NMF will return with a series of three outdoor music events called NMF Soundchecks in the late summer of 2021 before returning with the full festival experience on April 28-30, 2022. “We can’t wait to help bring the music scene back to life,” says NMF Executive Director Shari Jackson.
In March of 2020, Norman Music Festival — a free, non-profit music festival held each spring in the vibrant Downtown Norman setting — was poised for success. With strong community support and celebrated lineup, NMF looked to only be booming as loud as ever come April. Then the world came crashing to a halt, and in committing to Norman’s greater community health, the festival was forced to cancel for two consecutive years.
No corner of society was spared, but the live entertainment space was arguably disrupted more than any. The first to shut down and the last to return, it was a challenging time that only amplified how important community festivals like NMF are to our local economy, community activity and Norman’s sense of city spirit.
Since the festival’s inception in 2008, Norman Music Festival has helped elevate local music, showcase diverse voices and introduced touring headliners from around the world to Oklahoma, drawing patrons not only from the Sooner State but increasingly from the surrounding region to witness performances from past headliners like Portugal. The Man, Japanese Breakfast, Beach Fossils, Oh Sees, Omar Apollo, Ty Segall, Soccer Mommy, Dirty Projectors, Leon Russell, Black Milk and more.
Through sacrifice and tragic loss, Norman has made it to the other side and is seeing the reemergence of live art and music events again. “The world wasn’t ready to have 100,000 music fans gather downtown in April of 2021, but we couldn’t wait until 2022 for live music, so we’re stretching our festival muscles with the NMF Soundcheck Series,” Jackson said.
With the support of our partners like Norman Arts Council, Fowler Auto, Absolut, The Garage, The Winston, Notorious P.I.E. and so many others that have been with us for years... we’re back. #NMFForever #TheLittleFestivalThatCould
