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One Week Later and the Norman Music Festival is Still Rocking
Written by Holly Jones   

One Week Later and the Norman Music Festival is Still Rocking

With the move from Saturday to Sunday, the addition of a Saturday night indoor festival, a double in the number of bands and more stages than ever, nobody in Norman knew what to expect last weekend when the Norman Music Festival took over the city’s historic three-block section of the Downtown Norman Arts District on Main Street. Let’s just say, it has been one week and the energy can still be felt.


The festival began Saturday night when nearly 8,000 people paraded up and down Main Street, ducking in and out of venues to listen to bands, or watch local comedians and poets perform.


Opolis was a main feature for Saturday night with performances by Hush Hush Commotion, Depth and Current and many others. The venue overflowed with hundreds of fans as Octopus Project took the stage at midnight. Just across the street, the Latin stage was on fire all evening as listener’s salsa danced well into the night to the sounds of Tekumbé and Social Klash. At midnight, MONTU rocked the Coach’s Brewhouse stage with fans lined up around the block to get in. Saturday night was a huge success and everyone was ready to see what Sunday had in store.


The streets shut down at midnight Saturday night, when stages went up and the trademark, outdoor city location of the Norman Music Festival took shape. Sunday’s event set the bar at an entirely new level.


Sunday April 26th, the Norman Music Festival showcased the best of local music and arts—proving that Oklahoma has earned its spot on the festival trail. With over one hundred bands taking different stages throughout the day, fans and arts enthusiasts came out at record numbers. 30,000 people flooded the street, making this year’s festival bigger and better than ever before.


The festivities on Sunday had something for everyone. The children enjoyed the Little Rocker Stage and jammed out to acts like the Sugar Free Allstars all while being able to get a rock star hairdo or create their own art. The Dustbowl Arts Market really brought out the creativity that is all around us. Artisans from all over the region came to sell their goods of jewelry, clothing, house wares and more for the first time at the Norman Music Festival.

 

Some of the local acts buzzing about are Jabee, The Non + Cloud Collision, Jacob Abello, a comedian showcase and others who performed can be found in the links below. The diversity of music performed on Sunday could be heard from every angle. Every stage had its own feel and that is exactly what the third annual festival is all about.


A few new community collaborations came about for this festival and we hope to continue the relationships around our community. This year the NMF partnered with CART, Norman’s transit system, to relieve some of the parking issues dealt with in the past. The NMF also worked with the ACM@UCO to give the students a place to perform and also the audience a chance to hear some up and coming musicians. The Sooner Theatre also showcased a few DeadCenter films, music videos from our Oklahoma Music Video open call as well as many local bands. There are a variety of opportunities for the NMF to collaborate with diverse organizations within Norman and Oklahoma; we hope to expand our reach each year.


A few of the local departments and businesses we work with each year to make our festival bigger and brighter are: The Norman Police and Fire Departments, the staff within the City of Norman, Norman Conventions and Visitors Bureau, the Norman Arts Council and the many businesses in the Downtown Arts District.


Below are links to news and blog articles and photos from the people who enjoyed the festival. Be sure to send us a link to your blog or photo gallery to include in the archives.


Stay tuned for information and news about the 2011 Norman Music Festival.

Post NMF3 news

http://normantranscript.com/local/x1270809351/Rockin-out

http://newsok.com/festival-count-may-hit-50000/article/3456999?custom_click=lead_story_title

http://newsok.com/review-norman-music-festival-seriously-fun-spring-music-event/article/3456918?custom_click=lead_story_title

http://newsok.com/festival-rocks-downtown-norman/article/3457138?custom_click=columnist

http://oudaily.com/news/2010/apr/27/norman-music-festival---best-sunday/

http://oudaily.com/news/2010/apr/27/class-2010-norman-music-festival-awards/

http://oudaily.com/news/2010/apr/25/norman-music-festival---saturday-recap/

http://oudaily.com/news/2010/apr/25/norman-music-festival---best-saturday/

http://oudaily.com/news/2010/apr/26/musical-diversity-brought-community/

http://oudaily.com/news/2010/apr/26/show-goes-music-festival/

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=29

http://www.newsok.com/multimedia/video/80218376001

http://osuon.wordpress.com/

http://themusictionary.com/?p=3951

http://www.qromag.com/features/features/norman_2010_music_festival_recap/

http://roadtripnation.com/rtnblog/post.php?p=1956

http://normantranscript.com/entertainment/x1369563532/Norman-Music-Festival-III-a-two-day-aural-buffet

 

http://newsok.com/article/3461065

 

 

 

Post NMF3 photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenanthony/sets/72157623812103167/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allisonwhitephoto/sets/72157623934088490/

http://curbchecked.tumblr.com/

http://shanelink.com/deadseachoir.html

http://www.theapachehouse.com/?p=2105

http://www.qromag.com/concert_gallery/?g2_itemId=217630

http://www.infinitetadpole.com/mcmurtryok.html

http://www.cooperphotog.com/blog/?p=465

http://www.infinitetadpole.com/leon.html

http://www.infinitetadpole.com/gourdsok. html

http://host.newspin360.net/normanmusicfestival2010/

 

 

YouTube videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp7zPvLQmBU&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMudM2_oOHk

http://www.youtube.com/user/BossHossV8Cycles#p/p/1EEC0962C685EC4F/11/EcZa8EtTHVM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjEG82wg2as

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOsLjCxN0Tk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIB3_sRhkEw

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nmf3&aq=f

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr6X65cH9j4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF0IZbJws4c

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_ty pe=videos&search_query=norman+music+fest ival&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&sug gested_categories=10%2C24

http://www.youtube.com/user/RockinPostAr cadia#p/a/u/0/2Gj4tzTiwwE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtV4lDsNl 5g&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4DdX3n4H EM&feature=player_embedded
Last Updated ( Friday, 14 May 2010 19:37 )
 
Norman Music Festival Takes Safety to a Higher Level
Written by Holly Jones   

 

Norman Music Festival Takes Safety to a Higher Level

Riding the momentum of last year’s amazing success, the Norman Music Festival makes big changes this year hoping to solidify its mark on the festival circuit and as an Oklahoma tradition.  One of the biggest adjustments festival goers will experience is the move to a two day festival.


The Norman Music Festival (NMF) will be held on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25. The festival is free and open to the public and will take place on the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of historic Downtown East Main Street, east of the railroad tracks in the Arts District. Saturday night entertainment will be predominantly at indoor locations, and Sunday will feature the full-blown festival atmosphere complete with street closures and large outdoor stages. Audiences will rock out to headlining bands Dirty Projectors, Electric Six, Leon Russell, Grupo Fantasma, The Sword, The Gourds, Those Darlins and more than 155 other acts that weekend.


While the festival is still free and open to the public, with the expansion to two days and the expectation of growing crowds, festival organizers are planning a few security changes to ensure the safety of festival goers.


Like festivals past, weapons, fireworks, explosives or illegal substance of any kind, unauthorized/unlicensed/unapproved vending, and glass materials including bottles and food jars will be prohibited items this year.  All glass containers will be confiscated upon entry to the festival and no exception will be made.


Chairs will also be allowed on festival grounds until 6 p.m., at which point all owners will be asked to take items back to their vehicles or homes in preparation for the headlining bands to take the stage.  As always, pets on leashes are welcome at this year’s NMF; however, the same 6 p.m. guidelines will be enforced with any pets on festival grounds nearing the end of the festival. An exception will be made for service animals.


This year will see a few small changes from previous years. Security will not allow carts, large backpacks, tents and coolers into the premises at any point.  Additionally, outside alcohol, food and beverages, with the exception of bottled water, will not be allowed onto festival grounds. Festival-goer’s will be able to enjoy affordable drinks and food provided by local vendors.

The last change impacting festival-goer’s will be the addition of the security checkpoints.  There will be six security barriers checking people in and out of the festival at each street opening—between Gray Street and Comanche with two checkpoints on Crawford Ave and two checkpoints on Peters Ave and a checkpoint at either end of the festival on Porter Ave. and Jones Ave. Festival organizers and security at these checkpoints reserve the right to search anybody at any time.


Main Street will be closed at 12 a.m. Sunday morning, with the exception of Porter which closes at 2 a.m.  Festival grounds will be cleared and the streets reopened by 4 a.m. Monday, April 26.

Despite these few changes, the festival’s main purpose has not shifted, the festival’s main focus is still the people by offering a variety of talent performing for all ages, food from local vendors and a spirit all its own.


And, the festival’s largest statement—its location—will also stay the same.  Held on the historic three-block section of the Downtown Norman Arts District on Main Street, the festival showcases both local talent and national artists in the heart of the city.

 
Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 April 2010 19:00 )
 
NMF3 Invites Local Vendors, Artists and Enthusiasts to Take Part in Festival
Written by Holly Jones   

NMF3 Invites Local Vendors, Artists and Enthusiasts to Take Part in Festival

NORMAN, Okla.—The Third Annual Norman Music Festival (NMF) invites local artists, vendors and festival enthusiasts to join in making this year’s festival the best Norman has seen yet.

“The Dustbowl Arts Market has partnered with Norman Music Festival to create an open air market on the corner of Crawford and Gray in downtown Norman that will feature regionally local artists and handmade vendors during this April's Music Festival,” says Katie Huskerson, organizer for the Dustbowl Arts Market a new partnership to this year’s festival.

Huskerson says the Dustbowl is an art and handmade market that focuses on local commerce, building community and celebrating originality. They are currently accepting applications for artists interested in showcasing their art and handmade goods of all kinds at the festival. The deadline for artist applications is Thursday, March 25, 2010.

“Our food and commercial vendors in years past have experienced enormous success with their involvement with the Norman Music Festival,” says Wilmari Ruiz, vendor committee chair. “We value our relationship with our vendors and the contribution they make to keeping the Norman Music Festival free for everyone.”

With new restrictions on food and drinks coming into the festival, vendors are more important than ever. Food vendors will be conveniently located in a centrally located City parking lot, near the Kids Stage and art vendors. Food vendors must be licensed by the proper authorities and be able to provide copies of all permits with their application.

Commercial vendors will be located on the 200 block of East Main Street right in the middle of the action. Deadline for food and commercial vendor applications is Friday, April 9, 2010.

Applications for all vendors can be downloaded from the website, http://normanmusicfestival.com/home/ under the Vendor tab.

And, as always, the festival would not be possible without the support of many volunteers. This year, NMF3 needs at least 160 volunteers to ensure a safe and enjoyable festival. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt, help with crowd control, clean up, hospitality, parking and many other duties. This is a great opportunity to support the festival and give back to the Norman community. A volunteer sign up form can be found on the website, http://normanmusicfestival.com/home/index.php/partners/volunteers.

The third annual Norman Music Festival will be held on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25. The festival is free and open to the public and will take place on the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of historic Downtown East Main Street, east of the railroad tracks in the Arts District. Saturday night entertainment will be predominantly at indoor locations, and Sunday will feature the full-blown festival atmosphere complete with street closures and large outdoor stages.

For more information on the Norman Music Festival, visit www.normanmusicfestival.com.

# # #

03/10/2010
Media Contact
Holly Jones
405.812.2502
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Norman Music Festival Promises a Dirty, Electric Good Time
Written by Holly Jones   

Norman Music Festival Promises a Dirty, Electric Good Time

Third annual fest offers free, live indie music from downtown Norman, Okla.

 

The third time is clearly a charm for the Norman Music Festival with this year’s lineup featuring indie rock sensation Dirty Projectors.

 

The Brooklyn-based band will headline the festival’s main stage along with Detroit rockers Electric Six and Latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma from Texas.

 

The third annual Norman Music Festival is April 24–25 in downtown Norman, Okla. The festival is free and open to the public and will take place east of the railroad tracks on Main Street.  Saturday night entertainment will be predominantly at indoor locations, and Sunday will feature the full-blown festival atmosphere complete with street closures and large outdoor stages.

 

NMF3 Chair Quentin Bomgardner said more than 25,000 people attended last year’s one-day festival. With growing crowds and growing interest among musicians across the country, organizers added an extra day to this year’s event.

 

“By adding an extra day, more talent can be showcased,” Bomgardner said. “And with last year’s number of attendees, an extra day will help accommodate the festival’s ever-growing crowds.”

 

Organizers are completing the band lineup and will announce additional performers in the next few weeks. Previous headliners include Of Montreal, Polyphonic Spree and the Chainsaw Kittens, among others.

 

Dirty Projectors are the experimental rock project of Dave Longstreth, a former Yale student who left college to become one of the most intriguing indie singer/songwriters of the early 2000s. Named for a day job Dave once held cleaning projectors at a movie theater, Dirty Projectors began as a very simple LoFi solo project releasing home recorded projects to an audience of friends.  The band’s rise since that time has been steady and striking, and included such fascinating and captivating projects as the 2007 release Rise Above. In April 2008, Dirty Projectors signed with Domino Records and released critically acclaimed album Bitte Orca in June 2009. That year, the band also collaborated with David Byrne and Germaine Greer on the song "Knotty Pine" for the compilation album, Dark Was the Night.

 

Grupo Fantasma is an 11-piece Latin funk orchestra from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2000 from the merger of two Austin acts, The Blue Noise Band and The Blimp, the band emerged with a sold out show at the former Empanada Parlour in Austin. The band is best known for their exuberant live shows and their recent association with Prince and his 3121 Club in Las Vegas. The band has backed Prince on numerous occasions, including his performance on the ALMA Awards in 2007. The band often performs at his after party jam sessions. The ensemble has sold more than 20,000 albums independently.

 

Electric Six is a six-piece Detroit-based band that plays what has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal. The band met recognition in 2003 with the single "Danger! High Voltage", and subsequently recorded six full-length albums: Fire, Señor Smoke, Switzerland, I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master, Flashy and KILL. They have also released a rarities album, Sexy Trash.

 

"When I found out we were looking at them for the main stage I was 100 percent on board, and stoked,” Bomgardner said. “They're a nearly 15-year-old band that will make a lot of new fans on April 25th. At their core, they're Detroit rockers with attitude. But they bend a ton of genres within it and create an eardrum party."

 
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 17 February 2010 16:43 )
 


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