(Stillwater, Okla) The 2018 Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café grew in its seventh year with new audiences, partners, expanded programming and new voices. Here are some highlights from last Wednesday’s festival:
Wilma Jenkins accepted the Restless Spirit Award on behalf of her son, Brandon Jenkins. Later in the evening, a hand-painted guitar with his likeness sold for $6,000 in a live auction from the stage at Eskimo Joe’s.
$30,044 was raised for Oklahoma musicians in crisis through the Red Dirt Relief Fund.
Ken Pomeroy, a 15-year-old songwriter from Moore, Okla. was named the inaugural winner of the Jimmy LaFave Songwriting Contest at the Gypsy Café pre-party, and played a main stage festival set with Stoney LaRue and Bo Phillips.
A $5,000 matching grant from Grand Casino was met through ticket and merchandise sales at the festival.
MusiCares was once again on site fitting pairs of free custom earplugs for musicians playing the fest and those in the Stillwater area.
Despite the rain that moved outdoor stages inside at Eskimo Joe’s and Stonewall, walk-up student ticket sales beat previous years, and the rain passed in time for musicians to gather around the fire at the Farm.
More than 60 Oklahoma musicians played 18 sets across 3 venues in one night.
Festival partners provided sponsorship funding, silent auction items and even stage flowers to make this Okie festival a success.
Thanks to all the fans, volunteers, musicians and venues for making this a truly memorable night. What do you say we do it again next year?
