By Michael Pineda
Staff Writer
The annual Red Dirt music holiday of Yukon has arrived.
Rock the Route will usher in the fall Thursday night as Main Street will be blocked off for thousands of music fans.
Fast-rising Muscadine Bloodline’s duo of Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton will serve as this year’s headlining with Texas Country Music legend Jack Ingram serving as the special guest. To get the night revved up, Gannon Fremin & CCREV will serve as the opening act.
Rock the Route will be the first of three Oklahoma appearances for Muscadine Bloodline, which recently announced the expansion of its 2022 nationwide tour.
The group will play Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa on Sept. 30 and the Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City Dec. 3. The duo’s latest release, “Me on You,” has enjoyed 15 million global streams, landing the song at No. 2 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales. Bloodline Muscadine also debuted at No. 6 on Billboard’s Emerging Artist’s chart.
Leading up to Rock the Route, Muscadine Bloodline’s Muncaster and Stanton did a Q&A with The Yukon Progress.
YP – How did you come up with your name?
Muscadine Bloodline – Muscadine grapes are from the south and bloodline to our name is to show how they honor their roots and heritage.
YP – What has been the main ingredient to your success?
Muscadine Bloodline – Don’t think there’s necessarily an ingredient, but to be able to work independently while building hard ticket markets. Touring hard and releasing music that we like to release.
YP – How has your songwriting evolved as a group?
Muscadine Bloodline – Life experiences, maturing over the years and putting it into our music.
YP – What music do you all find yourselves listening to while touring?
Muscadine Bloodline – 90s country
YP – Where do you see yourself as a band in the coming year or two?
Muscadine Bloodline – We’d like to still be putting out music the way we would like to put music out, touring as we build markets we haven’t been to yet, and keeping the momentum going for Muscadine Bloodline.
YP – What can people expect to see at Rock the Route from Muscadine Bloodline?
Muscadine Bloodline – Authentic music that represents who Muscadine Bloodline is.
Rock the Route will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday night. In addition to the music, there will be family-friendly activities, including a kid’s zone.
Rock the Route will once again feature a group of food trucks that will offer something for everyone. Those listed to set up for the Main Street event include:
* Rolling Concessions
* Classic Diner
* Tasty Snow
* Unlimited Concessions
* YUM PIG OKC
* Bondi Bowls Yukon
* Big B’s Poppin Kettle Korn
* Vanessa’s Food Truck and Catering
Pets, outside of service animals, will not be allowed on festival grounds for Rock the Route. Due to the large crowds, the event could be stressful for pets.
There will be some split loyalties this year during Rock the Route. The Yukon High School football season opener is scheduled for the same night. The Millers will travel to Westmoore for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Due to three schools sharing the same stadium, someone was bound to draw Thursday night honors.
Raffle tickets are available for a guitar that will be signed by the bands taking part in Rock the Route. Tickets will be available at the event or online at yukonok.gov/RocktheRoute. Yukon Main Street Beautification projects will receive 100% of raffle ticket proceeds.
