ILLINOIS RIVER JAM
PACKS IN BIG TALENT, RELAXATION
You don’t need cellphone reception to enjoy yourself at the Illinois River Jam.
The festival just wrapped its 11th year on Sept. 30, and going off the grid is one of many things this festival does right.
Hugging the rocky river banks of a Tahlequah resort called Peyton’s Place, the music and camping celebration excels in its simplicity.
There were 500 or so in attendance, but I’d never guess that from the calm pace and lack of crowding.
A single stage hosted dozens of acts and even more lawn chairs during the two-night festival stretch, but nothing sizzled quite as much as Parker Millsap’s headlining set.
Maybe it was the crisp, cool weather that evening.
It could’ve been the freshly fried fish cooking a few yards away. My guess is that Millsap’s time on the road makes each song a road-tested candidate for becoming an earworm.
A lot of the weekend’s Okie-centric performers seemed to be just as big fans of the festival as the crowd.
Samantha Crain capped her set with “Big Rock,” an upbeat tribute to a floating trip she had at IRJ. The Creek Rocks sounded like they walked from the Ozark Mountains to Oklahoma in order to share their twangy tunes with humor and heart. Ramsay Midwood’s sprawling stories amassed as much attention as his songs.
Festival organizer and Tulsa-based songwriter Travis Linville ended his own event with a breezy performance that was frustrating only because his band made everything look so carefree and easy. Each act had one thing in common: A quiet crowd that was ready to listen. I felt spoiled not having to jump to another stage or ever worrying about losing my spot.
After you plant your chair around the tented main stage, the heavy lifting’s done.
A walk around the festival grounds was an open invitation to even more music around campfires and kind food offerings.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard a story involving one camper who planned a weeklong, 30-mile float down the river so he could land in time for the festival.
This Oklahoma festival has a lot figured out. If you’re a fan of live music, then there’s a good chance you’d be a fan of this Jam.