Cloud 9 lands in Tulsa

The week holds its breath until Friday, then everything happens at once. Steve Earle and Kevin Smith on Friday, and a Saturday where Megan Moroney, free jazz at Guthrie Green and a Drillers game all land downtown within a few blocks of each other. Here is how to spend it.

The one thing

Megan Moroney plays the BOK Center on Saturday, August 15 at 7 pm on the Cloud 9 Tour, with JP Saxe and Solon Holt opening. Get there early, because the show starts outside. A free street party runs from 4 to 8 pm at 300 South Frisco, and 3rd Street is closed between Denver and Frisco all weekend to make room for it. Two things to know before you go. The BOK Center is cashless, so bring a card for food and merch, and bags have to be clear and no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches. Sort that out at home and you walk right in.

Live music and comedy

Monday through Thursday was quiet. The last three days of the week make up for all of it.

Steve Earle & The Dukes play the Osage Event Center on Friday, August 14 at 7:30 pm. He announced this run back in February, more than 70 dates across North America, and the Tulsa stop lands in a room small enough that you can actually hear the words.
Kevin Smith takes over Bricktown Comedy Club for four shows, Friday, August 14 at 7 pm and 9:45 pm and Saturday, August 15 at 6 pm and 8:45 pm. It is billed as an evening with him rather than a set, which in practice means he answers questions from the room until they run out. Late shows tend to run long.
La Zenda Nortena headline the Imperio Event Center on Friday, August 14 at 9 pm.
Ookay is at The Vanguard the same night, Friday, August 14 at 9 pm, 18 and over.
Ghostland Observatory play Cain's Ballroom on Saturday, August 15 at 8 pm, doors at 7 pm, all ages. Two guys from Austin, a cape, and a laser rig that has no business being that good. Cain's sprung floor was built for this.
The Gaither Vocal Band play the Mabee Center on Saturday, August 15 at 2 pm. A matinee, so it will not cost you your evening.
Noah Bowman is at The Vanguard on Saturday, August 15 at 8 pm, and Sour Bridges play Mercury Lounge the same hour if you want something smaller and louder.
Frozen Soul close the week at The Vanguard on Sunday, August 16 at 7 pm, doors at 6 pm. The Fort Worth death metal band brings Eternal, Maul, Inside You and Ectospire with them, so it is five bands on a Sunday night. Pace yourself.

See the full concert calendar for everything on sale.

Festivals and free stuff

Jazz on the Green returns to Guthrie Green on Saturday, August 15. Gates at 6 pm, music from 7 to 11 pm, and it is free. Seventh year for it now, with local and touring players working through everything from smooth to modern, food trucks around the lawn and the splash pad running for the kids. Leave the cooler at home, beer and wine are sold on site.
The Megan Moroney Street Party on Saturday, August 15 from 4 to 8 pm at 300 South Frisco is free and open to anyone, ticket or not.
The Tulsa Farmers' Market is at 1 South Lewis on Saturday, August 15 from 7 to 11 am, with the midweek market running Wednesdays from 8 to 11 am. Mid August is when the tomatoes and peaches are at their best, so go early and go hungry.

Sports

The Tulsa Drillers are home all week at ONEOK Field against the Arkansas Travelers, August 11 through Sunday, August 16, with 7 pm first pitches on Friday and Saturday. Then they stay put for the Amarillo Sod Poodles from August 18 through 23, which makes this their only back to back homestand of the season. Worth knowing about Saturday, August 15. A ball game, an arena show and a free concert on Guthrie Green all happen within a few blocks of each other that night, so downtown parking will be gone by 6 pm. Park once and walk, or take the bus. FC Tulsa is on the road this week, back at ONEOK Field on Saturday, August 29 against Rhode Island FC.

On the horizon

The Blue Whale Comedy Festival turns ten this year and takes over the Arts District from August 20 through 23. More than 75 comics across six venues, including two stages inside Cain's Ballroom plus LowDown, Chimera, Saturn Room and Soundpony. Demetri Martin, Chris Fleming, Melissa Villasenor and Jay Jurden headline, and there is a free brunch show at Fassler Hall on Sunday, August 23. VIP passes are already gone. The same week, Vince Gill plays The Cove at River Spirit on Thursday, August 20 at 8 pm, and the Claremore Expo Center runs a country double header with Lonestar on Friday, August 21 and Gretchen Wilson on Saturday, August 22. Full rundown next week.