Songwriter ’ s Workshop
This year ’ s Songwriter ’ s Workshop will feature a pair of Oklahoma staples : GEORGE BARTON and MARK SWEENEY
T he pair from Tulsa , OK , have been performing together since for more than 30 years . In 1995 Barton & Sweeney released a debut album , River Red . It took four long years of waiting for the sophomore offering On the Timeline to show up . In between those two recordings , the duo traveled through the United States , performing at festivals and fairs , growing a loyal fan base along the way .
The workshop is at 1:30 p . m . Saturday at the Cottonwood Creek Stage in the campground . Bob Wiles , an amazing musician in his own right , plays host to the musicians who sign up for the open mic stage .
“ We ’ re really looking forward to it ,” he said of this year ’ s workshop . “ They have written songs together for years – really great songs . I thought it would be cool to have them talk about collaborating ... writing with someone else . I ’ m not sure if we ’ ve ever touched on that at the songwriting workshop .” The duo “ broke ” during the Kerrville
Folk Festival in Texas and gained popularity that was literally “ out of this world .” In 1999 , their music catapulted to new heights when NASA ’ s Janice Voss and Steve Robinson took their CDs into space .
According to Barton , the astronauts became fans after hearing them perform in Houston .
“ They actually took two CDs ,” Barton ’ s wife , Linda , recalls with a smile . “ They have pictures of them floating .” Wiles is also a fan . “ When Barton & Sweeney were riding high , they were one of the best duos in the folk universe . They took the Kerrville folk festival by storm and they did it all on their own ,” he said . “ There was no such thing as ‘ Red Dirt Music .’”
Nowadays the State of Oklahoma hosts a venue at the big industry showcases like South by SouthWest and the Folk Alliance , Wiles says . “ Barton & Sweeney didn ’ t have any of those resources . But like they say ‘ the cream rises to the top .’ That ’ s exactly what Barton and Sweeney did . Not by hype and promotion but by shear talent .”
The Cottonwood Creek Campground Stage is located at an official OIBF tent on the North end of the campground , this venue features “ open-mic ” on Thursday , Friday and Saturday during the festival , except during Random Band Jam . Anyone can sign up for a 20-minute set on a firstcome , first-served basis .
Performances showcase diverse acoustic music styles and genres . Last year , music fans saw great bluegrass , folk , country , original acoustic , and swing music in an intimate , performer-friendly environment . The music was constant and simply outstanding .
The Cottonwood Creek Stage expects a full schedule , and maybe a few surprises . Don ’ t miss the Cottonwood Creek Stage prize drawing . The stage is open from noon-6 p . m . Thursday , 12 p . m . -12 a . m . Friday and noon-10 p . m . Saturday . IBF
OKLAHOMA ’ S INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2022 / 25