Friday, July 10 –

The parallel worlds that are rap and poetry collide, allowing an audience to uncover whose words have more power. In this spoken word showdown, the audience will choose the winner. The lyrical battle starts 8 p.m. at Living Arts. For years, these poets and rappers have debated whose rhymes were more skillful and compelling, but despite their differences, the two world’s borders are very thin. Poetry is the use of rhythmic language to evoke imaginative thinking, while rap or hip-hop is rhythmic language that is performed over a beat. When subtracting the 808 beat, rap becomes one with poetry. For more information, visit www.livingarts.org.

Friday, July 10 –

The western swing group formed in the small town of Paw Paw, W.Va. Since the 1970s, Asleep at the Wheel has secured nine Grammy Awards, and in 1977 the band was voted Best Country Western Band by Rolling Stone and was awarded the Touring Band of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. With hits like “The Letter That Johnny Walker Read,” “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie,” “Route 66” and “House of Blue Lights,” the musicianship of Asleep at the Wheel has become the stuff of legends. Now in its 41st year, the band continues to introduce western swing to a new generation on tour. For more information, visit www.cainsballroom.com.

Friday, July 10-Sunday, July 12 –

The Heart of Tulsa has become the premier marketplace where local and national artisans, boutique owners and collectors can sell their products to the public. Vendors will feature one-of-kind and unique, handmade items from jewelry and handbags to fashionable clothing and tasteful gourmet food. More than 500 vendors will be present to meet all your shopping needs. Affair of the Heart is held twice a year, one in fall and another during summer. Last year’s event was the biggest in its history. In 1985, the first An Affair of the Heart took place in Oklahoma City attracting 60 vendors and 800 attendees. In 1995, the show franchise was expanded to Tulsa and now has expanded into Texas. For more information, visit www.heartoftulsa.com.

Saturday, July 11 –

This rock band got its first start in the late ’60s in Champaign, Ill., where it traveled to gigs in station wagons, hence the band’s name. The rock band performed at small gigs around Champaign to get their name buzzing. By the ‘70s the band’s relentless drive and non-stop touring kick started the budding rock scene in midwest America. In the ‘80s, REO Speedwagon experienced Billboard success with its ninth studio album Hi Infidelity, which contained four U.S. Top 40 hits and was the group’s top selling album with 10 million albums sold worldwide. Although the band’s follow-up album, Good Trouble, was not as successful, the album did produce two U.S. charting singles. Over the course of its career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and charted 13 Top 40 hits, including number ones “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” REO Speedwagon will be at Frontier City. For more information, visit www.frontiercity.com.

Saturday, July 11 –

Tulsa-born acoustic band Skytown graces the Vanguard stage on Saturday, July 11. In 2012 the group started recording original songs and began playing in front of friends and family, which eventually escalated to performing for large house parties and bars. After receiving positive feedback from venue and club owners, the band decided it was time to take its music to the masses. The band’s name spread quickly after playing a complete show in Tulsa, and many were raving about the band’s new, innovative sound. In 2014, Skytown had the privilege to share the stage with national artists, including All About a Bubble, We the Ghost, Framing the Red, Dellacoma, Black Hole Gypsy, Fists of Rage, Drugs Delaney and Sage Cook of Elephant Revival. Recently, the group traveled to Denver to record its first EP with producers Glean Sawyer and Rich Veltrop, who have produced for Tom Petty, Macy Gray and many more. The band is currently working on a release campaign for its EP along with plans of a national tour. For more information, visit www.thevanguardtulsa.com.