OKLAHOMA CITY – While January saw some chill, relaxing music events for recharging your social battery and at least a few high-energy shows to keep the blood pumping into the new year, February is kicking the music scene back into high gear.
In addition to plenty of tours and release shows, and no shortage of the usual culture-craze dance parties and tribute acts, a handful of curated showcases are bring some of the scene’s best locals together on stage to spotlight a shared mood, shared soundscapes, or even just a shared love of song.
Song Swap w/ Abbigale Dawn, Gabee Rolla-Danley, & Baileyboy – Opolis – Friday, February 13th
Oklahoma has lately been living in a golden age of passionate, intimate singer-songwriters stripping their sound back as far as it can go and letting the time-honored tradition of acoustic folk songwriting take center stage, spurred in small part by breakout success stories like John Moreland and Ken Pomeroy.
So if you want to get an early look at some of the torchbearers that’ll be the next to take that sound and prove why it never dies, you’ll want to head down to Norman for this trio of emotional, strumming storytellers as they toss their songs back and forth.
Abbigale Dawn brings a bit of bluesy rawness, Baileyboy’s Bailey Gilbert brings the sharply pointed anthems and confessionals, and Gabee Rolla-Danley brings the most gentle and vulnerable love songs this side of early Sufjan.
For more, visit opolis.org.
MOOD CTRL w/ Nia Mone – Blue Note – Saturday, February 28th
OKC’s reigning queen of R&B, the electric Nia Mone, returns once again with her MOOD CTRL showcase, gathering artists from across the spectrums of funk, pop, and sensual soul on the historic Blue Note stage for a cross-genre night of mood music.
This month, Mone’s bringing along soulful Treske, atmospheric hip-hopper Kyd, and electro-powered pop romantic Heartspace, as well as her own powerful voice and velvety smooth personality as host and leader of the evening.
If you’ve been deep into the alternative or electronic scenes and you want to dip into the city’s rich and remarkable R&B, soul, and alt-rap scenes, then this is the recurring showcase you should be keeping your eyes on.
For more, visit okcbluenote.com.
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Bands Showcase – Resonant Head – Saturday, February 28th
It’s always surprising to me how few people are aware that Oklahoma City is one of the world capitols for creative, boutique guitar effects pedal manufacturing, with a whole selection of some industry giants based right here in the Metro.
And of them all, there’s no outfit making more creative and wild soundscaping devices than OKC’s Old Blood Noise Endeavors, and one you realize how many of their employees, leaders, and closest friends are all experimental and texture-heavy musicians themselves, it’s easy to see why.
So to cast that fact in even clearer relief, Old Blood is partnering with their friends right next door at Resonant Head to host a sprawling showcase of all the genre-smashing artists related to their little pedal company, and that means a pretty wide range of sounds and styles all sharing the stage.
There’s electro-psych duo Brainwasher, dreamy, gazey alt-poppers Lust Online, fuzz-drenched rippers Powdr, bubbling pop-rockers Bad Athlete, and even more.
This is the kind of event and collaboration that a space like Resonant Head was made for, and there’s no more surefire show this month for hearing some absolutely bonkers and brand new sounds.
For more, visit resonanthead.com and oldbloodnoise.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.
