Backwoods Music Festival Returns to Cain’s with a Little Help from Friends

Good Music, Good People, Good Times

After an abrupt absence that left a void in the festival world, Backwoods is bringing back the “Good music, Good people, Good times.” Backwoods Bash Music & Camping Festival began as a small gathering of bands and friends around a bonfire at Thundermoon Ranch in 2008 before attendance took off at Keystone Lake in 2010. Over the years the festival grew in size and scale, changing leadership, shortening its name to Backwoods Music Festival and then moving to Arkansas, only to be cancelled by promoters in 2024. The festival now returns under original management with a special one-night event to preview its next chapter: Backwoods & Friends at Cain’s Ballroom on Nov. 22.

Backwoods Bash founder Dr. Trevor Lane heard the news of the festival’s cancellation as a call to action. Having parted ways with the promoters a decade earlier, he refused to stand by and let the festival he created fizzle out in controversy. After more than two years working on plans and personnel, he’s emerged with a team of producers, artists and performers with close ties to the festival to relaunch Backwoods where it all began.

“We started Backwoods Bash with two tractor trailers and a microphone,” Lane recalls. “We built Backwoods on relationships and a love for independent music and community, and that’s how we will revitalize the festival.”

Bringing Back Backwoods

Early on, Lane recruited friends like John Cooper (Red Dirt Rangers), Lauren Lunsford (Rainbowland Arts), Chris Davis (Daviii Third Eye) and others with historic connections to the festival to help with planning and production. Over months of texts, weekly meetings and a few “Backyards 2 Backwoods” events, the team has activated a network of creatives working to bring the festival back to Oklahoma.

Branjae Jackson, Tulsa-based singer, bandleader and actress, performed at Backwoods several times, and was quick to sign on when Lane and his team approached her.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of bringing Backwoods back to Tulsa. I am filled with excitement and hopefulness this year, and I am honored to participate in a grassroots festival born from our tight-knit community,” says Jackson.

“Backwoods is a present-day movement that represents the togetherness, healing, and tenacity of a strong community centered around our collective love for music.”

Backwoods & Friends

Backwoods & Friends is a one-night preview of the new Backwoods Music Festival. More than a reunion, the event is an opportunity to gather the best from the past eras of Backwoods and shape what comes next. The night benefits the Red Dirt Relief Fund and begins with a VIP pre-party and announcements related to Backwoods’ community partner and venue for 2027. Expect a “Backwoods vibe” inside Cain’s with a midway of local artisans, close encounters with Backwoods producers and artists, with live performances on stage from Branjae, Red Dirt Rangers and surprise guests.

Buy One Get One Tickets

Tickets start at $30 (plus fees) and as part of the celebration, Backwoods is offering a buy-one-get-one promotion. Visit https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/49297232/ for more info and use the code VALUENEWS to redeem a free ticket for each purchased for the event through Cain’s ticketing site. It’s all in the spirit of building community and bringing back the “Good music, Good people, Good times” of the Backwoods Music Festival.