Tahlequah Sessions: Capturing the Soundtrack of a Town

Music has always been part of Tahlequah’s identity.

It’s been played on local stages, at Northeastern State University, in bars and coffee shops, at festivals, in living rooms, and through open truck windows on long drives up Highway 10. Some of it came through town on tour. Some of it grew up here. Some of it just feels like Tahlequah.

Tahlequah Sessions was created to capture that history — not as a fixed playlist, but as a living record of the music that has passed through this town and shaped its soundtrack over the years.

More than a playlist

Tahlequah Sessions isn’t tied to a single genre or decade. Instead, it reflects the wide range of sounds that have found a home here:

• Red Dirt and country rooted in Oklahoma storytelling

• Blues and guitar-driven rock

• Jazz and big band artists connected to NSU’s long-standing music tradition

• Rock and alternative songs that defined different eras of life in Tahlequah

From nationally known artists who have performed locally to songs that locals associate with specific moments, Tahlequah Sessions is about memory as much as music.

A living archive

Unlike a traditional “best of” playlist, Tahlequah Sessions is meant to grow.

As new artists pass through town, as old posters surface, and as people share memories of shows, dances, or late nights tied to certain songs, the playlist evolves. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s preservation.

If an artist played Tahlequah, played NSU, or is deeply connected to the cultural life of the town, they belong here. If a song instantly transports you to a specific place, season, or moment in Tahlequah, it probably belongs here too.

Why it matters

Small towns often lose pieces of their cultural history because those stories live only in conversation. Tahlequah Sessions is an attempt to keep some of that history accessible — something you can listen to, share, and contribute to.

It’s also a reminder that Tahlequah’s music story is broader than many people realize. Over the years, the town has hosted and embraced a wide range of artists and styles, reflecting its role as both a college town and a regional cultural hub.

Be part of it

Tahlequah Sessions is open to community input.

If you know of an artist who played locally, remember a show that should be represented, or have a song that feels inseparable from life in Tahlequah, your suggestions are welcome. This project works best when it’s shaped by the people who lived it.

You can listen to Tahlequah Sessions and learn more about the project at

Because every town has a soundtrack — and this one deserves to be heard.

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Tahlequah Sessions will never be “finished.” If you know an artist who played Tahlequah, or if there’s a song you think better represents an artist already on the list, we invite you to help refine and grow the playlist.

Playlists