'The Oklahoma Room' Puts Talents On Display At Music Festival

A group of Oklahoma musicians is getting an opportunity to show off their talents at a major music festival thanks, in part, to overwhelming community support.

The Folk Alliance International Conference is one of the five largest music conferences in North America. The annual event brings in musicians, and industry professionals around the world to share ideas and celebrate the musical community.

“I call it the South by Southwest for folk and roots music,” said Brian Horton, president of Tulsa nonprofit, Horton Records.

Since 2014, Horton, along with Folk Salad radio host Scott Aycock, executive director of the Woody Guthrie Center Deana McCloud and talent manager Larry White have worked side by side to bring The Oklahoma Room to the Folk Alliance International Conference.

“We put together a business plan and formed a planning committee,” Horton said. “We pitched the idea to the George Kaiser Family Foundation as a way to support and showcase our musicians, as well as the music-related resources that we have across the state, with the hopes of landing the conference in Tulsa in the future.”

It worked. For the past three years, The Oklahoma Room has made it possible for local musicians to showcase their talents; and it’s really taken off.

“The Oklahoma Room, hands down, has been the buzz of the conference since the first year. The sense of community and collaboration, authenticity, and spirit is undeniable. The vibe in the room is special,” Horton said.

But it takes more than just the four members of the planning committee and the musicians to make the Oklahoma Room successful. It's a community effort.

The Oklahoma Room is a nonprofit effort, and the community has helped raise enough money each year to cover the registration and travel for all the artists.

Horton said, "We've accomplished that each year, which we think is a huge benefit that allows the artists to focus on their craft and not lose money going to an event like this, as it is costly."

Musicians currently confirmed to perform in the Oklahoma Room include: Travis Linville, Jesse Aycock, Wink Burcham, Jacob Tovar, Paul Benjaman, Kyle Reid, Beau Roberson of Pilgrim, Chris Lee Becker, Scott Aycock, Levi Parham, John Calvin Abney, Cody Brewer of Grazzhopper, George Barton, Desi and Cody, Steve Liddell, Kalyn Fay, Annie Oakley, Andy Adams, Don Morris, Carter Sampson, Dan Martin, and Susan Herndon.

The Folk Alliance International Conference is February 17-21 in Kansas City.

There is also a send-off show February 12, 2016, at The Colony at 2809 South Harvard Avenue. It's $10 at the door.

Performances start at 7:00 p.m. and you must be 21 years old to enter.