Tulsa's Dfest Growing In Popularity

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Dfest is being called one of the fastest growing music festivals in the country.

Thousands of music lovers are enjoying Saturday night in the Blue Dome District. It's the final night of Dfest.

Dfest is in its 8th year of bringing music to downtown Tulsa. Artists and those in the industry say it's becoming more and more popular across the country.

More than 160 artists have spent the last three days performing around the Blue Dome District, as 70,000 people are expected for the 2009 version of Dfest.

"We got more stages, more bands, more fun," said Ben Beresh, events director.

"I'm really surprised at how progressive and how hip the festival is and it just seems like a very cool scene down here," said Danny Chaimson, a musician.

Danny Chaimson is in Tulsa with his band, the 11th Hour, to promote their new album

"It's kind of soul, old soul, funk," said Danny Chaimson.

Chaimson says he has been through, over and around Oklahoma, but has never played here before. He says Dfest's goal to have bands from different genres of music makes it a great place for him to perform.

Chaimson says when he told his fellow musicians and friends in the industry he was playing here they thought it was a good idea.

"When we mentioned Dfest to them they were like, 'Oh yeah, we heard about that last year. It's supposed to be a really cool festival.' It seemed like it was just getting into the national radar of the big festivals that really matter," said Chaimson.

"Well I think it's a great emerging festival," said Harold Owens, MusiCares.

Harold Owens is another on the national music scene. He likes how Dfest works with artists on the business side of the industry and believes it will continue to get bigger and better in the future.

"I think it's having an impact in the music community. I think more and more people are going to sign on for this event," said Harold Owens.

It's a festival that is putting itself and Tulsa on the national stage.