As the sun shined on Sunday, May 4, 2025, four stages around Stillwater, Oklahoma were alive with original songs from seventy Oklahoma songwriters. Johnny Mullenax Band opened the festival with their raucous Bluegrass Brunch at The Dirty Rooster, blowing away a sold out crowd with a raucous energy that set the tone for the day.
Notable moments included:
The festival raised $31,836 for Red Dirt Relief Fund’s Emergency Financial Assistance Fund, which will fund 10 grants of direct aid for music creators facing unavoidable emergencies.
At the festival, Executive Director Katie Dale announced RDRF is approaching the milestone of providing $1 million in emergency financial assistance to music professionals in all genres statewide since 2012.
Don Morris was honored in memoriam for his work in Red Dirt music that spans more than four decades. Morris, who passed away August 8, 2024, was a staple in the Tulsa music scene after starting the Science Project band with Tom Skinner and Gene Williams in 2000. His warmth and generosity resonated as he played bass for the Brandon Jenkins Band and the Red Dirt Rangers. Morris was known for his kindness, humility, openness, and his ability to lift others up with his words and actions. He was a cheerful supporter of the Red Dirt Relief Fund from its inception and performed at countless festivals for the cause.
The Restless Spirit Award was presented to Morris’ partner, Becky Gragg, by Brad James (Science Project), John Cooper and Brad Piccolo (Red Dirt Rangers) at the Grand Casino Main Stage at Eskimo Joe’s. The Award, named for Childers’ song with the same name, is given by the Red Dirt Relief Fund in recognition of a musician who has impacted the Oklahoma red dirt music community. Morris joins a prestigious and beloved litany of Restless Spirit Award honorees:
Jimmy LaFave (2017), Brandon Jenkins (2018), Randy Crouch (2019), Steve Ripley (2020), Jim Paul Blair (2021), Chad Sullins (2022), Jake Flint (2023) and Monica Taylor (2024).
Take a trip down memory lane and check out some of our past festivals and their highlights.
