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STILL GROOVIN’ Members of Annie Oakley perform on the stage at Groovefest 2017 Oct. 1. Groovefest has been gathering local activists, artist and musicians for 31 years.
PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY
Norman’s Groovefest brings attention to social issues
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arious generations came together at Andrews Park on Sunday to enjoy the great weather and continue the legacy of an event that began with a few OU students. The atmosphere filled with the sound of toddlers chasing one another as groups of both young and old listened to music and chatted in-between songs and performances focusing on social justice issues. In 1986, OU student artists wanted to have an art day in the park. Student activists decided that at the event, they would get signatures to free people incarcerated for freedom of expression. The event became known as Groovefest — a festival that still takes place today. The annual event is an art festival that sets up a platform to discuss various human rights issues from a national level to those occurring in Norman’s backyard. This year, it took place from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1. Groovefest began with a small crowd this year, with pairs and groups scattered around the amphitheater in Andrews Park. Surrounded by various food vendors and activism groups at tables promoting their social causes, attendees began the afternoon listening to the music of the first performer, Peggy Johnson. After singing an original song that featured a negative message
ROBYN CRAIG • @ROBYNCRAIG21 about President Trump, who was a popular topic, Johnson joked, “At least if I don’t get invited to the next show, it’s because I don’t wear make up.” However, Johnson’s set continued to have a relaxed and calm tone. Other groups, like the band Annie Oakley, also discussed the president. During its set, the group took time to address Trump’s recent tweets regarding various current issues, receiving a few chuckles from the audience. Like Johnson, the group’s members kept a calm and relaxed tone while speaking, but they mentioned that they wanted listeners to enjoy the festival while remaining aware of the issues surrounding Trump. During her set, Johnson also interacted with the audience. She had a brief back-and-forth exchange with a trio of girls at the event: Caylee Wells, Jordan Buss and Juliana Wood. The g i r l s f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s a ttending their first Groovefest, pleased by the warm weather and excited to see what the event would provide — knowing that, at Groovefest, music and activism go hand-in-hand. “Music is a way to reach people and get them involved,” Wells said. “You can use music as a tool for activism. Artists can be very powerful,” Wood said. The wide variety of issues spoken on was something that
stood out to Heather Burns, a member of the group Marjan and Mystical Hips. “I love how it’s been going on for so many years, but every year it’s a little different because it changes with the times. So whatever’s relevant, whatever’s happening, you can find it at Groovefest,” Burns said.
“It really took off, and it was truly like a human rights agenda with speakers, bands playing for free and vendors and tie-dye T-shirts and other nonprofit organizations coming out to raise awareness with their part of human rights.” AIMEE ROCK, 2017 GROOVEFEST COORDINATOR
Groovefest may have changed with the times, but, at its core, its mission has not changed. “O verall, it ’s pretty much the same thing,” said Aimee Rock, the 2017 Groovefest coordinator. ‘80S AWARENESS Historically, the arts have had the ability to break down
barriers and discuss politics. From the Renaissance to the Black Arts Movement, the arts have developed and created discussion. Groovefest grew quickly after its inaugural event, hitting its peak in attendance during its first decade, Rock said. “It really took off, and it was truly like a human rights agenda with speakers, bands playing for free and vendors and tie-dye T-shirts and other nonprofit organizations coming out to raise awareness with their part of human rights,” Rock said. The setting could be imagined as an ‘80s Woodstock. Rock explained that as time progressed, the festival began to change. Student activists graduated and their move out of the area caused the attendance for the festival to decrease, as well as the push for activism itself. “You know U2 was really big trying to raise awareness about A I D S, a n d y o u k n ow B r u c e Springsteen at the time and Peter Gabriel and Sting had all came out at the time for human rights and against Apartheid in South Africa,” Rock said. “I think, at that time, there was more consciousness and desire to be active.” TODAY’S ISSUES When it comes to the issues being presented, Rock said that they have become more local and have evolved over the years.
“What are the human rights issues in O klahoma?” Rock said. “Maybe, really, it’s Native American issues or environment and water issues locally. More recently, addressing racial inequality — but you also know, barriers to education, women in prison. I mean, these are all really heavy local issues that have incomparable numbers internationally.” As for Kayla Ciardi, who attended Groovefest to watch her friend perform, she said many issues should be discussed in the Norman community. “I feel like helping small business owners — they were just talking about that. I wish we would be more green,” she said. Although the event had a growing crowd as the event continued, the initially small crowd almost created a new form of intimacy. Annie Oakley band members mentioned seeing familiar faces in the crowd, and as many performers approached the stage, they could spot friends or family members in the crowd and wave at them with huge smiles on their faces. Times have changed, and issues have evolved, but the principles of Groovefest remain centered in activism and artistic expression, with a distinctly Norman flavor. Robyn Craig
robyn.craig04@gmail.com