An alternative streak fuels this oil town. A mural on downtown’s new Woody Guthrie Center shows the Oklahoman songwriter holding a guitar tagged “This machine kills fascists”—words he scrawled on his instrument in 1943 but not the ones his name usually conjures. “‘This Land Is Your Land’ isn’t just a campfire song; Guthrie really was a radical,” says Deana McCloud, …
When Jack White performs an outdoor concert Sept. 17 at ONEOK Field, it will be sort of a homecoming. Homecoming? White grew up in Detroit. Now, he’s based out of Nashville. But, if you remember, there were web rumors circulating about a year ago that he has a residence here. True? “Yeah. That is very true. I love Tulsa, man,” …
Ken Burns’ sprawling new “Country Music” documentary digs into the origins of the genre and how “hillbilly music” changed with the times. If you are concerned that country music isn’t what it used to be, be aware that folks have been lodging that complaint for decades. Near the end of the documentary, Oklahoma music artist Vince Gill says this about …
More than an hour after a lunch interview began and long after drummer Jamie Oldaker had conquered the three-coneys-and-a-drink special at Coney Island in the Brady Arts District, he said this about Tulsa’s status as a music town: “It was sleeping for a while. It has always been a music town. It never stopped and came back all of a …
Reporting from Tulsa, Okla. — In the middle of a show at Cain’s Ballroom — when the maple floorboards are trembling, the neonstar in the ceiling is gleaming and a high guitar note is bending toward bliss — you might suspect that the room was never intended for this. You’d be right. In 1924, before Bob Wills played his first dance …
Minerva Productions and Raisin’ Cain Productions are in the process of making a musical documentary about Tulsa, Oklahoma’s legendary musical venue, Cain’s Ballroom. Featuring Arlo Guthrie, Elvis Costello, Kings of Leon, Wanda Jackson and over 50 others, this film captures the history of a place that every great musician knows and loves. The producersare in the process of raising final funds …
There are several places in Tulsa where you can easily get that “Wow, if these walls could only talk” vibe. The fabled Cain’s Ballroom is one. Filmmaker Tate Wittenberg has been working for more than two years on getting those hallowed honky-tonk ramparts to spill it. He’s documenting the story for a still-in-production film called “Raisin’ Cain: A History of …
Cain’s Ballroom, built in 1924 as a garage, is a national marvel among music venues. It has been presenting live music in Tulsa for close to a century, from country to punk and rap. This video tells what Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys did there. Source: https://www.latimes.com/99417163-132.html
New ventures continue to spring up in the downtown Tulsa Arts District, but, in a year when Cain’s Ballroom is turning 95, here’s a reminder to look down. Specifically, look under your feet. One of the district’s under-the-radar attractions is a “walk of fame.” On the sidewalk outside Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St., are stars with names of bands …
Cain’s Ballroom is going to be the site of a radio broadcast again May 29. On that date, Grammy-nominated Chicago alt-country singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks is hosting “Live From Cain’s,” a new public radio show concept that will be recorded in front of a live audience at Cain’s Ballroom. The musical guest will be Texas singer-songwriter Bonnie Bishop. Additional guests will …