Brandon Jenkins

OSU grad plays at College Fest

Monique Headley

An Oklahoma State University graduate will kick up some red dirt when he headlines at College Fest.

Brandon Jenkins will perform an acoustic set of songs from his upcoming release, “Brothers of the Dirt.” His ninth project, it is the flagship release for the newly-formed Red Dirt Music Co. and is expected to be out Oct. 13.

Jenkins is scheduled as the headline act for opening night at the 2009 Tumbleweed College Fest tonight. He plays at 10:30 p.m. College Fest continues through Saturday at Tumbleweed Dance Hall, Lakeview and Country Club roads.

Other performers include Stoney LaRue, Bo Phillips, No Justice, Nick Gibson, Left Foot Sally, Clint Osmus, Eli Young Band and Chad Sullins.

“I’ve played Stillwater quite a bit over the years,” said Jenkins. “This time, it’s going to be an acoustic show. With a band, it’s more southern rock-y.”

Jenkins said the new release is a very electric record with a lot of edge.

A songwriter, guitar player, singer and producer, Jenkins is perhaps best known for his composition, “Feet Don’t Touch The Ground,” which was a hit for LaRue.

“I never set out to write a song,” he added. “It kind of just comes.”

Sometimes, so does controversy.

His latest single, “Blood for Oil,” is generating much talk, he said.

“It’s a social commentary of what’s been going on with the political situation, Iraq situation and our dependence on foreign oil,” he explained.

Recent airplay in the Dallas area is starting to generate a lot of calls.

“I look at it like if it upsets people enough to call, it’s a good thing,” Jenkins said. “I want to shake people out of their apathy.”

Jenkins was a music major at OSU, but earned his degree in sociology, he said. He graduated in 1992, and since then, his only job is making Red Dirt music, the country music genre that gets its name from the color of soil found in Oklahoma.

“Brothers Of the Dirt” features duets and collaborations with Red Dirt royals like LaRue, Cody Canada, Mike McClure, Randy Rogers and Jason Boland.

“These guys are all friends of mine. They were kind enough to come in and sing,” he said. “I wanted to involve all my friends and make it a collaborative effort. We want to showcase Red Dirt music. We have a scene down here and there is a brotherhood all working towards a common goal.

“I’ve been all over country and have been in different genres — rock, blues, country — and there is not the camaraderie there ... (With Red Dirt artists) we don’t shake hands, we hug. We are brothers and have each other’s back.”

Other project collaborators include keyboardist Brian Hoss of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and blues guitarist Steve Pryor.

“It’s fun to have outside influences that might take you in another direction,” Jenkins said. “I tried to mix up and add other elements.”

Red Dirt Music Co, is a newly formed partnership between E1 Music and Progression Music Group. The company also provides artist management services for artists specializing in Red Dirt and Texas music genres.

For ticket information, visit www.tumbleweedconcerts.com.