Those who travel to the Round Barn of Arcadia, Oklahoma, on Sunday afternoon are in for a treat — the historic Route 66 site is hosting a Round Barn Rendezvous music event.
All acoustic musicians are invited from noon to 4 p.m. One flyer states: “All banjo players are welcome.”
A display of antique tractors and trucks also will be on display.
There is free admission, but donations will be accepted for the ongoing upkeep of the Round Barn.
Some performances undoubtedly will occur on the barn’s hay loft, aka the second floor. Because of the barn’s domed roof, playing the the center of the floor creates a parabolic effect, giving musicians almost-instant feedback on how they sound.
Here’s a good example: a local group performing “Seven Bridges Road”:
The Round Barn marked the 25th anniversary of its restoration in June. William Odor originally built the barn in 1898.
Although it was designed for agricultural purposes, workers convinced him to shore up the loft’s wooden floor so it could be used for dances. Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys were rumored to have performed there when they were based in Oklahoma during the 1930s, but it’s not been proven.
(Image of the Round Barn in 2012 by el-toro via Flickr)