Conceived in a garage and born in a bowling alley, The Okie Twist-Off is Oklahoma's premiere annual kustom culture event showcasing old cars and bikes, loud bands, wild art and beautiful people. On the second weekend in August, The Okie Twist-Off makes old Route 66 rumble with the roar of hot rod engines and the twang of vintage guitars.
Kustom culture events are a nationwide phenomenon. From the west's Hootenanny and Viva Las Vegas to the Southeast's Sleazefest and Heavy Rebel Weekender, lovers of cold beer, tattoos and punk-rockabilly music have been descending on small festivals around the country, keeping tabs on each other through a burgeoning internet scene. In 2007, Oklahoma City grease monkey Jeff Beck of Beck's Garage started tossing around the idea of launching an event in his hometown. Enlisting the aid of veteran punk club promoter John Manson and OKC's notorious Ratty Bastards Car Club, a search began for a suitable place to host a car show and music festival. The 66 Bowl on historic Route 66 was the ideal choice; it had a parking lot large enough to hold the event, indoor space enough to have multiple stages for the music, and lots of balls and pins in case people got bored. The inaugural event on Saturday, August 11th, 2007 saw 12 bands, 70 car show entries, and nearly a thousand people in attendance, far beyond the organizer's expectations for a first year event.
2011 saw the Twist-Off bid farewell to beloved 66 Bowl and found itself among new and old friends. The Friday, August 5th kickoff will be a block-partyish affair at VZD's (4200 N. Western) and Beck's Garage (think St. Baldrick's but everyone will be uglier), and Saturday, Aug. 6th's main event will be at Oklahoma City Limits, a large and very well air-conditioned nightclub and showplace at 4801 S. Eastern. The Friday festivities will feature Texas roots swingers The Royal Rhythmaires and a return of OKC's recently reactivated The Roustabouts. Saturday, all the stops come out with rock legends Electric Frankenstein, matinee idol Mack Stevens, and the return of crowd favorites Brian Dunning, The Oh Johnny! Girls, and ConvOi!, the trainwreck you just can't look away from. The Cars, The Stars, Fresh Air.....................BE THERE!!