Red Dirt Music
Stillwater, Oklahoma
As a genre, red dirt music is sometimes difficult to define, but there is no question that it holds its roots in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Featuring a blend of rock, folk, country and blues, red dirt music developed during the late 1970s when a group of college students rented an old country house just outside town commonly known as “The Farm.” They began hosting jam sessions with their friends on the porch or in the garage, which they called “The Gypsy Café.” Before long, The Farm became a haven for young artists to gather and experiment with their craft, and red dirt music was born.
From this dynamic community emerged acclaimed musicians like John Cooper, a member of the Red Dirt Rangers band, and Bob Childers, later known as the “godfather of red dirt music.”
“Their influence is still felt throughout our culture in Stillwater, from acoustic sets in little coffee shops to big-name events,” said Kylie Vincent, vice president at Visit Stillwater.
Each spring, the city hosts the Bob Childers Gypsy Café event, named after the garage where red dirt music first thrived. More than 60 musicians perform at three separate venues in Stillwater in celebration of Bob Childers’ legacy. Ticket proceeds go to the Red Dirt Relief Fund, which helps support musicians in need.
Symphony in the Flint Hills
Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
There are few opportunities to experience symphony music with a panoramic view of sweeping grassland. Every year at the beginning of summer, a nonprofit called Symphony in the Flint Hills organizes a special concert in the tallgrass region of Kansas, which covers around 20 counties.
“Our mission is to enhance appreciation for the tallgrass prairie, which is an endangered ecosystem and landscape,” said Christy Davis, executive director of the nonprofit.
The site is carefully chosen to ensure 360 degrees of untamed landscape, with no buildings or phone lines in sight. About 700 volunteers work to build a tent city from scratch. Guests can drive to an out-of-sight parking lot and follow a prepared half-mile trail to the site.
This year’s theme will be the Chisholm Trail, in honor of the famous cattle route’s 150th anniversary. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy covered wagon rides, prairie-inspired art and educational programs, as well as food and beverage tents. Many people find a grassy hill where they can sit and relish the view.
Later, as the sun sets over the prairie, everyone gathers before the main stage for a performance from the Kansas City Symphony that features Western-themed music and an appearance from cowboy music star Michael Martin Murphey. Known for his hit radio song “Wildfire,” Murphey is a major advocate for tallgrass prairie conservation.
And the evening fun does not end there. Following the concert, groups can enjoy a community dance, cowboy poetry and star-gazing, along with a discussion led by a local astronomy club.
The one-day event takes place in June, when wildflowers are in bloom and the tallgrass reaches full height. Ticket sales begin in March.
