Financial Building no concern for Norman Music Festival organizers

Structural integrity concerns of the six-story Financial Center Building at 111 N. Peters will not disrupt the Norman Music Festival, said Jonathan Fowler, festival president.

"Fortunately, city officials took necessary steps to start bracing the building," Fowler said. "We were unsure what was going to happen after the safety issues arose, but now that half the building is braced our worry level has dropped a considerable amount."

Temporary bracing to the first three floors of the building is complete, according to engineering reports.

With three levels of bracing complete, the city has raised the threshold wind velocity from 50 mph to 60 mph, officials said.

Earlier this year, engineers determined that the building had insufficient lateral support and could potentially collapse in extremely strong winds. The building's 18 tenants — including Vista Sports Grill and several law offices — were evacuated in February due to the concerns.

Although the building is still susceptible to extremely high winds, Fowler said he believes festival goers are feeling safe.

"Many people I've talked to are confident and do not feel at risk," he said. "Which is good because we just want to offer Norman a great, worry-free day of music."

Norman resident Ryan Gaston said he was concerned the festival would be canceled when he first learned of the structural problems with the Financial Building.

"My first thought was 'I really hope this doesn't effect the Norman Music Fest,'" Gaston said. "I'm sure the more humane thought would have been about the safety of people, but I am just really looking forward to this year's festival.

"I'm glad to know the building is more stable now though."

Norman Music Festival is a day-long event from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, April 25, in downtown Norman on Main Street. More than 90 artists will perform at the festival including: Of Montreal, Tea Leaf Green, Starlight Mints, and The Uglysuit.

For more information about the festival, visit www.normanmusicfestival.com.

For more information on the Financial Center Building construction, e-mail Susan Connors, Planning and Community Development director at susan.connors@normanok.gov.

Norman prepares for return to Dark Age

Photo courtesy of Steve Sisney


Kings, queens and knights plan to bring the Middle Ages back to Norman when the 33rd annual Medieval Fair takes over Reaves Park April 3 through 5.

The fair will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Reaves Park is at 2501 Jenkins Ave., just north of State Highway 9. Admission and parking are free.

The living history fair will feature more than 200 art and craft booths, food concessions, games, educational exhibits, crafts demonstrations and individuals and groups entertaining in Middle Ages-style, said Linda Linn, event coordinator.

In addition to minstrels, jugglers and other familiar characters, new attractions will include: Gypsy Rox, a music duo; Danny the magician; and glass blowing.

As always, the Medieval Fair will include fun and games for all ages. Many of the popular youth events also return with elephant rides, a hand-cranked medieval swing carousel, wax hands and face painting. Craft demonstrations focusing on brass rubbing, blacksmithing, crafting chain mail, creating soap, woodworking and armor making will be available. Educational exhibits and presentations about life in the Middle Ages also will be presented.

Norman resident Elizabeth Harris has attended the Medieval Fair for the past twelve years and is planning to return.

"It's always a lot of fun," Harris said. "It started as my mom dragging me there against my will, but now it has become a tradition."

Fair parking is available on the east side of Lloyd Noble Center on Jenkins Avenue, one block south of Reaves Park. Shuttle service will not be available this year, but parking for vehicles with handicap permits will be available on park grounds.

For more information and for a list of scheduled entertainment, visit www.medievalfair.org.

Sooner Theatre plans jazz celebration

The Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour will swing by Sooner Theatre with an all-star music group of some today's best jazz musicians at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 18.

The group, Blue Note 7, are composed of: Bill Charlap, musical director and piano; Peter Bernstein, guitar; Ravi Coltrane, tenor saxophone; Lewis Nash, drums; Nicholas Payton, trumpet; Peter Washington, bass; and Steve Wilson, alto saxophone.

The tour celebrates the anniversary of legendary record label Blue Note Records, which was founded in 1939. The label is known as a premier label in jazz history, recording artists such as: Fats Navarro, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock and many others.

"For jazz junkies like myself, this is a pretty sweet deal," said Brandon Sims, modern dance sophomore. "[Blue Note Records] has produced a lot of great jazz music, it's cool they're doing an anniversary tour to celebrate.

"I hope [Blue Note 7] plays some tributes to the artists who proceeded them."

Tickets are on sale now for $30, $35 and $40. They may be purchased from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, at the theater box office, 101 E Main Street. Tickets also can be purchased by phone at 405-321-9600, or online at www.soonertheatre.com. A service charge of $2 per ticket is added to phone and online orders.

PWOP/SOP

Portrait Without a Person:






Sense of Place:

Student finds local music a place on the airwaves.

The Wire launched a new music show, The Lokl Hour, on Feb. 5. The program will air local music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday, said Adam Croom, the brains behind the operation.

The show was designed as a way to expose Oklahoma City’s local music scene, he said.

Croom said he got the idea for the show after he had a look at what music was in The Wire’s database.

“My instant reaction was ‘hey, is there any local stuff on here?’” he said. “There was a little … but not a whole lot. I saw an opportunity to present local music to people who had never really given the Oklahoma scene a chance.”

And while Croom said the show should open people’s eyes to local music, he believes it will also benefit local musicians as well.

“If there aren’t radio stations to play your music, there’s no drive to write, “Croom said. “You need to know that there are more people other than yourself hearing (your) music. If that wasn’t true, nobody would ever even record.”

Having a radio station to put their music on display is an important motivational tool for local bands, said Croom, a local musician himself.

“There’s just not enough decent opportunities for bands to show what they’re made of,” he said.

Croom lists The City Lives, Evangelicals, El Paso Hot Button and Ali Harter as is favorite local musicians, but he said The All-American Rejects were his biggest influence.

“When I was 14 I saw them play at the Green Door (now the Conservatory) and all I ever wanted was to have the opportunity to play on that stage,” he said. “That’s ultimately what I want for kids now, to have the same drive I did. I want them to hear local [music] and say, ‘hey, I want to do that too.’”

Croom, who is in charge of all aspects of the show, said he puts in eight to 10 hours of work each week. Although the work is unpaid, he expects the project to be a good addition to his résumé, he said.

“I can be in an interview and say, ‘I had an idea for a radio show with a format that didn’t even exist. I gathered all the music myself, I manually put it on the server, I booked the guests, I promoted it, I did everything,’” said Croom, an advertising senior set to graduate this spring.

Ultimately, Croom said he hopes The Lokl Hour will become a permanent fixture at The Wire.

“From my first semester here I wanted to find a way to leave a legacy,” he said. “Hopefully there will be somebody who is as passionate as I am about local music and wants to continue the show.”

For more information on The Lokl Hour, or to submit your music, e-mail Croom at theloklhour@gmail.com.

Students to dance for breast cancer benefit

The 2009 Pink and Black Ball is scheduled from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Feb. 7, in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom.

The ball is an annual benefit to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer, according the foundation's Web site.

Students are encouraged to attend the semi-formal event and enjoy music from a live jazz band and a live DJ. Refreshments such as a "potatotini" bar, cheese and crackers, and a chocolate fountain will be provided.

Adam Wilkey, freshman, said he was planning on attending the ball.

"It's a wonderful cause to support," Wilkey said. "My grandmother lost her battle with breast cancer a few years ago so I always jump at any opportunity to support breast cancer research. Besides, you can't go wrong with dressing up and getting your boogie on."

Tickets are available for $15 in advance at www.okctickets.com, or can be purchased at the door for $20. For more information on the Susan Komen foundation, visit ww5.komen.org.

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