Tulsa’s Woody Guthrie Center is launching Common Chords, a new concert series that brings live music to the center’s intimate 59-seat theater with a focus on community, connection and cultural movement.
Rooted in the traditions of folk music and storytelling, Common Chords will feature handpicked singer-songwriters whose work resonates with Woody Guthrie’s legacy of justice, equality and compassion. Each season of the series will explore themes of identity, protest and reinvention, offering audiences a chance to engage with the evolving sounds of folk music in a space known for activism and creativity.
"Common Chords was designed to honor the lasting impact of folk music," said Cady Shaw, director of the Woody Guthrie Center. "We're creating a space where artists and audiences can come together to reflect, connect and take part in something that truly resonates."
The Common Chords series will begin in the fall of 2025, with performances scheduled throughout the season. Musicians interested in performing are encouraged to apply on the center’s website. Applications are open now and will close on Aug. 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Ideal performers for Common Chords are artists whose music:
Draws from folk traditions
Explores themes of community, identity and social change
Brings a fresh or unexpected perspective to roots-based music
Selected artists will receive venue support, in-house lighting and audio, professional front-of-house staff, shared promotion, ticketing services and revenue-sharing options. Performers will be featured in a listening-focused environment built for acoustics and connection.
For more information or to submit to perform, visit woodyguthriecenter.org/commonchords.
About the Woody Guthrie Center
The Woody Guthrie Center, located at 102 Reconciliation Way in Tulsa, Oklahoma, celebrates the life, music and artistry of the influential folk musician while seeking to ignite a passion for social change and foster a world in which the values of justice, equality and compassion prevail.
