NORMAN — April was Norman Music Festival month. This year was the ninth iteration of the three-day smorgasbord of sound.
NMF attracts thousands of fans over the course of multiple days and grows larger every year. More than 600 musicians applied to perform at this year, and a little more than half were selected.
There are no admission charges at any of dozens of venues serving as performance spaces for acts ranging from hip hop to banjos. Rock ‘n’ roll is the dominant genre, but there are others, too, along with acrobats, dancers and comedians.  Regular vehicular traffic is barred from Norman’s primary streets downtown, and the constant sideshow of people-watching rivals the musical performances for attention.
Photos in the gallery below feature scenes from all three days of NMF 9. From impromptu busking performances on the sidewalk to the big-screen glamor of headlining acts, the images represent the scale and diversity of what has become a staple of Oklahoma’s festival culture.
NMF is not without its critics and detractors, but generally they’re soreheads and malcontents. It’s fun going to the rock ‘n’ roll show.
