OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s June now, and that means that we’re firmly inside the “early summer tour season” window, that glorious time each year when the hottest tickets in music start criss-crossing the country looking to capitalize on the free time of summer breaks and the disposable income of summer jobs.
But June is also the month of Juneteenth, one of the most revered and long-running cultural celebrations in America, and that also brings an opportunity to experience the full communal force and power of live music.
This year, the June concert slate is bringing something for just about anyone through the OKC Metro, whether you’re craving energetic indie jams, hard-driving country folk, weirdo experimentation, conscious, community-minded hip-hop, or even competing costumed conquerors bent on heavy metal destruction.
Whichever way you feel the summer’s musical winds blowing, there’ll be some great live music to find you there, starting with one of our city’s biggest and most anticipated annual celebrations.
Juneteenth on the East – Eastside OKC – Thursday, June 19th through Saturday, June 21st
One of the biggest, boldest expressions of Black cultural strength and creativity in Oklahoma (and maybe even in America) returns for its fifth year as the Eastside comes together to celebrate Juneteenth on the East all weekend long.
Produced and presented by With Love OKC, the Juneteenth on the East festival features an annual 5K charity run, family events, food, talks, panels, a fashion show, and more, all spread throughout the weekend.
But the biggest draw will always be the music, with a lineup built each year to focus on the scope and diversity of the culture and to amplify the voices and energies buzzing through the community.
This year, that bill is topped by hip-hop heavyweight Big K.R.I.T., who will be headlining a packed weekend that’ll also see Bella Burns, Trip G, Cam, Mogul Mal, K.O., Shay Lyrique, and Ckai Dawson alongside hosts and speakers Conscious Lee, Mandii B, Rachel Black, and April Walker.
In just a few years, Juneteenth on the East has grown into one of the biggest festival experiences anywhere in Oklahoma, and 2025’s installment is poised to be bigger than ever.
For more information, visit withloveokc.org.
GWAR – The Criterion / Green Jelly – 89th Street – Wednesday, June 18th
How is it that the two greatest-ever foam-covered, costumed, monster-filled punk-metal bands of all time are both descending upon OKC on the very same night?
Maybe it’s a random fluke of scheduling. Maybe it’s all by some nefarious design.
Either way, the mighty GWAR are bringing their blood-drenched, head-chopping brand of metal mayhem to The Criterion in celebration of their 40th anniversary on the same night that Green Jelly is bringing their arguably even more chaotic and unhinged costumed carnage to 89th Street.
How could anyone possibly decide between them?
Well, GWAR is probably more metal, and Green Jelly is probably more punk. GWAR is (just a bit) more polished and higher-budget, and Green Jelly is more DIY and spontaneous. And, of course, GWAR has more monster fights and spurting blood, and Green Jelly has more puppet shows.
Hope that helps.
For tickets and more information, visit criterionokc.com and 89thstreetokc.com.
Wilderado – Scissortail Park – Saturday, June 21st
One of the biggest recent breakouts both for an Oklahoman act and for an indie-folk band on the national stage, Tulsa’s Wilderado have been blowing through charts, TV spots, and high-profile opening slots for the likes of Band of Horses and Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham for a few years now.
And of course, they were propelled to new heights when their song “Wall of Death” broke big from a certain blockbuster tornado movie last year.
As they ready themselves to hit the road once again on a sprawling, four-month tour all across the country beginning in July, they’ll be proving themselves as headliners for one night at Scissortail Park here in OKC in a free, outdoor celebration under the stars.
For more information, visit scissortailpark.org.
Tripping Daisy – Beer City Music Hall – Sunday, June 22nd
Speaking of indie breakouts, Texas’ own hometown heroes Tripping Daisy inarguably helped to launch the whole subgenre of left-field southern psych-pop in the early 90s alongside our own Flaming Lips. But while the Lips continued to rise and ruffle feathers, Tripping Daisy suffered a devastating loss and called it quits before the 90s came down.
Singer Tim DeLaughter then launched The Polyphonic Spree, who would be the first-ever headliner at the inaugural Norman Music Festival in 2008.
But now, 25 years after they disbanded and nearly 35 years after they first came together, Tripping Daisy have pulled the remaining pieces back together to hit the road for the first time in a quarter-century, with the promise of forthcoming new music as well.
Their trek will bring them through Beer City on the 22nd, giving them a chance to reflect on all their shared history with their neighboring state to the north.
For tickets and more information, visit beercitymusichall.com.
Weirder Wednesday w/ Jarvix – Opolis – Wednesday, June 25th
The scene’s very best recurring showcase of experimental, oddball, and downright wacky acts is turning two years old this month, and that means that not only can you join in to celebrate both the showcase and the Opolis, but you can also catch an increasingly rare sight: Jarvix himself performing.
Though he’s stayed busy with booking, hosting, and organizing, the scene’s biggest champion of all things “weird” doesn’t take the stage for his own music too often these days. But he’s already established that these Weirder Wednesday anniversary shows will be surefire times to expect a full Jarvix performance, so you know you don’t want to miss this one.
For more information, visit opolis.org.
Soundtrack to Peace feat. Jabee, Trip G, & more – Resonant Head – Thursday, June 26th
In addition to its other holidays and cultural touchstones, June is also National Gun Violence Awareness Month, a cause that has carried a particular importance for Oklahoma City and a deeply personal weight for some of our most vital artists.
To raise awareness and support for the cause of ending gun violence in OKC, Resonant Head will host a night of music and community uplift featuring scene giants Jabee and Trip G alongside Nayberhood Barbie, K.A.L.F.O., BonezFlow, and Lauren Lauren.
Proceeds from the evening will go to benefit Peace Walk OKC, With Love OKC, and Stop the Violence, all in service of reducing and ceasing the deadly force of gun violence across the full interconnected community of Oklahoma City and beyond.
For tickets and more information, visit resonanthead.com and stoptheviolenceok.com.
You can find out about local music and performance happenings in the OKC metro weekly in this music column by Brett Fieldcamp. | Brought to you by True Sky Credit Union.
Brett Fieldcamp is our Arts and Entertainment Editor. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for 15+ years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
