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Entertaining The Hours Of Your Week With Jazz In June, Shawnee Trail Days And Peter Pan

Jazz in June 2014
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Jazz in June, Inc.

Festivals old and new converge on central Oklahoma this weekend.

Norman's outdoor music festival Jazz in June continues its 31-year tradition of bringing jazz and blues artists from across the nation together to perform for the public Thursday, June 19 through Saturday, June 21.

One fateful day in 1984, former director of the Norman Arts and Humanities Council Rachel Jacquemain went out for drinks and coffee with Thomas Carey of Cimarron Opera (CO). The two were brainstorming a CO fundraiser, when Carey had the idea of an outdoor jazz concert.

Thus, Jazz in June was born, drawing an audience of 300 people for its first concert in 1984. The festival’s popularity has since snowballed to become one of Norman’s most anticipated summer events, as organizers expect more than 50,000 attendees at the 2014 Jazz in June.

The festival begins with “Blues Under the Stars” on Thursday, June 19 at Brookhaven Village on West Robinson Street. Dirty Red & the Soul Shakers play at 7 p.m. followed by solo guitarist and singer Samantha Fish at 9 o’clock. The party then moves to Tres Cantina & Grille on East Main Street for a blues jam led by Dirty Red & the Soul Shakers at 10:30 p.m.

The music returns to Brookhaven Village on Friday evening for “Jazz Under the Stars.” The concert features a performance by the Edmond Jazz Orchestra at 7 p.m. before the Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola Duo take the stage at 9:15 p.m.

Andrew’s Park on West Daws Street hosts Saturday’s “Jazz in the Park.” The Boyd Street Brass opens up with a 6 o’clock performance, followed by Pidgin at 7:10 p.m. and the headlining act Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks at 9 p.m.

Members of the Boyd Street Brass and Pidgin conclude the festival with a jazz jam in the Norman Hotel at 10:30 p.m. 

Also, aspiring local artists can check out three reservation-free clinics led by Jazz in June artists at Norman’s Performing Arts Studio on Saturday morning and afternoon.

Jazz in June concerts are always free thanks to contributions made by local businesses and individuals along with grants by the Norman Arts Council and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

The Safe Events for Families Foundation hopes to follow the Jazz in June blueprint for success as the organization presents the inaugural Shawnee Trail Days Festival in downtown Shawnee Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22.

Credit HeritageFarmStead.org / Google Creative Commons
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Google Creative Commons
A map of the Western, Shawnee, Chisholm and Goodnight trails.

The event features a number of activities that celebrate the history and culture of Shawnee defined by the early settlers of Oklahoma’s Western, Shawnee and Chisholm trails.  

Events begin Friday night at 5 p.m. with an outdoor art market on Bell Street, a block party on Main Street and a 6 p.m. ‘Stomp Dance’ collaboration by the Seminole Nation and Shawnee Tribe at the Santa Fe Depot Grounds.

Downtown is packed with festivities Saturday including a farmer’s market from 8 a.m. to noon at the Shawnee Pavilion, continuous tribal demonstrations at the Depot Grounds alongside sack races at the Depot Educational Center and contests for cobbler and cornbread cooking at 1 p.m. on Bell Street.

The festival concludes back at the Pavilion on Sunday with biscuits and gravy at 9 a.m. followed by a community worship service at 10 a.m. and ‘Family Fun Day’ with bounce houses for children and continuous bluegrass music through 5 o’clock.

A full schedule of events is available at the Safe Events for Families Foundation’s website.

Credit Wendy Mutz

If you want to stay cool this weekend, check out the original 1954 version of Peter Pan: The Musical by Summerstock Productions in partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma. Performances run Thursday, June 19 through Sunday, June 22 in the air-conditioned Mitchell Hall Theater at UCO. 

Based on the play by J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan was adapted into a musical with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and music by Morris “Moose” Charlap. 

Performances of Peter Pan: The Musical take place at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, at 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday along with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

For more ways to fill the 168 hours of your week, visit KGOU's event listings page.

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