SunFest is known for many things.

Hailed as “Oklahoma’s Biggest Outdoor Picnic,” it has featured arts, crafts, fantastic food and plenty of fun for people throughout Green Country for more than a quarter century. A car show has been added in recent years, drawing plenty of interest from throughout the Sooner State as well as neighboring states such as Texas, Kansas and Colorado.

But SunFest wouldn’t be SunFest without the endless and often times eclectic mix of music which energizes the event every summer. SunFest is always held during the first weekend in June – this year, the dates are June 6-8 – and it always features a wide array of bands.

The 2008 edition of SunFest certainly won’t stray from the course which event organizers have been charting for years.

Fast becoming a staple of the Oklahoma jazz scene, Eldredge Jackson is due to make a return appearance to SunFest this year. Last year marked the first time he had ever appeared at the event, and he quickly made a very memorable impression.

“Immediately, we knew that we had to have him back again,” says Bo Wilson, a SunFest board member. “He was that good.”

Jackson released his debut CD, “Listening Pleasure,” in 2006 and it caught hold. Soon, he was appearing at esteemed events such as the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Jazz Festival, the Million Dollar Elm Jazz Festival and the Charlie Christian Jazz Festival. Jackson has appeared with a plethora of notable musicians including Toni Braxton, Hammer and renowned bassist and Sooner hoops legend Wayman Tisdale.

Jackson is due to headline the SunFest stage on Saturday, June 7.

Jackson will be preceded by another SunFest favorite, the Usual Suspects. A popular area act – they’re scheduled to headline on Friday, June 6 – the group plays staples from pioneers such as Led Zeppelin to recent hit-makers like Jet. The Usual Suspects have been known to stretch their repertoire to include gems from Johnny Cash and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The Usual Suspects are known for their high-energy sets which are heavy in audience participation.

“They have a lot of energy,” says Wilson. “They seem to always have people up and dancing. They’re a great band and a lot of fun.”

While Jackson will provide some jazz flavor to SunFest on Saturday night, Grady Nichols will do the same on Friday evening. A storied saxophonist, Nichols’ most recent CD, “Sophistication,” was a critically lauded release. It clocked in at No. 28 on the Top 50 Smooth Jazz Albums list for 2004.

As is the case with Jackson, Nichols has performed with some lofty company. He has opened for the likes of Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti and the Temptations. He has performed with the Beach Boys, Roy Clark and Tisdale.

A native of Siloam Springs, Ark., Nichols is currently working on a new CD, tentatively titled “Take Me With You.” He will no doubt take the opportunity to showcase some of his new material at SunFest.

A staple of the Bartlesville music scene since his debut performance in 1960, Lennie Baker is never at a loss for material – or performing opportunities. Playing everything from country to rhythm and blues, Baker is scheduled to sing with two different acts – the Gigsters and the Lennie Baker Band – while also doing a solo show at SunFest. The Gigsters are renowned in the area for their ferocious R&B sound which includes tunes from James Brown to Robert Cray. But once he slides in with the Lennie Baker band, the seasoned musician will focus on old-school blues tunes.

“The mission of the Lennie Baker Band is to play great blues songs that were big back in the day,” says Wilson. “But as good as those songs were, you really don’t get to hear them anymore.

“This is a chance for Lennie and his band to bring those songs back to life.”

The Lennie Baker Band will explore the roots of blues music and consequently the origins of rock ‘n roll. Expected material includes offerings from Z.Z. Hill, Bobby “Blue” Bland and Elmore James.

If there is any musical terrain that hasn’t been covered by the Gigsters and the Lennie Baker Band, then Baker is sure to find it when he takes to the stage as a one-man band. During his solo show, his material runs the gamut from jazz to rock.

Those who have ever wondered why they call them the “dog days of summer,” will get their answer during this year’s SunFest. For the first time ever, the event will turn the spotlight onto the World Famous Disc-Connected K9s Frisbee Dog Team. Hailing from Jacksonville, Fla., the act has criss-crossed the country for the last 11 years, appearing everywhere from NFL and NBA games to Good Morning America to the David Letterman Show.

A family-oriented show, the K9s promote fun, athleticism, canine bonding and dog rescue efforts. They promise to put a smile on the face of children both young and old.

As is always the case at SunFest, there’s something for everyone. And the price for the entertainment hasn’t changed either – everything is free. Fun in the sun has never been easier.

SunFest is sponsored in part by ConocoPhillips, Arvest Bank, the 66 Federal Credit Union, Express Personnel Services and Musselman Abstract. A classic rock staple broadcasting out of Bartlesville, Tallgrass Nation Station KOSG 103.9 will provide live remotes from SunFest throughout the weekend, interviewing band members and event organizers alike.

AAXMAN Guitars AAXMAN Guitars will be located next to the Main Stage with a variety of guitars and guitar accessories available for purchase.