The Current-May 2008 Feature Story

Music and Mayhem Return to Eufaula this May

By Regan Henson

Country Fever Fest, eat your heart out. There is a new kid on the block, only a year old, who is ready to steal some of your thunder. The gorgeous Eufaula Cove Amphitheater, courtesy of Levelland Productions, is set to take her rightful place next to the higher profile venue in Pryor as a destination for music lovers from all across this state and abroad seeking a place to wind up, wind down, let loose and let it all hang out as Cross Canadian Ragweed kicks off summer with their second annual Music and Mayhem Festival on the beautiful shore of Lake Eufaula this Memorial Day weekend.

Fans can expect a glorious leap forward from last year’s inaugural festival, which was somewhat marred by inclement weather, with a more Okie-centered lineup that features, along with headliners Cross Canadian Ragweed, regional superstars Jason Boland and the Stragglers and returning favorite Stoney Larue. There will be no regional favoritism, however, with a bill that also features Texas artists Wade Bowen and Cody Shaw and the Rhythm Boys opening the show.

For most Oklahomans, Cross Canadian Ragweed and Jason Boland and the Stragglers would be more than enough of an enticement to make the trip to Eufaula, but for those who need the promise of an “event”, Music and Mayhem promises to offer everything one can possibly ask for in a true music festival. The amphitheater overlooks the bay on Lake Eufaula, offering concert goers glimpses of those frolicking on the lake during the day and the stars shimmering on the waters after the sun goes down, as they enjoy the sounds of some of today’s best country and red-dirt artists. It’s that fun-loving attitude that brought the guys from Cross Canadian Ragweed to Lake Eufaula in the first place.

“They just wanted to do something at the lake,” said Chuck Thomson of Levelland Productions. The Lake Eufaula Amphitheater was a perfect fit. “We sold 7,500 tickets last year, and the weather was atrocious.” And while he expects large numbers of festival goers to be from out of state, notably north Texas, where Boland and CCR are huge draws, Thomson expects the majority of the crowd to be from right here in Oklahoma, and especially Eufaula.

“There has been a huge response from the community,” Thomson said, “The people I’ve talked to say they’re really glad we’re coming back.”

In addition to the incredible lineup, festival attendees will also be treated to the myriad of vendors they would expect at such an event. Darren Kilpatrick, owner of Hamlin’s Restaurant in Muskogee, will be bringing a 20 foot smoker armed with brisket, ribs, and other barbecue favorites, and the Grape Ranch of Okemah will have the Frozen Rose trailer on site and standing by for anyone suffering from the kind of heat that can only be treated with frozen mixed drinks.
But what a music festival ultimately boils down to is the music, and Chuck Thomson, who has cut his teeth at the legendary Wormy Dog Saloon in Stillwater, knows which bands to book to whip the crowd into a frenzy. These are the types of bands that can make a crowd 7,500 strong ignore the rain and stand up and scream and cheer for the music they love. Tom Barlow, The Current’s own Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and all-around music guru, was instrumental in launching the initial festival a year ago, and he was witness to the show that Thomson put together.

“Last year, by the time CCR hit the stage, the crowd was already in the stratosphere,” Barlow said, “When they started playing, it (crowd noise) was like they were already at the end of their set.”

It’s the promise of that kind of energy that will bring returning music lovers to the event, and with the addition of Jason Boland and the Stragglers to this year’s festival, it looks to be a good bet that last year’s audience will be surpassed in numbers. And there is plenty of room for more; the Lake Eufaula Cove Amphitheater can handle crowds of up to 13,000. It’s an all ages show, so don’t be afraid to bring the whole family, set up your lawn chairs, slather up with sunscreen and enjoy these musical acts that are showing the world just how talented and unique our Oklahoma bands are. Nice weather would be a blessing, but rain or shine, the show will go on.

Cross Canadian Ragweed’s 2nd Annual Music and Mayhem Festival will be held on Sunday May 25. The music will start around 3pm and keep going until either the bands or the crowd give out. The Lake Eufaula Cove Amphitheater is located at the Lake Eufaula cove in Eufaula. General admission tickets are $25 for advance or $30 the day of the show. General admission VIP tickets are $72. You can buy your tickets at area Reasor’s or by going online to Gettix.net.