Oklahomans know about the Dust Bowl displacements and relocations, but in the state’s history, not all sites were abandoned because they were dusty. Sometimes, towns in Oklahoma were abandoned because they were underwater.

The vast majority of Oklahoma’s 38 major lakes are man-made, and in the construction, redirected water caused some towns to become future scuba sites.

Lead park ranger of Kaw Lake, Jim Anderson, says that the towns of Kaw City, Uncas and Washaunga were flooded in the creation of Kaw Lake.

“As the lake rose up, it came into different parts of the community,” Anderson says. “You can still see where some of the streets were. The park’s roads are actually the streets of the towns.”

The occupants of the towns were given the option to sell their property to the government, or the government would pay to have their homes moved to the new town site, the present location of Kaw City, Anderson says.

But although these underwater towns have been abandoned since the impoundment of the reservoir in 1976, they are not forgotten.

“I know that especially the old residents of the towns show an interest,” Anderson says. “The Uncas community has a reunion where the residents reminisce about the days gone by.”

Even some of Oklahoma’s biggest names were impacted. Will Rogers’ ranch on Oologah Lake was relocated to higher ground. North Fork Town, old stomping grounds of outlaw Belle Starr, now lies somewhere beneath Lake Eufaula’s waters. But Starr’s schoolhouse and her burial site are located downstream, operations project manager of Lake Eufaula Jeff Knack says.

Knack also tells how town relocations can give new meaning to the term “ghost towns.”

“Most of the questions we get are about the relocation of cemeteries, and we can help with that,” Knack says. He adds that lake offices can help with questions about old home and burial sites.

Because the entire process of creating a new body of water can take as long as 15 years, almost all structures are either relocated or torn down before the flooding begins, Knack says, but sometimes highways still exist.

Anderson adds that the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers created lakes for flood control, and other benefits include hydroelectric power, water supply and, of course, recreational opportunities.

The most recent lake created was Lake Arcadia, opened in 1987. Today, no new lakes are in the construction process so there needn’t be any worries about fish entering your house. Yet.

Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials – Florence Welch, the delightfully eccentric British performer better known as Florence + the Machine, burst onto the UK music charts in 2009 with the debut album Lungs. The “Dog Days Are Over” singer then jumped across the pond and became a sensation in the U.S. with a breakout performance at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Two tracks from the group’s sophomore album have been released to great response and early reviews indicate that if you liked Lungs, you’ll love Ceremonials.

Miranda Lambert, Four The Record – The Texas native who now calls Tishomingo, Okla. home has had a rise to fame most young artists only dream about. Her first album, 2005’s Kerosene, debuted at No. 1 and went on to produce a string of hits. Her next two albums also went to No. 1 and produced eight chart-topping singles. Lambert’s aversion to “pop-country” in favor a gritty style that pays homage to old school country with elements of blues and rock has won her a legion of crossover fans. Expect more of her signature style and more hits from her fourth studio album.

Kate Bush, 50 Words For Snow – In 1978, 19-year-old Bush became an overnight sensation with her hit “Wuthering Heights.” She went on to produce a series of innovative and widely acclaimed albums, including her 1985 masterpiece Hounds of Love, throughout the 80s and early 90s. Bush’s fans have grown accustomed to waiting a while between albums – she released no new material between 1993 and 2005, and 50 Words For Snow is her first album of new material in six years.

Rihanna, Talk That Talk – The Barbadian bombshell has been a regular on the music charts – amassing 20 top 10 singles faster than any other solo artist – and the media spotlight since her debut 2005 album Music of the Sun. Despite a prolific career – Talk That Talk is her sixth studio release – Rihanna has churned out surprisingly fresh material, experimenting with a variety of musical styles and themes. Her latest inspiration is a fascination with dubstep.

It seems only yesterday that the Pixies jammed before an ecstatic crowd of devoted fans at Tulsa’s Brady Theater. They sang along, because that’s what enchanted Pixies devotees do. That was a year ago, and, lucky for us, a similar scene is about to play out under the roof of Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Events Center. Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering are, indeed, still together and are bringing opening act Imaginary Cities with them to open their Nov. 15 show. They’re also bringing a set list that’s sure to include some of their best known work, including “Here Comes Your Man,” “Monkey Gone to Heaven” and  “Where is My Mind?” Oft cited as an influential force in alternative rock, the infamously quarrelsome band turned out five albums from 1987 to 1991 before breaking the act in 1993. Resurrected in 2003, the Pixies have stayed together since. Credit all those encores. www.dcfconcerts.com