Norman Music Festival draws 13,000 to downtown Norman

The Norman Transcript

May 09, 2008 12:25 am

— special to pop

Norman made history as a crowd of more than 13,000 walked the streets downtown Saturday, April 26, at the first annual Norman Music Festival.
?The line-up of bands included both local and international acts such as our headlining band The Polyphonic Spree, The Octopus Project, British Sea Power, and a reunited, Norman-based Chainsaw Kittens. The stages and streets rocked from noon until well after sunset on this monumental day.
?"This festival was purely Norman in its roots and eventual fruition," says Marta Burcham, former Executive Director of the Norman Arts Council. "We made history on Saturday, April 26, 2008, and we are truly proud."
?Volunteers were an integral part of this music festival. More than 100 volunteers took over various jobs including: hospitality, crowd control, parking and cleaning up both during and after the festival.
?"Our Arts Corps, made up of over 100 volunteers, made the music festival a true success," says Rick Fry, Volunteer Coordinator and new Executive Director of the Norman Arts Council.
"Because of their commitment to assist in any way possible, many of them put in 12-hour shifts."
?For images and video footage of the festival, visit http://www.myspace.com/ normanmusicfestival. For information on the Norman Music Festival, visit www.normanmusicfestival.com or call 360-1162.
?The first annual Norman Music Festival was made possible by our founding sponsors: Wimgo.com, Fowler Auto Group, the Norman Arts Council, Cox Communications, Massive Graphics, Arvest Bank, Budweiser/Premium Beers, Enye Media, Marc Heitz Auto Group, Norman Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, Republic Bank and Trust, Skyline Media, AIP, Auto Image USA, Crowe and Dunlevy Law Firm, Downtowner's Association, Ferguson Pontiac Buick -- GMC, Hitachi, Mark Williams, Meyers Reynolds and Association, MidFirst Bank, Midstate Traffic Control Inc., Mr. Electric, NONzine, The Crucible Foundry LLC., Arrow Holdings, Atomic Sound Studios, City of Norman, Norman Regional Hospital, The Montford Inn, The Performing Arts Studio, The Sooner Theatre, OG--E and Vintage Vibe. Sponsorship efforts are already underway for NMF 2009. To get involved, call the Norman Arts Council at 360-1162.