-70 songwriters, 5 stages, 1 magical day of music moves to a Sunday in Stillwater-

March 24, 2023—Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café, Oklahoma’s largest homegrown songwriter festival, announces new venues, more songwriters and a move to Sunday, May 7th in Stillwater, Okla. Now in its twelfth year, the festival will span five stages with acoustic song swap sets from 70 Oklahoma songwriters including festival staples Cody Canada, John Fullbright, Carter Sampson, Mike Hosty, Monica Taylor and Bryon White while adding 10 new voices to the lineup, as well as the winner of the Jimmy LaFave Songwriting Contest. The festival benefits Red Dirt Relief Fund, the nonprofit that provided aid to more than half the artists in the lineup during the pandemic, and more than 800 music professionals statewide over the past decade.

“We’re excited to shake things up this year with the move to Sunday, the addition of three new venues, more songwriters than ever before and a “White Buffalo Brunch” featuring the Red Dirt Rangers, Randy Crouch and friends doing a tribute set of all Bob Childers’ songs,” said Red Dirt Relief Fund Executive Director Katie Dale. “Stillwater is the birthplace of red dirt music, and we are committed to evolving this festival to celebrate that history while showcasing the future of Oklahoma songwriting—and have a really good time doing it!”

The Lineup

This year’s lineup includes five Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductees, a Grammy nominee and two Jimmy LaFave Songwriting contest winners. The full schedule by stage will be announced in April and will also include Adam Aguilar, Ahna Jennings, Alison Sloan, Amber Watson, Autumn Ragland, Avery Stinnett, Bailey Gilbert, Beau Jennings, Ben Brock, Ben McKenzie, Billy Moore, Blake Lankford, Bo Phillips, Bobby Moore, Brad James, Brandon Bethel, Brandon Clark, Brandon Jackson, Brent Giddens, Bryce Dicus, Bryon White, Buffalo Rogers, Cale Lester, Casey West, Cassie Latshaw, Chris Blevins, Chris Jones, Cody Canada, Chuck Dunlap, Dan Martin, Daniel Burgess, Dylan Moss, Dylan Stewart, Gannon Fremin, Gavin Charles, Gene Collier, Gib Stones, Gus Burns, Haydon Harris, Holly Beth, Jacob Dement, Jacob Tovar, Jared Tyler, Jason Scott, Joe Baxter, John Goolsby, Johnny Mullenax, Jordan Cox, Kierston White, Kim Reynolds, Kyle Nix, Lance Roark, Nellie Clay, Nick Gibson, Paul Benjaman, RC Edwards, Rick Reiley, Rigby Summer, Scott Evans, Steve Liddell, Thomas Trapp and Zac Wenzel.

Venues & Festival Tickets

New to this year’s festival, the White Buffalo Brunch at Stonecloud Brewing includes a brunch buffet from Good Little Eater, two drink tickets from Stonecloud Brewing and a Red Dirt Rangers set of Bob Childers’ tunes with Randy Crouch and friends from the festival lineup.  Tickets are limited and include GA admission to all festival venues.

Grand Casino Stage at Outlaws will include the presentation and performance by the 2023 Jimmy LaFave Song Contest winner, as well as the presentation of this year’s Restless Spirit Award to be announced in April.

Eskimo Joe’s Main Stage will include regional vendors and a silent auction of one-of-a-kind music experiences and memorabilia. Before the all-lineup family jam finale, there will be a live auction of a Gypsy Cafe guitar signed by the entire lineup and a live painting by Bobby Moore, a member of Tulsa-based band, The Brothers Moore, who is also playing the fest.

Festival venues include:

  •       Eskimo Joe’s Main Stage (all ages, outdoor weather permitting, 501 W. Elm St.)
  •       Grand Casino Stage at Outlaws (21+, 501 S. Washington St.)
  •       Coors Light Stage at Salty Bronc (21+, 911 W. 5th Ave.)
  •       George’s Stables (21+, 502 W. Elm St.)
  •       White Buffalo Brunch at Stonecloud Taproom—SPECIAL TICKET REQUIRED (all ages, 917 S. Husband St.)

General Admission tickets good for entry to all festival venues (excluding Brunch) are $30 in advance at http://www.reddirtrelieffund.org/gypsycafe or day-of for $35 or $25 for students with ID.

 A limited number of tickets for the White Buffalo Brunch and Reserved Seating at the Eskimo Joe’s Main Stage range from $80-$150.

The festival will provide a free shuttle running a loop around the general admission venues from 1-8pm on May 7th.

The Cause

Red Dirt Relief Fund was founded in 2012 using the ticket proceeds of the very first Gypsy Café festival held in Stillwater in 2011.  Since then, the nonprofit has granted more than $700,000 in emergency assistance to more than 800 music professionals in all genres and jobs statewide, including more than $300,000 to those facing venue closings and gig cancellations during the pandemic.

Now in its twelfth year, Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser thanks to support from presenting sponsors Deep Eddy Vodka, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Jose Cuervo Tequila, Grand Casino and many community partners.

For more information, visit reddirtrelieffund.org or contact Katie Dale at 918-407-4599 or reddirtrelieffund@gmail.com.

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