Live Music By Julie Wenger Watson
Cain’s Ballroom
Ernie Fields Jr. plays the saxophone outside Cain’s Ballroom.
From a world-class arena and a timeless honkytonk to the corner bar, music is everywhere in Tulsa. If oil built this city, steel guitars, fiddles and horns were the soundtrack. Seated at the geographical crossroads of the nation, Tulsa has produced talent as diverse as the funky rhythms of ’70s rhythm and blues innovators the GAP Band to the perennially pleasing pop of the Hanson brothers and everything in between. On any given night, music is just around the corner. As the pandemic recedes, Tulsa’s music scene is gearing up for 2022. National acts are back on the road, and local live music is available every night of the week. Check with venues for COVID-19 policies on proof of vaccination, testing or mask requirements.
Designed by world-renowned architect César Pelli, the BOK Center opened in 2008 with a sold-out show from legendary California rock band The Eagles. The arena’s stark, modern silhouette is a striking addition to the skyline of downtown Tulsa. Since opening its doors to the public, the 19,000 plus-seat, multipurpose facility has hosted two concerts from Sir Paul McCartney, seven consecutive sold-out performances with Oklahoma country crooner Garth Brooks, farewell tour stops from megastars Elton John and Bob Seger, and blockbuster events with Metallica, Imagine Dragons and Bruno Mars. Nominated “Arena of the Year” nine times by Pollstar Magazine, the venue is ranked one of the world’s busiest concert destinations. bokcenter.com
Cain’s Ballroom Built in 1924, the Cain’s Ballroom served as a garage and a dance academy before becoming a top performance venue, beloved by musicians and fans alike. This revered honky-tonk is steeped in history. From 1935-1942, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys hosted weekly dances, a midnight radio show and a daily noon hour radio program from the Cain’s stage, popularizing a new sound called Western swing, a form of country and Western music that combines jazz, hillbilly, blues and big band swing. 14
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CAIN’S: GREG BOLLINGER; GATHERING PLACE: SHANE BEVEL/COURTESY
BOK Center
