This feature first ran in the official Norman Music Festival newsletter, part of an ongoing collaboration between Oklahoma City Free Press and NMF spotlighting the people and production of Oklahoma’s largest free music event.
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If you’re a band, artist, or musical act in Oklahoma, you’ve surely seen already that the Norman Music Festival has once again launched its Open Call, inviting music-makers of all stripes to apply for official-stage glory in April. And if you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for?!
But if you’re freaking out, thinking “wait, Open call? It can’t be October already? Where did the months? Time has no meaning anymore!” well, don’t fret.
You haven’t lost all track of time and space, the Open Call is just a bit earlier this year.
For the first time, NMF organizers decided to move the open application for artists up by about a month to relieve some of the end-of-year pressures on bookers and bands alike.
“So in past years, the Open Call has been more toward the end of the year,” said Shari Jackson, Executive Director of the Norman Music Alliance. “And the problem with that, I think, is we have a lot of really successful bands here in Oklahoma trying to plan gigs, plan tours, plan everything else, and everybody just needs to know whether or not they’ve got a spot, whether or not to put a pin in that NMF weekend.”
Considering travel costs, logistical headaches, and the rapidly filling calendars of the hottest acts both local and otherwise, NMF is hoping to alleviate some of that scheduling anxiety.
But it’s admittedly not all just about making things easier on the performers. It’s also about doing right by the fest’s behind-the-scenes staffers that donate their time and energy each year.
“We’re an all-volunteer team mostly,” Jackson said. “So we want to make sure we’re not putting the team into a scramble, and make sure everybody’s got the time to get things together, the PR, the assets, the stage lineups, the production, everything else. So I think pulling it back just makes the process a little less stressful.”
And, of course, that reduced stress means more attention, excitement, and passion for listening to the acts and compiling (hopefully) the best NMF lineup ever.
Which once again raises that most timeless and enduring question in all things NMF:
Just what exactly are the bookers looking for from the Open Call submissions?
It’s not about a certain sound, and it’s not about a particular style or vibe.
First and foremost, it’s all about real live experience and the ability to handle a big stage and a big audience.
“For those outdoor stage spots, we’re looking for a band that’s ready for the big crowds,” Jackson said. “And we know there may be some bands out there that are just getting started that make some really excellent music, but if they’re not accustomed to putting out a high-energy 40-minute set in front of a big crowd, and that’s not their thing, then this might not be the first place to do that.”
But that’s not to say that an artist shouldn’t apply unless they’ve stormed a festival stage or two in the past.
The official outdoor NMF stages can only fit about 50 to 60 acts total across the full fest, but they tend to receive well upwards of 200 applications through the Open Call.
Once they’ve made their selections, the team turns the Open Call artists loose to all of the indoor “partner” stages up and down Main Street, letting them build out their own bills and create their own unique experiences for the festival.
“Everyone should apply, no matter what kind of stuff you do or what your past experience is,” Jackson said. “Maybe what you do isn’t the right fit for our outdoor stages, but it might be perfect for one of our partner venues, and the Open Call is also the way to get on those radars.”
But aside from that kind of experience and that general air of proven “readiness” for a band to take and command an outdoor festival stage, there really aren’t any other specific requirements or prerequisites, and genre labels, trends, and streaming numbers all matter way less than you might think.
According to Jackson, it really is all about the music, and the only way for them to hear it and to feel it is for you to jump on that Open Call right now and send it their way.
“We’re looking for really good original music, every genre,” she said. “And you know, good music is just good art. You know it when you see it.”
The Norman Music Festival Open Call is running right now through October 23rd. CLICK HERE to apply.
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 the owner and Editor in Chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly two decades and served as Arts & Entertainment Editor before purchasing the company from founder Brett Dickerson in 2026.
He is also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
