New OKC music spaces cover creative niches, evolving scenes

The landscape of the ground-level, hyper-local music scene of OKC is always changing, with bands, venues, styles, and trends coming and going quickly than the weather changes around here.

But 2023 has seen some significant losses from the scene, not only with the unfortunate disbanding of long-loved indie acts like The Lunar Laugh and Don’t Tell Dena, but with the loss of some previously important stages for the city’s up-and-comers.

The once-legendary VZD’s officially shuttered last month, bringing an end to one of OKC indie’s most historically important spots, and Ponyboy, originally intended as an encouraging launching point for young upstart artists, has largely dropped band booking in favor of private events and dance parties.

But in a community as hungry and creative as this, those holes are bound to be filled, and 2023 has seen the launch of a handful of new, often more focused and niche-oriented outlets for local artists, offering a diverse range of aesthetics and atmospheres.

Sailor & the Dock – 617 W. Sheridan Ave.

One of OKC’s newest arts, entertainment, retail, and recreation spaces, Sailor & the Dock (feature photo) opened late last month in Film Row and has already been enjoying some major interest and major crowds for its collection of shops, pop-ups, bars, restaurants, and cafes.

Of interest to the city’s young music scene, however, is the complex’s brick-backed, colorfully lit concert and event space hosting a regular live music showcase they’re calling The Wave.

The space is particularly well-suited to the indie and pop-rock styles of bands like those mentioned above, departed Don’t Tell Dena and The Lunar Laugh, who took the Sailor & the Dock stage for their joint final show.

For more information, visit sailorandthedock.com.

Point A Gallery – 2124 NW 39th St.

Another brand new addition to the city’s entertainment and performance spaces from as recently as last month, Point A is primarily an art gallery designed to spotlight the diverse, consistently growing LGBTQ+ arts community of OKC with showcases and residencies for artists such as current exhibitor Meg Carlile.

But even in just the past month, Point A has already established itself as a destination for the raucous, unexpected, and experimental segment of the city’s music scene, hosting go-go garage-punks Fire Bad!, psychy-shoegazers Liquid Girlfriend, and a new one-woman show from singer/poet Anna Steele.

And of course, they’re already hosting some of the 39th Street District’s wildest, fiercest drag that’s not to be missed.

For more information, visit pointa.space.

Round Midnight Bar – 9 S. Broadway, Edmond

One of the best recent additions to the Metro’s jazz scene, this micro-sized gem feels straight out of NYC’s mid-century jazz heyday, with Art Deco styling, a hanging garden of crystal chandeliers, and that big city jazz bar staple, a performance space backed right up to a big, street-facing window.

With the doors open on a mild night, it’s the perfect place to wander into for some solid jazz in a wide range of styles, from scene leader Kendrik McKinney’s trio tributing greats like Chet Baker to the funkier, contemporary sax stylings of Adam Ray.

Round Midnight is also bolstering the next generation of OKC jazz giants with a weekly Monday night showcase of UCO jazz performance students, offering a little invaluable stage-time experience to help keep the scene evolving.

Follow Round Midnight on Instagram at @roundmidnightbar.

Mycelium Gallery – 3120 W. Britton Rd.

Another brand new art gallery space that’s shining a light on music from a very specific, too-often overlooked niche, Mycelium is all about atmospheric, ambient, and dark styles, fitting perfectly with the gallery’s all-psychedelic “mushroom” aesthetic.

Organizers plan to roll out a full recurring series of experimental and electronic artists as part of what they’re calling Mycelium Sessions, spearheaded by shockingly prolific local electronic maestro Ex Maxhina.

For more information, visit myceliumgallery.com.

The Icehouse Project – 109 W. 2nd St., Edmond

Conceptualized as a one-stop destination for food, drink, and dessert, all joined by an open-air courtyard and colorful, post-modern design, The Icehouse Project boasts some of Edmond’s very finest, Oklahoma-owned offerings with Woodward Pizza, The Fried Taco, The Creamery, and one of the Metro’s best taprooms from American Solera.

Every Thursday, though, the whole complex turns its attention to the music scene for their Thursday Night Live series, showcasing a different featured artist each week in an environment perfectly suited to some chill singer-songwriters like Alyssa Danley, David James McKinney, and scene standout Sarafina Byrd.

For more information, visit icehouseproject.com.

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