Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Coming Soon To A Pasture Near You: 10th Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

July is almost here, which means it's time for another edition of the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. This year's festival is set for July 11-15 in Okemah, Okla., Guthrie's hometown.

The 2007 festival will feature a number of familiar performers, including Arlo Guthrie and other members of the Guthrie family. The line-up also features Texas singer Sara Hickman and Tim O'Brien, co-founder of the bluegrass group Hot Rize. Other festival favorites returning this year include Kevin Welch, Jammy LaFave, Joel Rafael, and one of our favorites, Boston's Ellis Paul.

Oklahoma's own Red Dirt Rangers are on the program, as are Cathy Guthrie and Amy Nelson (Willie's daughter), who have a bawdy duo known as Folk Uke.

One great thing about the Woody festival is its cost: free. You do have to pay $10 for parking at the Pastures of Plenty Amphitheater, but it's a bargain considering the quality of the talent and the pleasures of the music.

Okemah is southwest of Tulsa, about an hour and a half drive. For true "Okie folkies," the drive is well worth it.

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