I wanted to let everyone know about the newest, biggest, free-est folk =
festival in the country honoring the grandaddy of folk - Woody Guthrie. =
The festival will be held the weekend of July 17-19, 1998 in Woody's =
hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma. (for those who are wondering, Okemah is =
right on I-40 about 70 miles east of Oklahoma City or a couple of hours =
north of Dallas.
This is the first year for the festival which is planned to become an =
annual event in July around Woody's birthday. For its first year, we've =
collected some of the biggest names in folk music including Woody's son, =
Arlo Guthrie, fellow Okies - Tom Paxton, Jimmy LaFave, Kevin Welch, and =
Ray Wylie Hubbard, along with Ellis Paul, Peter Keane, The Red Dirt =
Rangers, Tom Skinner, and Bob Childers.
The Festival will be attended by the entire Guthrie family and will also =
include the unveiling of a bronze statue of Woody and other =
Guthrie-related events. "Kerrville" and "Telluride" type camping will be =
available as well as lodging in area hotels.=20
The festival is entirely free and will include 2 big nights of music, =
Friday and Saturday.
We already have commitments from other "big-name" performers for next =
year's festival which will be even bigger - and still free. That's the =
way Woody would have wanted it. This event is especially important =
because it marks the first time Woody's hometown of Okemah have =
recognized him for his work. Since his death in 1967, Okemah has =
struggled with recognizing Woody due to the negative press that has been =
associated with him.
We've set up a web page which will be continuously updated in the =
upcoming weeks. For more information turn to:
The festival is being presented by The Woody Guthrie Coalition of Okemah =
and The Orphanage Society, a non-profit group presenting quality folk =
music in northeastern Oklahoma since 1996.
Thanks for your time,
David Gustafson
the orphanage society