John Hammond

Here is a list of events happening around the state this weekend (June 4-6). For more options, go to www.wimgo.com:

- Listen to Oklahoma singer-songwriter K.C. Clifford at 8 tonight, Grammy-nominated bluesman John Hammond at 9 p.m. Saturday and Philadelphia roots rockers Hoots & Hellmouth at 9 p.m Sunday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.

-  YUKON — Taste crawfish and other Cajun treats, participate in children’s activities and hear live music at the Taste of Louisiana Crawfish & Living History Festival from …

Sandi Patty

Keith Anderson

The Grand Ole Opry, presented by Humana, will return to the Grand Ole Opry House after a three-month run at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Friday. Two Oklahoma performers are on the Opry lineup for this weekend.

Scheduled to appear this weekend are Opry members Josh Turner and Bill Anderson as well as special guests Miami, OK, native Keith Anderson, Deer Creek area resident Sandi Patty, The Oak Ridge Boys, Chris Young and more.

In celebration of the Opry’s first night back at the Opry House, …

Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne performs at last year’s New Year’s Eve Freakout. (Photo by John Clanton/The Oklahoman Archives)

Happy New Year! It’s New Year’s Eve, and there are many festivities planned around the state for today and throughout the weekend. Here is the special New Year’s 2009-10 edition of the Weekend Warmup (for Dec. 31, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010). For more events, go to www.wimgo.com:

- Celebrate the start of 2010 with psychedelic music, confetti cannons and a giant balloon drop at The Flaming Lips New Year’s Eve …

Oklahoma singer-songwriter Keith Anderson and his record label, Columbia Nashville, have parted ways, CMT.com is reporting.

Anderson, who was born and raised in Miami, released his second album, “C’Mon,” in 2008 and reached No. 2 on Billboard’s country charts with the ballad “I Still Miss You.”

His 2005 album, “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll,” which was released on Arista Nashville, was certified gold.  His other singles include “Pickin’ Wildflowers,” “XXL,” “Every Time I Hear Your Name,” “Sunday Morning in America,” She Could’ve Been Mine.” His single “Podunk” included …

Joe Don Rooney (Associated Press photo)

Rascal Flatts Week continues here at BAM’s Blog, as the band, including guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher, will play a show Friday at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK. That venue is just three miles from Picher.

Rooney did a special conference call with Oklahoma and Missouri media last week to talk about the homecoming show, his family and his music. I’ll have much more from the interview and other information about the band in the coming days.

Among the topics of …

Reba McEntire (Associated Press photo)

NASHVILLE – The 2009 CMA Music Festival, recently named “the country’s premiere Country Music festival” by the New York Times, is planning a full range of experiences for fans, with more than 100 hours of live music, celebrity events, family activities, and more. The event, now in its 38th year, will take place over four days – June 11-14 in downtown Nashville.

CMA Music Festival is a celebration of the relationship between the fans and the artists, and this connection is vividly demonstrated at the …

1. “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” David Frizzell and Shelly West. Current Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, sweethearts who live on neighboring Tishomingo farms, do a really great version of this heartfelt ballad, …

Oklahoma City Ballet (The Oklahoman Archive photo)

Arts

- American Indian Mural Painting: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63, is opening Saturday a new exhibit of “American Indian Mural Painting in Oklahoma and the Southwest.” http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/.

- Oklahoma City Ballet: See the first production of the newly named Oklahoma City Ballet, “Stars of American Ballet,” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 848-8637 or http://www.balletoklahoma.com/.

- Magic Lantern Celebration on Paseo: Celebrate Halloween in artistic fashion from 2:30 to 6:30 …

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.

Oklahoma native’s path may lead to stardom
Road takes Keith Anderson to Nashville 

Standing on stage at Oklahoma City’s Zoo Amphitheatre, country singer-songwriter Keith Anderson starts talking about the time-honored tradition of cruising Main Street on Friday nights.

“It doesn’t matter where we go – New York, Florida, Nebraska … wherever – everybody knows about dragging Main if they’re from a small town,” said Anderson, before launching into his mischievous down-home hit “Pickin’ Wildflowers.”

The Miami, OK, native made his share …

Montgomery Gentry, from left, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, in an archive Associated Press photo.

Concert review: Country stars close Zoo Amphitheatre’s season with a party

A fun-loving duo, smoldering heartthrob and Oklahoma native on a homecoming tour closed the Zoo Amphitheatre’s concert season Friday night with a fittingly raucous country-rock party.

With the lineup of Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan and Keith Anderson, Country Fest 2008 promised to fire up the crowd of about 8,500 fans with a steady fuel of drinking songs, brokenhearted ballads and rebel anthems.  

But …