Red Bull Gypsy Cafe mini-documentary chronicles Stillwater's red dirt music scene

Musicians pack the shed known as the Gypsy Cafe at The Farm, the legendary Stillwater homestead recognized as the birthplace of red dirt music. Several musicians reunited in Stillwater last month for the filming of a Red Bull mini-documentary about red dirt music. (Red Bull photo by Trevor Paulhus)

Musicians Mike McClure and Randy Crouch play together April 15 at the Stonewall Tavern in Stillwater. Several musicians reunited in Stillwater last month for the filming of a Red Bull mini-documentary about red dirt music. (Red Bull photo by Kelly Kerr)

From Tuesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. To see the Red Bull Roots mini-documentary on red dirt music, click here.

Red dirt roots
Red Bull mini-documentary goes down on The Farm near Stillwater to chronicle the uniquely Oklahoma music scene known as red dirt.

STILLWATER — Empty guitar cases were stacked against trees and scattered among spring wildflowers on the old homestead on the still-rural outskirts of this burgeoning college town.

The contents of those cases were being put to good use: Musicians gathered in circles of five or six to strum and sing, then reminisce about the last time they were there at the place they call simply The Farm.

Musicians John Cooper, left, and Stoney LaRue perform together April 15 at Eskimo Joe's in Stillwater. Several musicians reunited in Stillwater last month for the filming of a Red Bull mini-documentary about red dirt music. (Red Bull photo by Trevor Paulhus)

“You’re at ground zero of red dirt music. Welcome,” said John Cooper of the Payne County band the Red Dirt Rangers. “This is where it all began. … Of course, there used to be a farmhouse there instead of a Red Bull tent.”

Last month, a few dozen songwriter/performers converged under and around that tent for the filming of a mini-documentary about red dirt music, the uniquely Oklahoma genre that mixes rock, country, folk and more. The day after the private story-swapping and jam session, the musicians played as duos at a public music festival at four Stillwater venues, where more filming took place.