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“The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.“
~ Bruce Springsteen
Music will fill the air in Ponca City when Down by Downtown (DXDT) returns for 2024 on July 5 and Aug. 2 for its First Friday live music Summer Music Series located at Veteran’s Plaza, 4th Street & Grand Avenue, in the very heart of the city. The series is sponsored by Ponca City Arts & Humanities Council (“PCAHC”) and runs from 6-9 p.m. with food trucks and fun for people of all ages to enjoy the evening together outdoors.
Executive Director of PCAHC, Theresa Sacket says that these events are a special time for families to enjoy their community, and that there will be a new adventure this year: “August will be a big collaboration with Main Street for Crazy Days. DXDT will bring the entertainment and food trucks, and Main Street will have specials to encourage shopping for tax-free weekend.”
Past Director of PCAHC, Leslie Schauvliege, remembers first obtaining a grant about 2012 for an emerging artists’ showcase. Five years later, Kelsey Wagner brought forward DXDT to build on the idea of music in an outdoor setting for the community. Schauvliege explained the move to Veteran’s Plaza provided a more family-friendly setting with shaded areas, games and water for the kids and more room for food trucks. In addition, merchants can stay open later for customers to shop while the community enjoys the event.
Stephen Scott, along with his long career in engineering and with the government, has played in bands for decades and has been in charge of selecting bands for DXDT from the beginning. He loves music and enjoys traveling to listen to singers and bands and find good fits for our community. Scott says, “DXDT has gone on just long enough now that musicians are telling one another about our event!” He says it’s advantageous because Ponca City is getting a positive reputation for being a “place worth driving for” and musicians want to make the trip.
By now, there are favorites that people want to see return. This year will bring Morgan Band to the outdoor stage in July and Hayes Brothers Band in August. Both are community favorites. Scott says, “Morgan has been here before, but this time she is bringing her band with her. She is a powerhouse by herself (always loved at prior DXDTs), and this will be even greater!” Hayes Brothers Band always draws a crowd because of the wide range of music they play, so it will be the perfect group to combine with Main Street for the Crazy Days collaboration.
The team working to bring Main Street together with DXDT includes Derion Bailey-Schieber, who is thrilled to have more entertainment included in their annual event, and if you attended the Mr. Ponca City event earlier this year, you heard more than one contestant mention they would love to have Crazy Days be more active and fun “like it used to be!”
Of the Aug. 2 event, Bailey-Schieber says, “Ponca City Main Street is thrilled to collaborate with DXDT. Together, we are eager to host a grand joint event in the historic downtown area. We admire DXDT’s work and believe this partnership will highlight how Main Street can truly be the heart of the community! Shifting it to tax-free weekend will be advantageous for numerous downtown merchants and yield excellent results!” The event continues to grow, and it appears this year will be no different.
Stephen Scott dreams that 10 years from now, DXDT may be a festival like those you see in larger cities. With the people and organizations we have in Ponca City coming together to build stronger and more vibrant events for the community, there’s no telling how this First Friday music event may continue to grow. Hope to see you at the Plaza!
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