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.

BOK Center

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.

Today, the Ballroom still boasts its wooden dance floor, and oversized photographs of country music icons like Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams and Tennessee Ernie Ford remain on the walls. While Cain’s is proud of its legacy as the “Home of Western Swing,” it continues to make history. The Sex Pistols, Van Halen, Sonic Youth and even a very young U2 have graced this stage. This year’s calendar includes scheduled performances with singer-songwriter Cat Power, Iceland’s alt-rock band Kaleo, Alabama’s eightpiece soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Canada’s electronic pop band Purity Ring. cainsballroom.com

Church Studio

An historic church, which was converted to a recording studio and home office for Leon Russell and Denny Cordell’s Shelter Records in the early 1970s, has been lovingly restored and now boasts an intimate theater, hosting concerts with legacy artists like Kenny Loggins and Jimmy Webb. Artists as diverse as Tom Petty and the GAP Band (acronym for Greewood Archer Pine) once recorded here, and the venue is still making history today. thechurchstudio.com

Casinos

For those who like a side of gambling with their music, Tulsa is home to many first-class casinos housing excellent music venues. Hard Rock Live in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is a stateof-the-art 2,600-seat amphitheater with an intimate feel. hardrockcasinotulsa.com.

On the banks of the Arkansas River, River Spirit Casino Resort features the Cove, a music destination booking nationally touring acts. riverspirittulsa.com Set in the Osage Hills in north Tulsa, the 45,000-square-foot Skyline Event Center at the Osage Casino Hotel boasts an impressive lineup of entertainment. osagecasino.com

La Fiesta de Tulsa at Gathering Place

Guthrie Green

Located in the heart of the Tulsa Arts District, Guthrie Green is an urban park that regularly features free, live music. From national acts to mini-festivals and musical food truck Wednesdays, this outdoor venue is a Tulsa favorite. guthriegreen.com

Gathering Place

Tulsa’s $465 million park has free, familyfriendly programming with outdoor concerts featuring everything from wandering drum corps to full-blown festivals celebrating Latin, Caribbean and Native American cultures. gatheringplace.org

Clubs

Mercury Lounge showcases the best in local music, but this neighborhood bar is also adept at capturing rising stars. Weekly performances from Tulsa’s best and brightest, as well as eclectic regional and national acts populate this venue’s calendar, attracting a loyal, diverse and interesting clientele. mercuryloungetulsa.com When Tori Ruffin, longtime guitarist for Prince musical associates Morris Day and the Time, chose to move to Tulsa after years of extended visits, he and his brother Greg Ruffin opened Juicemaker Lounge. The name is a nod to Ruffin’s band Freak Juice and its loyal fans, the “Juice Makers.” This unique space has a great, welcoming vibe and features a genre-defying mix of live acts. facebook.com/juicemakermusic For those wanting a taste of Tulsa’s original music, the Colony is a favorite of local musicians. Don’t be surprised to find an occasional special guest sitting in with one of the Tulsa bands. This bar is home to many afterhour jams and a frequent stop for nationally touring performers after their own concerts have concluded. colonytulsa.com

Whether your tastes run to arena rock or singersongwriter sets, Tulsa has it all.