In 1974 organizers wanted to put together a wild night of costumes and music and did just that at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. Taking the name from a poem by Shel Silverstein Called “Freakin’ at the Freakers Ball” (this also became a song recorded by Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show). Silverstein also wrote “A Boy Named Sue”, which became the famous song by Johnny Cash. The first Freakers Ball was off and running. After a year or two, the event was moved to the historic Cain’s Ballroom and was then allowed the chance to really take on a life of it’s own. Under the care of Cain’s longtime owner Larry Shaeffer, Freakers Ball would flourish. With Freakers Ball serving as an annual tradition on or around Halloween.
In the early Nineties promoter Davit Souders became actively involve with the event and thus introducing it to a whole new generation of costumed participants and musicians. The event has had its share of national and regional acts on the bill and has always included area artists a well. Since the latter part of the 1990’s Freakers has exclusively showcased music and musicians from the Tulsa area.
With a 34-year history, Freaker’s Ball is the single largest Halloween-related event in the state of Oklahoma. During the latter half of the 1990’s, Freaker’s Ball expanded to accommodate four stages making it the largest one-day showcase of Tulsa area music.
In 2002, the company Doc Roc took over ownership of the ballroom and began a major and much needed remodeling of the historic venue. In 2003, Doc Roc and Davit Souders/Diabolical Productions teamed up and the event grew into a record 25 plus bands and performers featuring such diverse musical genres as Celtic, Rockabilly, Jazz, Mariachi, Rock, Electronic, punk, red dirt and more. The Costume Contest, which is a show unto itself, has at times been controversial but always entertaining. Costumed contestants come as characters literally of all shapes and sizes; to add to the evening’s excitement, the audience judges the contest. With Souders as the longtime gate keeper, the drive and desire will always be to make Freakers Ball the event that is expected with additional surprises along the way.
2005 marked the debut of Ballroom Blitz, minus the costume contest, it’s the Spring version of Freakers Ball. For a number of years Davit Souders wanted to present a Spring version of the historic Freakers Ball. So exactly six months after and/or six months before Freakers, Doc Roc and Diabolical Productions premiered The Blitz the last Saturday in April in 2005. With two large stages inside the Cain’s Ballroom, electric and acoustic stages in Bob’s, the stages were literally set. In tradition with it’s older brother, the event’s name is taken from another well known song “The Ballroom Blitz” by the band Sweet.
2009 will be year number four as we properly welcome the springtime with great music from area musicians.
Even the Dogs, the hard-hitting metal foursome based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is both proud and pleased to announce their signing with Driven Music Group. Even the Dogs are honored to join a seasoned roster of metal bands, including Flotsam and Jetsam, Crossbreed, Godhead, 40 Below Summer, and Brian “Head” Welch. Even the Dogs are the first “new” talent signed to the label, but they are no strangers to the metal scene or the stage. Formed in 2006, after the dissolution of their former bands, Even the Dogs had but one mission in mind…to create music and a live show that was impossible to ignore. Comprised of 4 members that have been playing in bands since their teens, Even the Dogs brings a vast array of musical influence to their unique, but massively heavy sound. Daring to bring the groove to the metal, concert goers everywhere have coined the genre, unique to Even the Dogs and their music, as “Groove metal” From day 1, Even the Dogs have been the band you had to see live, and on Aug. 1 2009, following their live set, they were approached by Mark Nawara of Driven Music Group, and the recording contract came shortly thereafter. Eager to bring their music to the masses, their debut cd is slated for release in early 2010. Watch for Eddie Green on lead vocals, Anthony Hinton on drums, Jerry Rivera on guitar, and David O’Dell on bass, collectively known as Even the Dogs, to be in your city, or a city near you soon. C-ya on the road and be blessed hardcore...
Hey, I hope you can make it out to our show on September 7th. The line up will be me, Jarod Grice, C-Note & The Ballers, and touring acts: Levi the Poet and In The Midst Of Lions (Facedown Records). It will be at the Cameron Campus Ministries in Lawton, Oklahoma (500 SW 27th). Doors open at 7 PM! Its only $5. Spread the word.
Hey! I hope you can come out to our show on August 2nd in the Cameron University Student Activities Building in Lawton! It starts at 8PM, and is completely free. Dignan will be playing along with me and my friends in C-Note & The Ballers and Jarod Grice! Dignan has a new album and its great.
OH HELL YEAH WE HAD A DAMN GOOD TIME AT THE BALLROOM BLITZ 2009 DAVIT THANK YOU FOR LETTING US PLAY IT AND BE INVOLVED. WE DO MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND HAVE DONE FOR THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS! YOU ARE TRUE THRU & THRU! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! BOTH FIST RAZED HIGH FOR YOU! ~CHUK COOLEY~
Hello friends. Catch Bruder tonight at the Marquee, 6:30pm, 222 N. Main in Tulsa. More info available at myspace.com/themarqueetulsa. Hope to see you there!
The Freakers Ball at the Cain's Ballroom 31 October, 2008 was a Ton of Fun. The costumes were as creative and colorful as the music. Doc Rock and Davit Souders/Diabolical Productions did an Awesome job lining up the Talent. Each band and performer contributed to the successful enjoyment of all who were there. A lot of Pre-event work allowed for a smooth and entertaining evening. A Special Thanks to Guiness & Smirnoff Triple Black for making this event Possible. As they say in Bonnie 'ol Scotland, "I'll never be Guinless again!" Check out the talent Tulsa: Stevedore, Bait, First Lady Assassins, Ghosts, Spank, The Red Alert, SwampFox, Doomsday Junky, Bag Eyes, HipHopoTomas, Wade Burrow, Drive By Sonata, Bad Things, City of Tulsa Pipes & Drums, Acoustic Ross, Down For Five and Mariachi Tulsa. Maybe next year, when you're wondering what to do Halloween, you'll chose "The Freakers Ball" at The Cain's Ballroom!
