Hosted by the Red Dirt Rangers, Bo Phillips and Chad Sullins and presented by the Red Dirt Relief Fund (RDRF), the fourth annual Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café will take place in downtown Stillwater on Wednesday, April 29 from 4:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. This musical event will feature 55 Oklahoma singer/songwriters who will play acoustic sets swapping songs and stories inspired by the godfather of Red Dirt, Bob Childers.
Stillwater is an ideal setting for this event as it is considered by many to be the birth place of the Red Dirt genre. For over two decades, The Farm, that was situated on 149 acres near Stillwater, served as a hub for pioneers of Red Dirt, including Bob Childers, to create and inspire. In 2003, The Farm was destroyed in a fire. However, the garage that Bob Childers worked so hard to remodel still stands and was the inspiration for the 2012 Gypsy Cafe Music Festival.
“The Red Dirt sound certainly lives on today, and the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to support music festivals like the Gypsy Café that support our state’s Red Dirt musicians and spotlight the history of our state’s music,” said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky.
Participating venues include Eskimo Joe’s, George’s Stables and Stonewall Tavern, showcasing Jason Boland, Mike Hosty, Tom Skinner, Paul Benjamin, Wink Burcham, Ali Harter and many more.
“Every year Gypsy Cafe is a new adventure. When you put 55 Oklahoma songwriters into three venues in one night, you’re bound to be surprised by new sounds and voices. This event always reminds me how lucky we are to be surrounded by rich musical talent in Oklahoma,” said Katie Dale, event organizer and board member for the Gypsy Café.
All proceeds benefit the Red Dirt Relief Fund, a non-profit organization that provides a safety net of critical assistance to Oklahoma music people. Operated by an all-volunteer board, RDRF has granted over $22,000 to musicians in the state since 2012.
Tickets that are good for entry into all venues are $20 in advance and $25 the day of. For more information about the Gypsy Café and to purchase tickets, please visit reddirtrelieffund.org.
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About the Oklahoma Film + Music Office:
Created in 1979, The Oklahoma Film + Music Office strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma’s film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film + Music Office please visit www.okfilmmusic.org.
