The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to be a presenter of the Tom Skinner Skyline Music Fest, best known as Skinnerfest. Now in its fourth year, Skinnerfest will air as a streaming event through Mercury Lounge Live on October 2, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit Red Dirt Relief Fund, which has provided $145,000 to 580 out-of-work Oklahoma music people since March.
The festival will feature two sets recorded live at the iconic Tulsa venues Cain’s Ballroom and Mercury Lounge. The show celebrates the beloved and legendary Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame songwriter Tom Skinner in a tribute set featuring guests backed by Tom’s band, The Science Project. The second set is a glimpse into the creativity of Tulsa music today; a kind of homage to the band “experiment” Skinner inspired.
In previous years, the festival featured more than 45 Oklahoma musicians performing live across three venues at 18th & Boston in Tulsa. Due to COVID-19 venue capacity limits, Red Dirt Relief Fund opted to record a virtual event for patron, musician and crew safety.
“As an organization dedicated to the well-being of Oklahoma music people, safety was of course our top concern,” said Katie Dale, Executive Director of Red Dirt Relief Fund. “We were fortunate on this project to work with top notch musicians, production and venue professionals who were also dedicated to keeping everyone safe while recording full bands with multiple guests.”
Support from sponsors including OF+MO, Tulsa Dental Center, The Collaborative, White Claw/LDF and Broken Arrow Brewing Company allowed Red Dirt Relief Fund to employ 30 Oklahoma musicians, ten production professionals and two venues at a time when paying gigs are few and far between.
“It is an honor to partner with the innovators of Red Dirt Relief Fund to present Skinnerfest this year, who share similar values to preserve and celebrate our rich musical heritage and overall music as an ecosystem,” said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky. “It’s more important now than ever before for Oklahomans to band together as we celebrate the gift of music and our culture.”
A pay-per-view ticket is $15 with merchandise bundles available. The ticket link to watch the show will be emailed to patrons and be available to watch for five days after the premiere.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit reddirtrelieffund.org/skinnerfest.
Donations to support the mission of Red Dirt Relief Fund to provide a safety net of critical assistance to Oklahoma music people can be made at reddirtrelieffund.org/donate.
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About Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) 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 okfilmmusic.org.