Media release
Guthrie family members, John Fullbright, Hubby Jenkins among scheduled performances.
OKEMAH, OK (June 26, 2023) — The Woody Guthrie Coalition is thrilled to announce the 26th annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (WoodyFest), celebrating Guthrie’s rich musical legacy and the power of folk music to inspire and unite people from all walks of life. Over 50 musicians, speakers, and panelists will descend on the town of Okemah July 12 – 16, 2023, congregating throughout the festival’s seven venues 111 years after the iconic folk singer’s birth on July 14, 1912.
The 2023 WoodyFest lineup boasts an exceptional roster of artists, encompassing a diverse range of genres and styles that reflect the spirit and influence of Woody Guthrie’s music, including third & fourth generation Guthrie songwriters, Annie Guthrie, Cathy Guthrie, and Serena Guthrie, in addition to trailblazing songwriters, emerging artists, and Oklahoma musicians. Folk Uke, John Fullbright, Mary Gauthier, Parker Millsap, Hubby Jenkins, Kyshona, Melissa Carper, and Willis Alan Ramsey join the talented roster of 50-plus musical performances throughout the five-day event.
Educational presentations and programs include Finding & Using Your Songwriting Voice and Saved by a Song with author and songwriter Mary Gauthier; A Conversation Around Mental Health with music photographer Chad Cochran; and The Ultimate Sacrifice, a discussion, and songs about the labor movement and unions with Tom Breiding.
This year will see the return of the Children’s Festival on Saturday, July 15 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Okemah City Park. This free event continues to bring the Okemah community together for a full day of family programming, featuring activities for all ages including Children’s Stage performances, jewelry making, face painting, a giant water slide, and much more. The first 200 children in attendance will receive giveaways including complementary ukeleles, harmonicas, music lessons, and t-shirts. Winners of the Children’s Festival songwriting contest will also perform.
Tickets are available for purchase at woodyfest.com/tickets. Daytime performances on Thursday will be free with a $10 entry for that evening’s performances. Weekend passes will be $85 with single-day Friday and Saturday tickets available for $50. Reserved seating and parking packages will be available for all $250.
WoodyFest is made possible by the generous contributions of our Friends of the Festival members, and premiere sponsors, The Phillip Landers Foundation, BancFirst, Okemah Casino, and Clearwater Enterprises. The Woody Guthrie Coalition is honored to receive support from the Oklahoma Arts Council, which, recently announced the approval of a transformational investment of $10 million in state American Rescue Plan Act funding. The Woody Guthrie Coalition would like to recognize District Okemah Senator, Roger Thompson, who was integral in facilitating the passage of this monumental legislative effort, which will distribute 50 percent of the funding to rural communities, providing valuable resources for the revitalization of the Arts and Cultural sectors in Oklahoma.
Please visit our website, woodyfest.com, for more information including sponsorship, volunteer, and vendor opportunities.
