WC Returns to Rocklahoma: 2026 Plans

I haven’t been to Rocklahoma in almost a decade, and that sentence alone feels strange to write.

For a long stretch of my life, this festival was a fixture. I worked Rocklahoma as both media and band management in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. It’s held only an hour’s drive from my house so it just made sense to target the festival as the anchor to our annual concert schedule. In 2016, I came back as a civilian. No press badge. No backstage schedule. Just a wristband, a tent, and a whole lot of memories.

That last year hit different.

In 2015, the band I was working with lost their drummer, who was like a son to me. He passed away unexpectedly and it ripped the heart right out of the band, eventually causing the band to pack the instruments away for safekeeping and all the members to go off in different directions. Coming back to Pryor without him felt heavy in a way only music people understand. Festivals become sacred ground when someone you love is missing from the stage. The only thing that softened that grief was bringing my then-14-year-old twins with me in 2016 and watching their eyes light up at their very first festival. That mattered more than any credential ever could.

Then life happened.
Country-only events took priority.
Budgets tightened.
Road miles got more selective.

And just like that, Rocklahoma became a chapter instead of an annual ritual.

A Lot Has Changed. So Have I.

While I was gone, the Pryor event passed through the hands of promotion giants like Danny Wimmer Presents & AEG, expanded into new territory with Born & Raised, and eventually found its way back to its original ownership. I covered Born & Raised for a couple years, which was a HUGE change from the venue’s FeverFest roots. I watched that space evolve. I watched Oklahoma’s festival culture stretch and test its boundaries.

But Rocklahoma has always been its own beast.

It’s loud.
It’s gritty.
It’s sunburnt and stubborn and unapologetically itself.

And maybe that’s why it’s been tugging at me again.

So Here’s the Deal: I’m Committed

I’m officially attending Rocklahoma 2026, Labor Day weekend, back in Pryor, Oklahoma. I’ll be applying for media access, but I’ll be there one way or another and I could use some help making that happen.

Let’s Talk Money (Because Transparency Matters)

Festival coverage is a serious investment, especially when it’s done right and covered start to finish. Coverage includes advance hype, real-time social content during the weekend, and long-form recap pieces once the dust settles. And I will be covering it because I love documenting and reliving the experience along with all my old and new friends who live for this event every year. Hell, I may even run for Miss Rocklahoma if my current workout routine holds fast!

All in, Rocklahoma will cost me a hefty pricetag, factoring in tickets, camping & RV logistics, supplies, food, gear, and the wardrobe that survives three days of Oklahoma heat without betraying me.

I’m not looking to get rich off this.
I am looking to offset the cost by doing what I already do well.

A Green Flag for the Right Brands

If you’re a business or brand reading this and thinking, “That sounds like our audience,” you’re probably right.

I’m open to sponsorships and partnerships that make sense for this coverage, including:

• Apparel and footwear built for long days and longer nights
  
• Whiskey, RTDs, or beverage brands that understand festival culture
  
• Outdoor gear, cooling products, or camping essentials
  
• Lifestyle brands that want authentic, boots-on-the-ground storytelling
  

In exchange, sponsors can expect organic, integrated visibility across blog content and social coverage. No forced talking points. No fake enthusiasm. Just real use, real context, and real trust with an audience that knows when something is being sold versus shared.

If I wouldn’t use it myself at a festival, I won’t pitch it here.

Why This Matters (To Me, At Least)

Rocklahoma and I go way back. We’ve seen each other at our best and our worst. We’ve both grown up a little since the early 2010s.

It feels like time.

If you’ve been following my work for years, you already know I don’t do things halfway. And if you’re a brand who values credibility over polish, this might be a damn good place to meet.

More details soon.
More memories to unpack.
And yeah, probably a little dust in my boots again.

If you want to be part of this return, you know where to find me.

For the Rocklahoma Fans

If you are looking to renew a past visit or attend Rocklahoma for the first time, here are some handy tips:

If you attended Rocklahoma in 2025, these are your important renewal and upgrade dates. If you weren’t there last year then early general on-sales normally begin in Mid-February before the line-up is released. Once the line-up comes out, likely in mid-March, all bets are off.. the good seats sell out FAST! They do offer some different payment plans so check out the official Rocklahoma website and their socials for those options too. Can’t wait to see you there!

Cheers!

Just for fun, here’s a look back at some VERY early Rocklahoma coverage!