BURKBURNETT, Texas – Although the pandemic and money issues a few years back put plans on hold, the Texoma Texas/Red Dirt country music festival – Woodystock – is back outside Burkburnett along the banks of the Red River.
And one of the bands – Oklahoma’s very own No Justice – will be headlining the daylong festival which will also feature various vendors, a kid’s zone, the Texoma Pro Wrestling Girls, Midgets and Guys and a Texas vs. Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Department Chili Cook-Off called “Border Wars.”
But the main draw at Woodystock, which began in the late 2000s, is the live music. And on Saturday, April 23, beginning at noon, the music starts, with artists including Chris Shackelford Band, Zack Crow, Gannon Fremin, Ross Shifflet, Hayden Haddock, Bri Bagwell and Kody West.
But it’s those Red Dirt veterans No Justice who will wrap up the festivities.
Recently, Southwest Ledger spoke with Steve Rice. He is the lead singer of No Justice, a band that emerged out of Stillwater’s Red Dirt music scene in the early 2000s and has been on an on-again, off-again hiatus for about five years. They had a decent hit in their early years titled “Red Dress,” along with other favorites including “The Toast,” “Bend But Don’t Break” and “Just Get Going,” and they are known to draw large crowds.
But these days, Rice, living in Edmond and raising a family, is a home inspector and he loves his job. But his love of the music is never far away.
“We’re a bunch of has-beens trying to keep our worth out here in the real world,” joked Rice during a phone interview. “We try and do a handful of shows out here and there every year. And they’re pretty good shows. We’re still getting after it a bit.”
Between 2003 and 2012, No Justice released four proper studio albums, along with 2008’s Live At Billy Bob’s Texas and, more recently, an EP released in 2019.
As for 2022, Rice said he has been so busy he has not had time or inspiration to write new material.
But that could change, with the band getting booked again.
“There’s a big possibility of some new music” being written and recorded. “I’m a big advocate of it. But I don’t sit down and force myself to write. It’s more of a natural process.”
The most recent lineup – guitarist Cody Patton, bassist Joey Trevino, keyboardist Bryce Conway and drummer Tyler Paul – make up the No Justice of present day. All are working various jobs in the region and Rice said he is always inspired when they get together.
Said Rice: “The funnest thing about this whole thing is that after taking a break from music, when you get back together, it’s fun to realize why you (formed a band) in the first place. There’s the camaraderie, the organic start of the whole thing for us. That’s been the most rewarding thing.”
And the fans are still out there. Fellow Red Dirt artists, Oklahoma’s Turnpike Troubadours, are back out on the road and selling out shows.
“I think the demand (for this kind of music) is still out there. There’s a huge response and following.
And when they do play the occasional show, old No Justice fans – along with some new ones in tow – keep the energy going and the desire to play more shows in the future.
“People still remember us,” Rice said. “We see some old faces.”
And while they are primarily playing shows in the Oklahoma and Texas region, the band now has the ability to pick and choose where they go and where they play.
“Honestly, it’s been pretty nice. All of the shows have been pretty full, if not sold out, playing select venues,” he said.
Rice seemed to vaguely remember playing Woodystock years ago. No Justice has played so many gigs and festivals in the past 20 years, it’s hard to remember them all.
When asked what Woodystock attendees can expect from the No Justice gig, Rice said it will be a mix of different cover songs, some stuff they released on radio and “some staples from the previous setlist.”
Rice added that they are looking at adding more shows in the Oklahoma City area this year.
WOODYSTOCK INFO
General admission to Woodystock is $35. Parking per vehicle is $5 and coolers are allowed, although no bottles or kegs allowed. Folks are also urged to bring chairs.
To get to the Woodystock outdoor venue, take exit 14 off of Interstate 44 in Burkburnett and follow East Third Street to the 25-acre performance area and parking between Wild Horse Creek and the Red River.
Woodystock is sponsored by the City of Burkburnett, Spur 1 Management, S&H Solar, Dilts Construction, Sunbelt Rental, First Capital Bank of Texas, Pioneer 3, Lindeman Welding, MF Littekin, and Chicken Express.
Proceeds from Woodystock go to benefit the Friberg-Cooper Volunteer Fire Department.
Woodystock organizer and owner of the grounds where the event is being held, Jimmy Smith, said “everything is coming together good” in preparation for the festival.
“We’ve got a good feeling,” Smith said. “The grounds laid out nice. And around 50 vendors.”
Smith emphasized that they want folks to feel like they are in their own backyard, enjoying a beer and some live music in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere.
Essentially, between live music sets, the wrestling event will take place.
“We live in that part of the world where people still like wrestling,” chuckled Smith.
There will be horseshoes, tetherball, cornhole and more. For $500, a table near the stage can be purchased, seating six.
And if the weather is nice, there will be a flyover.
Smith said with the wildfires and inflation, fire departments are struggling. That is why Woodystock is helping out the local Friberg-Cooper Volunteer Fire Department.
“This is a working man’s concert,” Smith said. “We want people to feel like they’re in their backyard because this is our backyard.
For more information on No Justice go to red11music.com/no-justice.
And for more on Woodystock, go to fribergcoopervfd.com and click on Woodystock tab.