Published: September 08, 2008 01:08 pm         

Blues Fest 4X4 opens Thursday

The Stillwater Community Center will again host a blues festival, this year called the Stillwater Blues Fest 4X4.

The festival, billed as “Oklahoma’s largest free music festival,” has grown in size and scope, extending from two to four days and expanding the diversity of music to include Red Dirt music, a subgenre of Country. Mickey & the Motorcars, a popular Red Dirt band, will be a headlining act Thursday night, in what event organizers have dubbed “College Night.”

“We’re calling it College Night to help spread awareness throughout the university, and to get them (students) to participate, too,” said Gloria Short, festival coordinator for the Stillwater Community Center. “The night is open to all ages, but the music is geared more for college students.”

The festival will kick off Thursday night, coinciding with the September Concert, celebrating peace and harmony on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. The September Concert will last from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the Blues Fest taking stage shortly afterward.

Thursday evening will feature, in addition to Mickey & the Motorcars, John Sarcone Band and Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights.

Friday night’s performances will be headlined by Mike Ward, featuring the Marcus Glenn Perry Band, Retrospect Band and Garret “Big G” Jacobson.

Sunday night’s shows will include Inspired, the Andy Arteberry Band and Mikal Dagget & the Blood Washed Blues Band.

Saturday will feature the largest number of headliners, including: Duo Sonics. Big Red & the Soulbenders, Rollin Phattys, Slick Willie & the Right Cats, the Adam Wyatt Electric Band, Janiva Magness and Chris Durante.

The festival will also feature a guitar competition, with a grand prize of a complimentary performance at next year’s festival. There is no age limit, though there are age categories for contestants. Two songs may be selected from a group of 13 for each category.

“We have a guitarist coming in from Amarillo, Texas, so we’re real excited about that,” Short said.

Downtown Stillwater Main Street launched the festival in 1998, naming the event “Uptown Blues Downtown.” Stillwater Power, Stillwater Community Center and the Harleys Owners’ Group took over the festival shortly afterward, renaming it “Bikes N Blues Fest.” The event moved to the Stillwater Community Center in 2001 for a two-day event, with crowd numbers and acts growing steadily each year.

Thursday’s schedule runs from 6 p.m. until midnight, as does Friday’s schedule. Saturday’s performance will last from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday’s performance will last from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

The festival will be held at the Stillwater Community Center at Ninth Avenue and Duncan Street, which will be closed between Eighth and Ninth avenues during the festival.

The festival is free, as is parking. Parking maps may be viewed by visiting the Blues festival’s Web site, at bluesfest.stillwater.org.

     

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