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Sturgill Simpson

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Sunday, March 29  

Sturgill Simpson’s sound grew up on the shoulders of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Born in 1978, his childhood was filled with the talents of industry greats, the old-country artists like Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard, and it’s evident in his music. Music that has the grit, flavor and purpose that the sound of that age embodied. But a career in music wasn’t always Simpson’s end game. He loved to play and so did the next guy in Kentucky where he grew up, but music as a career wasn’t thought about much. After three years in the United States Navy and some time in Japan, he formed Sunday Valley. Eventually, he’d take a break from that and work in a railroad freight-shipping yard before going solo in 2012. Simpson is a hard-working guy, mix that with a unique story-telling ability and artistic talent, and some great American country records are bound to be the outcome. Overtime, Simpson’s inspirations derived from his interest in the universe, religion and the human race, which he explored through books and films. This led to a different, yet true to his roots, sound on his second and most recent album: Metamodern Sounds of Country Music. He calls it a “hippie love record,” according to a Rolling Stone article in June of last year. Well, that “hippie love record” would go on to secure Simpson a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album at the 57th Grammy Awards. Although the honor went to Rosanne Cash, it’s evident that Simpson is awakening something with his music. Whether revitalizing a sounds that the majority of young country stars no longer feed off or writing powerful, message-driven lyrics that incite growth, his music holds a unique position in the industry and a rising following nods to something that he probably already knows but wouldn’t tell you: what he’s doing has been missing from the popular music scene, it’s important and it’s good music. Tulsa fans can see Simpson on Sunday, March 29, at Cain’s Ballroom with Nashville’s Electric Western. For more information, visit www.cainsballroom.com.

24-Hour Video Race Screening

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Thursday, March 19  

On the third Thursday of each month, Philbrook entices guests with speakers, hands-on activities and community collaboration on the topic of contemporary arts and culture. This Thursday, Philbrook opens its doors to the annual 24-Hour Video Race Screening. The 9th annual, statewide 24-Hour Video Race started its clock at Midnight, Feb. 6, at Living Arts of Tulsa. Every year, three elements – a line, prop and theme – are given to participating teams without notice. They then have 24 hours to write, shoot and edit their short, creatively incorporating these pieces within: This year’s elements – the line: it took me ten years, but I finally got it; the prop: rubber gloves; and the theme: life on the edge – sent contestants off on their creative challenge. Participants had to turn in their 5-minute or less video to Living Arts or Individual Arts of Oklahoma by Midnight on Feb. 7 to be included. The madness of the 24-hour race, which shows us just how talented some of our state’s video artist are, is behind us, now, audiences are welcomed to join the filmmakers, artists and actors who’ve created some timeless pieces as they screen their shorts at Philbrook Museum of Art on Rockford on Thursday, March 19. Enjoy a pre-screening party at 6:30 p.m., with the screening beginning at 7. An awards reception will follow the screening, at Living Arts of Tulsa. For more information, visit www.livingarts.org.

The 39 Steps

Photo courtesy Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Photo courtesy Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Photo courtesy Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Opens Friday, March 20

In 1935, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps hit the big screens. The movie, a mystery, spy thriller, follows Richard Hannay, played by Robert Donat, and the attractive Pamela, played by Madeleine Carroll, on the run from The 39 Steps – a organization of spies – after a female spy Hannay meets turns up dead. While this rendition almost perfectly parallels Hitchcock’s suspenseful drama, the cast and comedy mixture of this Theatre Tulsa presentation offers a fresh, riveting and hilarious interpretation. Even better, the more than 150 characters audiences will meet on stage are performed by a cast of only four. Chris Williams plays Hannay, Laura Skoch plays the three women Hannay romances throughout the performance, and two other actors, Robert Yong and Andy Axewill, carry the weight of all the others: heroes, villains, men, women, children and even inanimate objects. You won’t want to miss this hilarious spoof that’ll have you laughing through its entirety. It’ll have you on the edge of your seat wondering who you’ll meet next. The 39 Steps opens at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center on March 20 and continues through March 29. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.tulsapac.com.

Corpus Christi

Photo courtesy Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall.
Photo courtesy Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall.
Photo courtesy Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall.

Opens Friday, March 20

Presented by OKC Theatre Company, Corpus Christi, a passion play published in 1998 by Terrence McNally, parallels the story of Jesus and the Apostles through the telling of a young gay man named Joshua. Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Joshua finds himself isolated and alone, an outsider because of his homosexuality. In an effort to find a more welcoming community that uplifts rather than persecutes, Joshua leaves his hometown, finding faithful friends and followers on a journey that spreads the message of love and tolerance. What has been a somewhat controversial production over the years, Corpus Christi has received praise from many communities that welcome its relevance and perspective. In a 2008 review, The New York Times said it was “fragile, heartfelt” and includes “moments of hard-won sentiment that will win over the biggest skeptic.” Bringing a visual story to the gay community, which in 1998 struggled for inclusion, Corpus Christi was controversial but revolutionary – giving the topics of homosexuality and marriage equality alongside faith a stage and platform. The play’s revival on stage in the past 5 years has seen a lot less controversy than its predecessors, shedding light on shifting perspectives. The play is set to open Friday, March 20 at Oklahoma City’s Civic Center Music Hall and will continue through April 4. For more information, visit www.okcciviccenter.com.

Styx

Styx Photo by Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com
Styx Photo by Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com
Styx Photo by Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Friday, March 20

Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips continue to rock worldwide stages as Styx. Playing since the early ‘70s, this band has created countless musical masterpieces that reverberate into the hearts of fans across generations. It seems Styx has made a rather large comeback in its recent years. Performing more live since 1999 than ever before, says the band’s website, they continue to average more than 100 shows each year. If you don’t recognize the name, you will definitely recognize the band’s sound that transports you back to the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s: “Come Sail Away” (1977), “Renegade” (1978) and “Mr. Roboto” (1983), just to name a few. In the late ‘70s, early 80’s, Styx released powerful albums, still spinning today, that secured the band as the first group to score four triple-platinum albums in a row: The Grand Illusion (1977), Pieces of Eight (1978), Cornerstone (1979) and Paradise Theater (1981). The talents of these musicians speak for themselves. Not only has Styx mastered its sound, these guys know how to command an audience; their stage presence and energy continue to electrify the music they perform. On Friday, March 20, Styx’s legendary tracks will fill the Riverwind Casino, 1544 Oklahoma 9, Norman, Okla. The music is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.riverwind.com.

Charlie Wilson

Photo courtesy Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Photo courtesy Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Saturday, March 21

An eight-week tour that began Feb. 12 brings Charlie Wilson to Oklahoma Saturday, March 21. Coming on the tail of the Jan. 17 release of his sixth solo album, Forever Charlie, Wilson, alongside special guests Kem and Joe, will seduce audiences with love songs and soul and added funk and flavor. “I wanted to try some other things for fun, to relive some of the Gap Band moments,” Wilson says of the more up-beat tracks he’s created on Forever Charlie. Some of those tracks welcome top names in the industry, and creative, successful collaborations are the outcome: “Infectious,” featuring Snoop Dogg, “Unforgettable,” featuring Shaggy and “Hey Lover” that includes the talents of songwriter/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. At 61 years old, Wilson continues to reach fans through his music, and he has no plans of stopping. Just last year, he secured two Grammy nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song for “Bound 2,” a piece he collaborated with Kayne West on, and his most recent album’s hit single, “Goodnight Kisses,” continues to rise on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart. And while some musicians can pack a punch on their records but drop the exclamation on stage, Wilson brings just as much fire to the stages he performs on. A show to see, Charlie Wilson will be at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena on Saturday, March 21. For more information, visit www.chesapeakearena.com.

Take Action Tour

Courtesy Cains Ballroom.

take action tour

Saturday, March 21

The Take Action Tour is just one of the ways Hopeless Records’ Sub City goes about its mission to connect bands and fans to the organizations and causes they’re passionate about. “Our concept to support and spotlight these efforts has already raised more than 2 million dollars and donated to over 50 non-profit organizations,” its website says. Since 1999, Hopeless Records has been backing their bands and their bands’ desires to make a difference. On Saturday, March 21, the tour brings five talented bands to the Cain’s Ballroom Stage: Memphis May Fire, Crown the Empire, Dance Gavin Dance, Palisades and Outline in Color. This year, the Take Action Tour benefits the Living the Dream Foundation, a non-profit providing hope and inspiration to those facing life-threatening diseases. For $18 to $33, audiences can enjoy an eclectic night of music that includes rock, pop-punk, electronic and post-hardcore, while participating in a good cause. For more information, visit www.cainsballroom.com.

Psychic John Edward

Photo courtesy Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Photo courtesy Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Photo courtesy Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 

With his unique ability, John Edward gives solace to many who’ve lost loved ones. A psychic medium, author and lecturer, he continues to lighten the hearts of his clients, as well as strangers attending his events, by connecting them to those who’ve passed on. Many times, Edward’s talent falls upon those who need his comforting ability the most; the Other Side typically does the choosing. A career spanning 25 years, Edward has made shocking revelations that shed a truthful light on his ability to predict future events and communicate with people who’ve crossed over, and consequently, he’s gained a large fan following. Some clients wait up to two years to sit down one-on-one with his gift. Edward connects with the Other Side on two internationally syndicated talk shows that include Crossing Over with John Edward and John Edward Cross Country, and he connects with this side, with the words between the pages of One Last Time; What if God Were the Sun; Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the Stories; After Life: Answers from the Other Side; Final Beginnings; Practical Praying: Using the Rosary to Enhance Your Life; Infinite Quest; and most recently, Fallen Masters. Edward’s popularity has welcomed him to many top television programs including Oprah, Dr. Oz, Ellen, The View and many others. Fortunately for Oklahoma City, Tulsa and surrounding areas, there’s no need to wait to get in front of Edward. If there are voices trying to connect from the Other Side, he’ll hear them at Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Hotel and Convention Center on Friday, March 20, at 7 p.m., and at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 21, at 12 p.m. For more information, visit www.tulsapac.com or www.johnedward.net.

Chase Bryant

Photo by Justin Nolan Key.
Photo by Justin Nolan Key.
Photo by Justin Nolan Key.

Saturday, March 21  

Music is in Chase Bryant’s blood; his grandfather played piano for Roy Orbison and Waylon Jennings and his uncle co-founded Ricochet, and all Bryant has wanted to do since he was young is follow in the same footsteps. Early musical influences of Bryant’s include Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, Tom Petty and Vince Gill. Raised in Orange Grove, Texas, Bryant grew up loving the old, classic sounds and has recently found a foothold in mainstream country. His influences have guided his talents, and his creative artistry has made him a contender in the industry. Melodies and lyrics found a way of escaping Bryant’s mind, finding themselves on paper and in tracks he self-built in his closet on Guitar Center products – a detail that would eventually cause Benny Brown, founder of BBR Music Group Red Bow Records, to give Bryant a chance to co-produce his debut album. What Bryant loves most about playing music is connecting with his fans. “We’re all fans,” he says. “We’re all friends. And the music is our connection.” His music, which speaks to following your dreams, heartbreak and having fun, easily connects with others. At 22 years old, Bryant is doing just what he dreamed of as a child and continues to gain momentum and fans with each stage he lands on. On Saturday, March 21, his music will fill Diamond Ballroom. For more information, visit www.diamondballroom.net.

TulsaFest 2015

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Tuesday, March 24 

Every year, the Oklahoma Restaurant Association takes out its best china for a delicious spread of local flavors, featuring a luncheon, educational sessions and the highly anticipated TulsaFest Culinary Tasting. This year’s speakers include a luncheon presentation by Stan Clark, president of Stan Clark Companies/Eskimo Joe’s, titled “Ain’t Never Had Too Much Fun!” a “Customer Service and the Hospitality Industry” presentation by Lee Manzer, Ph.D., Professor at Oklahoma State University and an educational session titled “The Hospitality Factor – Searching for the Silver Bullet” by Bill Marvin, The Restaurant Doctor. Enjoy these great presentations from 11:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Tulsa, 100 E. 2nd St. And beginning at 6 p.m. at Legends, 514 E. 2nd St., the TulsaFest Culinary Tasting begins. Here, wine, beer, food and music are all included in the fun…and the ticket price – wine and beer tastings are complimentary! Because of this, all tasting attendees must be 21 years old. What’s great about TulsaFest, you can mix and match what events you want to attend. Go to the luncheon only for $45/person, the education sessions for $40/person or the tasting for $60/person, or you can go to all three for $115/person – you get to decide! For more information, click here.