Dfest 2010....? Not looking good.

[SXSW]

The problem with spring in Oklahoma is you have the likelihood of what Mayfest just experienced, bad weather.  The threat of weather in Oklahoma can completely ruin your gate.  Outdoor events can buy weather insurance.  But, it is very precise and very expensive.

The fall is hard because of football, both college & high school.  ACL fest is a different animal in that it is a national festival.  People come from all over the country (& world) to attend.

DFest was originally in June.  When Rocklahoma started they took the weekend DFest had historically taken.  The Greens tried to work it out with the corporate entity that does Rocklahoma and it was no dice.

Hmm, is Rocklahoma to blame then?  Did they sap the "low-level" corporate sponsorship that Dfest needed?

I'm still curious what happened to the Overground Film Festival.  I remember it seemingly on its way to being a premier festival but I was away from Tulsa for several years so I don't know what happened to it.  It would be cool to see it return especially with downtown much more active than it was back then.

[sgrizzle]

Hmm, is Rocklahoma to blame then?  Did they sap the "low-level" corporate sponsorship that Dfest needed?

I'm still curious what happened to the Overground Film Festival.  I remember it seemingly on its way to being a premier festival but I was away from Tulsa for several years so I don't know what happened to it.  It would be cool to see it return especially with downtown much more active than it was back then.

I believe I heard it went bankrupt. Tom Green wanted them to run it parallel with dfest (a la SXSW) but it never happened.

[SXSW]

I believe I heard it went bankrupt. Tom Green wanted them to run it parallel with dfest (a la SXSW) but it never happened.

Hmm, I wonder if anyone would want to bring it back?  If the Green's decide to bring back Dfest next year maybe it could involve the Overground Film Festival as well creating an entire weekend of music, conference, and the film fest all in downtown.  I would get behind that and there are many others in this city that would as well.  July sucks because it's usually hot but it's also usually dry..

[SXSW]

Just saw this, a new local music festival in the Brady District:

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12532174

[tulsascoot]

I'm sorry I am not down with an increase of vanity.  I really do care for and support the variety in music, and musicians should always work toward perfection, but, the majority of rock music in particular can be summed up in the classics, and what is new nowadays, they can have all their venues to their heart's fill - as for me, I am much more focused on the communications, so the inspiration is making the most brilliant lights of all.  Having the downtown venue should include an abundance of hip-hop, reggae, and techno, and everyone setting their faith in the right things instead of the profit-motive, in order to be a strong magnet, inclusive to many setting up camp and their booths promoting good among all the people.  Let the tribes set up in their corner bearing the offerings of every sort, and interact for a season: people can meet and formulate and practise together, and stick together for many days.  But I don't see it happening as long as we got mad brothers getting drunk,  walking about with cursing and vanity, and the whole process choked by financial grips.  It reflects in what sorry types of music this people produce, and flock to ignorantly, and likewise is the reason why the flocks of people are scattered away from the positive and green time of healing in this nation.

I read that twice and still have no idea what point you are trying to make, or even find a coherent idea at all.

[Conan71]

Just saw this, a new local music festival in the Brady District:

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12532174

Really? This couldn't have just been put together over this past weekend.  There's got to be something bigger behind this.  I'd be curious if some of those smaller sponsors didn't take their money north of the tracks.

I know of at least one bar owner who didn't find the Greens very nice to work with when DFest moved to Blue Dome and that there was a squabble about beer sales, beer advertising issues, and the bar owner's business being intentionally blocked.  I totally get it that if you are putting on a festival, you are there to make money, but you cannot afford to piss off the local business owners and try to divert business away from them.

[TURobY]

Really? This couldn't have just been put together over this past weekend.  There's got to be something bigger behind this.  I'd be curious if some of those smaller sponsors didn't take their money north of the tracks.

I know of at least one bar owner who didn't find the Greens very nice to work with when DFest moved to Blue Dome and that there was a squabble about beer sales, beer advertising issues, and the bar owner's business being intentionally blocked.  I totally get it that if you are putting on a festival, you are there to make money, but you cannot afford to piss off the local business owners and try to divert business away from them.

I think FreeTulsa had been in the planning stages, but was going to be a much smaller event (it was going to be called Hard Work Summer). I believe that DFest cancellation pretty much helped Jeff Richardson, of Hard Work Records, to increase the size and scope of the event to what we are seeing now with FreeTulsa. He's certainly not doing it alone, but definately deserves quite a bit of credit for stepping up his existing event into this new one.

[Conan71]

I think FreeTulsa had been in the planning stages, but was going to be a much smaller event (it was going to be called Hard Work Summer). I believe that DFest cancellation pretty much helped Jeff Richardson, of Hard Work Records, to increase the size and scope of the event to what we are seeing now with FreeTulsa. He's certainly not doing it alone, but definately deserves quite a bit of credit for stepping up his existing event into this new one.

You mean, kind of like Blue Dome Arts Festival going on simultaneously with Mayfest?  One festival being more local and the other with a more regional and national talent presence?

[DTowner]

Wasn't Country Fever cancelled this year?  Rocklahoma seems to be running on fumes, especially with a much better (relatively speaking) collection of 80s/hair bands at the Rock-N-America festival at the OKC Zoo Amphitheatre this summer.   So it could be a bad year for large music festivals.

It would have been nice to see Dfest scaled back, but still go on.  Maybe they thought that would have tarnished the event for future years, although one-year hiatuses tend to be permanent.

[custosnox]

Wasn't Country Fever cancelled this year?  Rocklahoma seems to be running on fumes, especially with a much better (relatively speaking) collection of 80s/hair bands at the Rock-N-America festival at the OKC Zoo Amphitheatre this summer.   So it could be a bad year for large music festivals.

It would have been nice to see Dfest scaled back, but still go on.  Maybe they thought that would have tarnished the event for future years, although one-year hiatuses tend to be permanent.

Yes, Country Fever was cancelled.  Rocklahoma has changed it's venue to a more modern rock (buckcherry, godsmack ect.) and is excpecting an edgefest type turnout.  We'll see this weekend what happens on that front.

[rdj]

Hmm, is Rocklahoma to blame then?  Did they sap the "low-level" corporate sponsorship that Dfest needed?

No Rocklahoma isn't to blame.  Someone else had asked why DFest was in late July when it was so hot.  I was just stating it used to be earlier in the year when it was hot but not HOTT!

[Nik]

Any word on DFest 2011? I'm assuming no. I haven't seen anything on the Twitter or Facebook. Didn't know if anyone had any "inside" knowledge.

[stageidea]

I would imagine that they would have announced something by now if anything was on the books.  Certainly wish it would come back.

[Conan71]

I may be terribly wrong, but it's the kiss of death to an event like that to simply go dark like they did last year.  That makes sponsors nervous mainly because it illustrates financial instability or possible organizational problems.  I'm just wondering if it got too big too quick and may have been sustainable if they had pursued a less ambitious talent list.  They nearly killed Mayfest in the early '90's by going to (IIRC) a 10 day festival when they brought in the likes of Ray Charles and Chuck Berry as well as expanding the area the event was held in.

[moosedaddy]

The struggle with DFest is the number of people that come to Blue Dome and don't buy a ticket.  They hang out in the streets or sneak into the main stage.  The bar owners love it because they rake in the cash while the Greens haven't made a dime.

It is my understanding that the problem is as described above, due to counterfiters and people sneaking into Dfest event organizers were losing money.