John Fullbright, Turnpike Troubadours, Jason Mraz and more among first round of performers announced for Okemah's 2018 Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

Jason Mraz. Photo provided

OKEMAH— The Woody Guthrie Coalition will welcome Guthrie family members, veteran songwriters and festival favorites for the 21st annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival July 11-15 in Guthrie's hometown of Okemah.

The Guthrie family will be well-represented at the musical celebration of the folk singer’s 106th birthday. Woody Guthrie’s grandchildren Annie Guthrie and Cole Quest, who is appearing with his band the City Pickers. Also appearing is Johnny Irion, husband of Sarah Lee Guthrie, according to a news release.

Returning festival favorites include Americana singer-songwriter and astute storyteller Ellis Paul, a longtime Woody Guthrie student and collaborator; songwriter Joel Rafael; the self-proclaimed "Queen of Oklahoma" and award-winning singer-songwriter Carter Sampson; Okemah native and Grammy-nominated Americana artist John Fullbright; Okie-grown country folk-rockers The Turnpike Troubadours; and red dirt standard-bearers and psychedelic cowboys the Red Dirt Rangers.

Hit songwriter, soulful folk-pop musician and activist Jason Mraz will make his WoodyFest debut. Other veteran songwriters and first-time festival performers include "Ozark Mountain Soul Roots n Roll" group Opal Agafia & the Sweet Nothings, folk singer and storyteller Willie Watson (a founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show), and Americana cult legend Willis Alan Ramsay.