Norman Music Festival (NMF) is an annual three-day American music festival created by Robert Ruiz, Wilmari Ruiz, Marta Burcham, Jim Wilson, Quentin Bomgardner, Kent Johnson, Jonathan Fowler, and Xian Pitt that takes place in downtown Norman, Oklahoma. Each year it highlights performances from many different genres of music. It has indoor and outdoor venues with musicians performing throughout the days and nights. Founded in 2008, in has grown to include food and art from local vendors. In 2013 an estimated 60,000 people attended the festival, which is free to the public. A business survey conducted by the Norman Arts Council that year estimated that the economic impact of NMF to the city of Norman was over $2.5 million.
NMF is held annually on the third Thursday through Saturday of April; if the traditional festival weekend conflicts with the Easter holiday, it shifts to the fourth weekend of the month to avoid conflicts with other Norman festivities.
Norman Music Festival
Founded as a one-day event, NMF has grown to encompass three full days of music and arts, with attendance growing significantly each year. Beginning in 2009, the NMF logo added a number to the end of its acronym to denote the number of occurrences of the festival. For example, the 2009 NMF was known as NMF2, 2010 was NMF3, and so on.
NMF is organized by volunteers and funded via donations from private citizens and nearby businesses. It is now sponsored by the Norman Arts Council.
2008
The first NMF was a one-day event; it was not known if it would be repeated. An estimated crowd of 15,000 attended.
Lineup
Main Stage: Evangelicals, Colourmusic, The Octopus Project, British Sea Power, Chainsaw Kittens, Polyphonic Spree
2009
Known as NMF2, it was held on April 25. Over 25,000 people attended, prompting organizers to consider expanding the number of days in subsequent festivals.
Lineup
Main Stage: El Paso Hot Button, Student Film, The Absolute, Sherree Chamberlain, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Sugar and Gold, Man Man, Starlight Mints, of Montreal
2010
The 2010 festival, NMF3, expanded to two full days and was held on April 24–25. Organizers, having partnered with Dustbowl Arts Market, expanded it to include arts and crafts. NMF3 garnered statewide attention when Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry signed a proclamation declaring April 25 "Norman Music Festival Day." Over 38,000 people attended. The festival chairman was Quentin Bomgardner.
Saturday lineup
The Brewhouse Stage: Jacuzzi Lifeguards, Zach Winters, Sahid Benalioulhaj and family, Possum Brothers, Zuni, Miracord, Lost at Sea, Mama Sweet, Klipspringer, Love Button, Z'Ebre, MONTU
Dreamer Concepts Stage: Bungalouski, The Stumblers, P.O.T.E., ethios4, DJ Steve Morton, Sick Nick, Oklahoma Electronic Music Consortium
Latin Stage: Son del Barrio, Tekumbe, Social Klash
Michelangelo's Coffee & Wine Bar Stage: Farrel Droke, Tod J. Barrett, John Houser, Jim Madsen, Tracy Reed, Russell Kabir, Katie Mariah, Mike "Walker Run" Giroux, Shane Henry, Anvil Salute
Opolis Stage: Kite Flying Robot, Junebug Spade, Locust Avenue, Depth & Current, Hush Hush Commotion, Colourmusic, Octopus Project
Red Room Stage: Berkeley to DC, Blaise, Saturday Sirens, A Picture of the World, Unmarked Cars, J-Matic, The City Lives, BradChad Porter, Dan Skaggs, Griff Pippin, Spencer Hicks, Stan Stillman, Leah Kayajanian, Cameron Buchholtz, Kristen Rand, T.R. DeGraw, Derek Smith
Sonder Music Stage: Anthony Nagid Quartet, Off Boyd Jazz, Ivan Peña, Fah-Beyon, Circe
Sooner Theatre Stage: Student Film, Stephen Rawlings, Traindodge, Tony Romanello & the Black Jackets, Rainbows Are Free, Evangelicals
Sunday lineup
The Brewhouse Stage: The Candyguns, Wondernaut, The Lily Guild, Green Corn Revival, Maggie McClure, Ali Harter, Sherree Chamberlain, Audra Mae
Dreamer Concepts Stage: Loss of Season, Brian Blackwood, Never Satisfied, Palit, Lands Bejeweled, Tiger Blood, Dylan Hammett, Resident Funk, Camille Harp
Jägermeister Stage: Queens of Monroe, Chuck Allen Floyd, The HillBenders, Mike Hosty, Li'l Cap'n Travis, Those Darlins, The Gourds, James McMurty, Leon Russell
Little Rockers Kid Stage: McMichael Music, Norman Music Institute, Balcum Rancum Puppetry, The Studio of the Sooner Theatre, Sugar Free Allstars, Sonder Music, Dance & Art, OU Steel Drum Band
Main Stage: Gentle Ghost, Mayola, Dead Sea Choir, Jabee, Grupo Fantasma, Edan (with guest Dagha), The Sword, Electric Six, Dirty Projectors