The people have spoken: The Tulsa band Count Tutu will be the opening band at The Hop Jam craft beer and music festival, scheduled May 21 in the Brady Arts District.
Count Tutu was voted as the winner of the Awesome Music Opening Band Contest (co-presented by the Tulsa World, the Woody Guthrie Center and OKPOP) and will christen a fourth-year festival that will be headlined by Hanson.
Contest runners-up will play on the Park Stage. Runners-up include Sam Westhoff, The Lonelys, Jesse Joice and The Young Vines.
On a Count Tutu Facebook page, this description was offered about the band: “Big, loud, funky, opinionated. If you like dancing, costumes, blasting horn solos, and compassionate propaganda, you’ll like our 11-piece family.”
The band roster on the Facebook page includes Nathan Wright, guitar/vocals; Mike Cameron, bari/alto sax; Branjae Jackson, vocals; Dave Johnson, trumpet; Jared Cathey, tenor sax; Zac Lee, trombone; Greg Fallis, trombone; Jordan Hehl, bass; Kristin Ruyle, percussion; Nicholas Foster, percussion; and Michael Bremo, drums.
Twelve finalists were selected before the opening band contest was opened to voting. Oklahoma artists had until April 17 to register for the contest by posting video of a live performance. The Hop Jam Team was charged with the responsibility of choosing the finalists.
RVRB won the opening band contest in 2016. All About a Bubble won the contest in 2015.
The 2017 festival will include more than 200 craft beers and all-ages free concerts on two stages. Joining Main Stage headliner Hanson and opening act Count Tutu will be Mayer Hawthorne, Kongos, Castro and Oklahoma natives John Fullbright and Johnny Polygon.
Ticket and event information is available at thehopjam.com.