COVID relief grants.
Skinnerfest is presented by Tulsa Dental Center, Red Dirt Relief Fund’s partner in providing low-cost dental care to local and touring musicians and their families since 2018. The fest is also supported by Tulsa Vision Arts, The Collaborative Coffee, Tulsa FMAC, Cardinal Rule Insurance, Sustainable Advisors Alliance and Dynamite Blue Print Co.
Tickets can be purchased at reddirtrelieffund.org/skinnerfest starting at $25. The stages at Mercury Lounge and Shrine are 21+. A VIP Brunch ticket is required to attend the show with King Cabbage Brass Band and includes GA admission to the fest.
Visit reddirtrelieffund.org/skinnerfest, friend Red Dirt Relief Fund on Facebook or follow @reddirtrelief for more information and festival updates.
