By Michael Pineda
Staff Writer
The lineup for Rock the Route has been announced and it could be one of the best ones yet.
The annual Red Dirt music festival will feature fast-rising Muscadine Bloodline as the headlining act. Texas music legend Jack Ingram is lined up as the special guest, with up-and-coming Gannon Fremin and CCREV serving as the opening act.
Main Street will once again be closed off for the festival, which will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 1.
Grady Cross, owner of the Green Room, Grady’s 66 Pub and former member of Cross, Canadian Ragweed, has high expectations for this year’s lineup.
“I think it very well could be one of our biggest yet,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it because I want them to see what Yukon is bringing out for them. Every artist that has come out here has been overwhelmed by the crowd. They love it.”
Cross took the stage last year as a member of Cross, Rags & Young and spotlights country artists weekly at his pub. As a mainstay of Red Dirt music, he is eager to see Muscadine Bloodline perform live. The duo out of Alabama has been together since 2015. Gary Stanton and Charlie Muncaster have charted three albums, the most recent being Dispatch to 16th Ave.
The record debuted No. 1 on the iTunes Country Chart and hit No. 4 on the iTunes All Genre Chart. It also peaked at No. 17 on Billboard. The group has been lauded by Taste of Country, Rolling Stone, PEOPLE and Billboard.
“These guys have a bunch of hits,” Cross said. “Their song ‘Porch Swing Angel’ has 62 million hits on Spotify. That’s pretty incredible.
“I’m excited to see them and see a live show. I think they will blow us away.”
Ingram needs no introduction. The host of Texas Music Scene, Ingram has inspired a number of music artists over the years and stands out as a singer and songwriter. He collaborated with Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall on the Marfa Tapes, which was nominated for a 2021 Grammy for Best Country Album.
“I think Oklahoma loves Jack,” Cross said. “Jack’s longevity in the game is pretty impressive. I know there are a lot of artists out there today who have been influenced by him.
“Jack was a Ragweed influence for sure.”
Ingram was named Best New Male Vocalist by The Academy of Country Music in 2008 and has been performing for more than 20 years. He has several albums to his credit and has performed with countless country music artists.
“He puts on a tremendous live show,” Cross said.
The opening act, Gannon Fremin and CCREV, is no stranger to Yukon, having sold out Grady’s 66 Pub. The band has gone from a newcomer on the Red Dirt scene to a rockin’ powerhouse that encompasses Oklahoma grit with an independent and rowdy spirit.
The four-piece band features Gannon Fremin on vocals with lead guitarist Travis Julian, bassist Wade Cartwright and drummer Tyler McCartney. They feature the rustic range of the Red Dirt Rangers blended with the punk power of The Stooges.
Simply put, this band leaves it all on the stage.
“They are hungry, and I love it,” Cross said. “They always put on a good show. It’s good to see the young bands in Stillwater buzzing again.”
In addition to music on the main stage, there will be a Rockin’ Family Fun Zone for children and the young at heart open from 5 to 10 p.m., between 4th and 5th Street. There will be food trucks, and several Main Street businesses will have extended hours with special sales.
