Red Dirt (music)

Red Dirt (English for Red Dirt ) is a subgenre of country music that comes from Oklahoma.

Style and definition

The name Red Dirt comes from the red soil, which is available in Oklahoma. It is the consequence of the high iron oxide content in the U.S. state.

The Red Dirt scene has its origin in the small town of Stillwater, Oklahoma. There, a new variety of Country music developed in the early 80s. In parallel, a genre originated in the neighboring state of Texas, which has many similarities to the Red Dirt and Texas Country as is known. In recent years, both scenes have moved closer.

Stylistically, the music moves between many subgenres of country music. The scene sets itself clearly from the Nashville mainstream. The classic country music is usually mixed with newer varieties, especially in the field of rock music. Furthermore, the music of bluegrass, Americana, Western Swing and Blues is affected. Some older musicians also have elements of folk music incorporated. As models give the performer both classic country musicians such as Willie Nelson and George Jones, to rock bands like the Eagles and Led Zeppelin, as well as folk musicians such as Bob Dylan and especially Woody Guthrie.

Criticism is partly that distinguish the different bands in their sound too much to speak of a distinct sub-genre can. So said the musician Tom Skinner, Red Dirt rather he sees as a community of musicians, because as a style. The reason he gave to the diversity of the different bands. For these reasons, the artists of critics are classified as alternative country musician.

History and performers

The term Red Dirt came in 1972 for the first time in a musical context to the genre arose, however, in the late 1970s or early 1980s. One of the first artists in the scene included, among others - often referred to as the "Godfather of Red Dirt " designated - Bob Childers, the Red Dirt Rangers, Jimmy LaFave and Tom Skinner. They served the later generation as inspiration.

In a - secluded Stillwater - Farm met from 1979 to the artists to make music together. The farm, which was rented in the 90's by Bob Childers, was more than two decades, the meeting place for artists and the center of the scene. She gave it up to the year 2003, when they finally burned down.

Newer and younger bands changed the style further and brought, for example, increased from elements of rock music a. In addition, smaller first commercial success have been achieved: While The Great Divide signed in 1998 as the first group of the scene into a contract with a major label, Cross Canadian Ragweed was able to celebrate some chart success during the 2000s. Other musicians who succeeded in gaining the Billboard 200 were, among others, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Stoney LaRue and The Departed.

In recent years, Red Dirt and Texas Country have closer and closer. Geographical proximity has meant that some bands do not want to specify to which of the two scenes they belong. Often these artists are grouped under the term Texas Country / Red Dirt, so no more distinction is made. In addition, the Red Dirt artists are no longer located exclusively in Oklahoma because the genre has gained in recent years in other regions of the world renown. So there is in Germany a band called Bo Jack Lumus, which has focused on Red Dirt music. Also in the UK there is the Red Dirt Skinner's a group that country music has moved from Oklahoma to Europe.

Movies

There are several films about Red Dirt. In the documentation Red Dirt: Songs From The Dust speaks Lata Gouveia, originally derived from Portugal musician, with artists of the scene.

The documentary North of Austin, West of Nashville: Red Dirt Music from 2007 is about the history of the genre. He is a project of students from Lawton, Oklahoma, and includes, among other things, interviews with musicians like the Red Dirt Rangers, Bob Childers, Stoney LaRue Cross Canadian Ragweed or.