Jimmy LaFave photo by Merri Lu Park

Short story and all photos by Mary Jane Farmer. Click on the link below to view photos.

Woody Fest for 2017 is now history — a history of good times, good friends (old and new), and really really good music. The festival increased in size to include four daytime stages in place of the three of last year, and all within a few blocks up and down Broadway Street in Okemah, Oklahoma, Woody Guthrie’s birthplace. The Hen House was the newest venue, with a stage rustic enough to be reminiscent of the days of Woody’s music and large enough to hold a symphony orchestra. It didn’t host one of those, but hosted many other styles of bands, solo artists and a few trios and duos. The Crystal Theater hosted many gatherings, including the introduction Jimmy LaFave memorial tribute Wednesday night and Sunday’s Hoot for Hunnington’s, to raise money to combat the disease that claimed Woody Guthrie’s life. The Golden Pony casino hosted the only outdoor stage, providing a large tent cover and adequate seating. And Brick Street is always a festival favorite.

Wednesday night, July 12, kicked everything off with the Jimmy LaFave memorial tribute. LaFave, a musician who encouraged others constantly while making new fans everywhere he played, an area native and on the WoodyFest Coalition Board, passed away of cancer only a few months earlier. The mix of musicians included vocals from about 25 people, plus backup music on keyboards, guitars, accordions, and the Night Tribe, LaFave’s own band and good friends backing everyone up.

It was as if they had all practiced together for months, but they hadn’t — they are all just that professional — that exceptional! And the beauty of their love for Jimmy shown through their music!

For all photos, click here

There will be more photos and reviews coming, as time allows to work all the photos. So many, so grateful to have been a part of the photography crew!

Jared Mitchell, behind him are Chance Cody and Greg White

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. Click on the links, underscored, for many more photos. More could be added later.

It was small, it was friendly, it was filled with good music, it was the first Mountain Jam, held on land occupied by Texoma musician Dustin Perkins. That land sits at below — but way way way above sea level — three mountain ranges. (And BTW, Dustin will be playing at Hank’s Texas Grill in McKinney on Thursday, June 29 — a rare personal appearance.)

Dustin said he first mentioned the possibility of having a festival there after one of the many jams there between him and his friends. The owner, Mike Wallace, was completely onboard with it, and before you knew it, Mountain Jam 2017 had been born.

All musicians who played it, and there were dozens, played it for free, relying on tips to help pay their expenses. Not sure how that turned out, but they all were still

Dustin Perkins

smiling Sunday morning as they loaded up equipment, tents, and families to return to their homes.

Playing were the Jared Mitchell Band, Sons of Fannin, SG Studios’ Greg White, Dakota Ragsdill, Ken Maxwell, and Dustin Perkins, and lots of band members. Those band members kicked it around all day both days, backing up all the performers in one continuous jam session.

Oh, and it was everyone’s favorite sound man, Lil B, who now also can and does provide backdrop lights to his stages.

Here are some photos of the musicians

This crowd was there by invitation. Invitations could come from any of the band members or organizers. Next year, all those who can attend can also invite people, because, as Wallace put it, “You were invited by someone we trust to ask good people, and we know you are good people, and will only invite good people.”

Some people camped near the stage, others farther away. Wallace and his brother, Eric, with help from some townspeople, cooked one meal both days — smoked meat complemented by a variety of salads, deserts, and vegetables, plus Williams’ own special salsa. Served it without charge, accepting donations but not turning anybody away regardless of donation or not.  “That’s the way we roll up here,” he said.

Here are some photos of the crowd and activities

Dustin took several people on a hours-long tour of the mountains, which Williams and his company are developing for resale while leaving nature’s grandeur and stateliness intact, even enhanced because of the removal of dead and fallen trees, blazing of hiking and small vehicle trails, and such.

Here are some photos from that tour

You know that old song line: “Make new friends, but keep the old; Some are silver and the others gold.”

Lots of silver and gold up in those Oklahoma hills!

Star Spangled Banner being sung by Dave Perez, Deryl Dodd, and Larry Joe Taylor

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer

Tuesday at LJT Fest — Blog style (forgive me, but just gotta do this this time.)

Click here for all photos in one file

Great line-up, it moved from the T-Birds Garage Pub stage with Randy Brown, who is always a champ at keeping country music alive and keeping his audience well entertained, to the Bud Light stage. There, after a flag presentation with Larry Joe Taylor, Deryl Dodd, and Dave Perez singing the National Anthem, it was them in concert, aka The Coalition, followed by Randall King, Whiskey Myers, and Randy Rogers Band. Sean McConnell, also scheduled, was given the opportunity to travel with Marty Stuart beginning in early May, and so opted to forego the LJT Festival.

Weren’t a lot of surprises, music-wise, but who needs a lot of surprises with that line-up! Quality counts big time.

Observation: The style of the day, at least here at Melody Mountain Ranch, is Chris Stapleton. There are dozens of Chris Stapleton look-alikes here, complete with his style of cowboy hat and boots. Knocks down on the number of gimme caps and tennis shoes being worn, for sure.

People still arriving. Tuesday morning, the campground was slightly occupied, a few smokers and bbq grills going around (one even on the main stage, in the V.I.P. area, where those ticket-holders sit behind or above the performers.) But, by the time Randy Rogers and the guys finished, that same campground had changed drastically.

In spite of the posted directive on the festival Website, there’s still lots of beer being hurled, flung, or spewed, not only at the stage, but all over the crowd. Makes it very uncomfortable for those photographing and videoing the performers, having to protect all the cameras. But, it is what it is.

Michael Hearne’s South by Southwest with Randy Brown adding vocals.
Photo by Daren Davis

Story and Randy Brown and other photos by Mary Jane Farmer. South by Southwest and Asleep at the Wheel photos by Daren Davis.

For photos, click here:

This is the 29th year for the Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival, and each year seems to bring out even more of the classic and red dirt musicians. Monday, opening day, was no exception.

There are three stages here at LJT (as it’s more affectionally called), one indoors known as the ZingZang stage inside T-Birds Garage Pub, one outdoors and covered called the Allsup’s Stage, for the more acoustic (and there’s no way anyone can call the ilk like Cody Canada, Mike McClure, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Joe Shaver ‘almost-runs’ and they are on the Allsup’s stage) and the main stage, aka the Bud Light stage, for the nighttime shows.

Monday brought Randy Brown, a classic country music if ever there was one (and don’t ever let anyone tell you there’s no one to “fill their shoes.” There’s a bunch of them…  Randy is one!) is hosting the ZingZang stage all week, playing a set himself and maybe bringing in surprise visitors to the stage. Most days, it’s called Bloody Mary Morning Jam. Monday, Randy played solo, followed by South by Southwest and then by Asleep at the Wheel.

Dancers packed the dance floor!

One attribute this festival has is its incredible hospitality. There are rules — there have to be rules for everyone’s safety and festival enjoyment — but they aren’t unworkable or unlivable  rules, simply rules.

And the amount of genuine hugs, handshakes, and shoulder bumps seem to stretch between all those stages.

Maybe it’s new this year, maybe not… but this year there is a free app simply called LJT Festival, and it provides all the daily schedules, plus info on the performers, info about the chili cook-off (Which really started this whole thing 29 years ago, LJT said.), maps, photos, and lots more.

Oh, and Larry Joe said on the radio (95.9 the Ranch) during an interview Sunday that he’s planning for the 30th, 2018, to be even better than ever. If he says it, you can take it to the bank.

For link to Website, click here:

Photos and review by Mary Jane Farmer, For all photos, click here

Plano — The three sponsors of this year’s Texas Music Revolution met with media Thursday morning, (Jan. 5, 2017) where they announced the 2017 line-up. If the press conference is any indication of just how spectacular Toyota TMR will be, festival-goers are in for the most spectacular two-day festival ever in TMR history.

Representatives of KHYI, the city of Plano, and Toyota pulled a black drape off the reader board to show that it will be Kacey Musgraves and Keifer Sutherland who are headlining the two-day concert. Others announced Thursday to be playing the March 24-25 event are (in no particular line-up order): Josh Ritter, Zane Williams, Castro The Band, The Os, Red Shahan, Paul Cauthen, Kevin Deal, Austin Cunningham, 1100 Springs, Tejas Brothers, Max Stalling, Vandoliers, The Birddogs, and The Buffalo Ruckus.

The press conference was an event within itself. Catered by Love & War in Texas with their special brand of Texas cuisine, attendees were also treated to an introductory Zane Williams song via video. Williams’ fans know one of his fun sides is taking words provided and crafting a song around them. He had been provided with the line-up names and wrote a ditty incorporating those names.

Then, following that, and following some introductory remarks by Toyota’s Steve Curtis, KHYI’s Joshua Jones, and Plano’s Mayor Pro Tem Ben Harris, the men gathered on bot sides of a black-draped reader board. Together, they removed the drape and unveiled the musicians’ names surrounding the festival logo.

Castro the Band

Jones’ comments included a bit of Texas Music Revolution history — this is the second year that Toyota as been involved as a sponsor — and then introduced his wife, their triplets, and the newest member of their family, born only short weeks ago. He added that TMR is very much like another baby of his, having grown (loosely paraphrased) from infancy to the more mature adult it is today.

But, the conference wasn’t over yet. On those video screens, Kacey Musgraves and Keifer Sutherland both spoke of their enthusiasm about playing Toyota TMR 21; then, Jones introduced one of the bands which will be playing — the Dallas family trio called Castro the Band. Purely acoustic in the truest sense of the word, siblings Jason, Jackie, and Michael Castro provided two songs that 100% showed off their style and impeccable, right-on harmonies.

Toyota Texas Music Revolution will be Friday-Saturday, March 24-25, at Plano’s Oak Point Park’s two stage areas, in Plano. Tickets are available at KHYI.com.