Norman Music Festival

After cancellations in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Norman Music Festival makes its return in 2022 on April 28-30.

The NMF team is “unbelievably excited” the festival will be held this year, said Shari Jackson, executive director of the Norman Music Alliance, the nonprofit that produces the festival.

“We are giddy with excitement that we get to bring the music festival back for Downtown and for our community and 100,000 of our closest friends,” said Jackson, adding that organizers were holding their breath a little bit earlier this year wondering if it was going to be possible to hold the event. “In January, we announced headliners, and it’s just been a roller coaster of happiness since then watching the (COVID) numbers decrease, feeling like we might have some good space here to be able to safely hold a festival. We’re just in love right now with our plans, the lineup, new partnerships and all kinds of fun things.”

This new partnership is one with deadCenter Film Festival. This year, deadCenter will be presenting the first ever Oklahoma Music Video Award and is going to announce the finalists on Thursday night at NMF. Additionally, there will be a screening of the documentary “Skating Polly: Ugly Pop” about the band Skating Polly, who was originally from Oklahoma and is now based on the West Coast. The documentary was directed by Henry Mortensen, actor Viggo Mortensen’s son. Following the screening, Henry will participate in a Q&A and Skating Polly will perform a set.

Jackson called the entire lineup “really terrific,” adding that the music team led by Joshua Boydston “just outdid themselves.” The Saturday night headliner is The Drums, who will perform their 2011 album “Portamento” in its entirety. Jackson said “you know you’ve hit a winner” when she was listening to The Drums one day, and when her 14 year old found out that the band was playing NMF, “my eardrums bled with the screaming in the car.”

The festival, which was founded in 2008, is free for attendees and made possible with donations and sponsorships from community partners. Jackson highlighted Fowler Automotive Group and the Hal Smith Restaurant Group as just two of the many partners who are critical to the survival of NMF.

Anyone interested in volunteering can visit normanmusicfestival.com to sign up for a range of different tasks, and Jackson added that if anyone would like to support the festival financially, donations are always accepted.

New this year is an updated Norman Music Fest app experience. The three-day festival will feature about 250 acts across four outdoor stages and about eight indoor venues. The app will allow fans to keep track of what performances are happening where and when.

“The really fun part is you can come to the festival and let your ears do your deciding for you, just find something that you like and go listen,” Jackson stated. “But we’re also updating our app, so you’ll be able to take a look at all of the lineups there, tap on your favorites, populate your to-do list and know where you’re supposed to be and when to see all your favorite bands.”

Also new this year is a tiered VIP pass system. Jackson explained it’s a way to provide some perks to festival goers, and a way for those attendees to help support the festival. For $100, attendees can purchase a front row pass that allows them to bypass the crowd and stand close to the stages. For $200, attendees receive the front row pass along with a VIP room where there will be some special events and tastings with local restaurants along with an indoor space to sit down and rest. Finally, $300 purchases the above offerings as well as a downtown parking place to allow attendees to come and go as they’d like.

When asked what the Norman Music Fest means to the community, Jackson mentioned three aspects. First, it’s a way to showcase all of the creativity that exists in the music scene in Oklahoma, especially since 90% of the bands are from the state. Next, it’s free for everyone and is open and welcoming. Finally, it makes a significant economic impact of nearly $4 million.

“We like being able to provide something that is fun, that is just wildly artistically creative and that has such a positive impact on primarily a locally owned business district,” Jackson said.

On a personal level, Jackson, who worked with several arts-related nonprofits before joining the Norman Music Alliance, says she is fortunate to be a part of the festival.

“I’m from Norman and grew up here,” Jackson shared. “I often say I’m very fortunate to have grown up to be one of the wonderful weirdos that helps make our town so cool.” – BSM