Spring has sprung outdoor live-music events

Spring has “sprung,” and so far we have been exposed to rains, thunderstorms, some hail (some golfball size), steady winds and some mighty pretty sunny days. It kind of goes back to, “If you don’t like the Oklahoma weather, just stick around, it’ll change.”

Talihina and Spiro even had a close call with twisters. If you had a chance to get your garden broke in between wet spells, then you were mighty lucky to get seeds in the ground. I think it’s going to be a normal wet gardening season, just when eating fresh-picked grub would sure make a fixed income stretch a little further. Good luck on your truck patch this year!

You know the best way to make it rain is to plan an outside event. There are two planned so far and both days are in the slight-chance-of-rain categories. Grannie’s Nightmare will play from 1-5 p.m. Wednesday at Spunky Skunk, located at the corner of North Broadway and College avenues. It’s a 4/20 celebration and one of Willie Nelson’s favorite holidays. Stop by or just honk in support of these R&R heroes. This band plays some of the very best classic rock music around.

Then, just a little further north on Broadway, Grannie’s Nightmare will be rockin’ at Doug’s Watering Hole beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday. It’s a great place to hear live music, get a cool drink and play a little 8- ball. So, catch Dale Fraze Sr, Rocky Sumpter and Brad Sumpter doing what they do best — rockin’ and rollin’!

Then, in my hometown of Shady Point, The Wright Family will have a singing beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Red Barn Farm. It’s easy to find with signs and a Christian flag on the driveway. It’s about a half of a mile north of the EZ Mart. It is a front-porch, lawn-chair kind of event. Robert, Rochelle and Kyler will play and sing southern gospel songs, and they will be joined this time by The Scott Sisters. The singing is free and family friendly. Drinks and snacks will be available, with donations for them appreciated. I understand that Kyler will be playing guitar AND harmonica this time. He is a talented young man, but there might be just a slight chance of showers possible.

Oklahoma Moon will play from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Neumeir’s Rib Room. It’s a great place for a meal and live music.

Then, “The Showtime Country Music Jamboree,” put on by Oklahoma Moon, will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday for two hours of country and gospel music. This four-piece band has worked hard to become one of the area’s favorites. This band has a lot of harmony, loaded with talent, years of experience and clean up pretty well, too!

This Jamboree’s special guest is Pake McEntire. Pake comes from the Atoka McEntires and sang with sisters Susie and Reba. Ricky Ward plays lead with this band. When I interviewed him for this column, he mentioned that he knew Pake from their roping and riding days. Ricky invited him to come sing and play, and Pake has since become a favorite around here because of his singing and fiddling. “If ya gonna play at the Jamboree, ya gotta have a fiddler in the band!” Make plans on being there!

One of the most treasured gigs in the area now because of the music lovers and the great food is Dawn’s Diner in Red Oak. Scot Francis plays on Friday night. Then, Rearvue Mirror will provide the music from 7p.m. until closing, and you’ll get to enjoy the delicious food, too! There will be great red dirt, Americana and classic rock on Rearvue Mirror’s menu, and this band is a crowd pleaser. LaDonna Maul, Reggie Wells, Dennis Dooley and Larry Taylor will be there playing. Hope you can join them.

Backslider’s Wine begat Wildhorse, then Wildhorse became “The Stagemasters.” On Friday, The Stagemasters will play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Fort Smith (Ark.) Senior Activity Center on Cavanaugh Road. Randy Smith, Terry Barnes, Gerry Blaze, Larry Hight and David Hoffpauir will play classic country for the dancers. The band played its first dance Saturday night at the Spiro Eagles Lodge. According to my mom Wanda, this band is awesome to hear and plays a wonderful playlist of dance songs. The name might have changed, but the classic country is better than ever.

So get out this weekend. Support live music and local bands.

For additional information about livemusic events or to let me know about any such venues, call or text me at (918) 6495736 or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@gmail.com.