Switchyard and the World of Bob Dylan 2023 are almost here! We’re excited to welcome you to downtown Tulsa for this six-day festival of music, art, and ideas. The full Switchyard program includes 26 speakers, 14 bands, a special reception to launch the Switchyard magazine and Switchyard podcast, new art shows at 101 Archer, and after-party concerts every night. It promises to be a busy week and we want to make it as exciting, accessible, and engaging as possible. This page provides a few useful pieces of information also available on the Switchyard website.
As a reminder, each track of Switchyard allows access to different events. If you have any questions about your track, you can ask a staffer on site or email us at either switchyard@utulsa.edu or bobdylaninstitute@utulsa.edu.
Full Festival Pass: Admission to all events at Switchyard and the World of Bob Dylan, including five nights of music at the historic Cain’s Ballroom.
Ideas Track: Admission to all Switchyard keynote speakers and panel discussions from May 30-June 1, plus the closing session with Valeria Luiselli on June 4.
2023 World of Bob Dylan: Admission to all keynote speakers, panels, roundtables, art exhibitions and more that cover the life and career of Bob Dylan. From the afternoon of June 1-June 4.
Music Track: Admission to all music acts at the historic Cain’s Ballroom and the main conference venue.
Daily Music Pass: Single-day admission to music acts at Cain’s and the Horton Records Stage afterparty performance.
VENUES
The Hyatt Regency Tulsa Downtown
100 E. Second Street
· Registration Table
· Keynote Events
· Panel Sessions
· Horton Records Stage (After-Party Music and Bar)
· Vendors
Cain’s Ballroom
423 N. Main Street
· Headline Musical Acts
· Doors at 7:00pm Tuesday-Saturday
101 East Archer (open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m.)
· “On the Inside” Exhibition
· “Painting the Future” Exhibition (A Benefit for Children in Ukraine)
· First Friday Art Crawl (June 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.)
Greenwood Cultural Center
322 North Greenwood Ave
· Venue for Natasha Trethewey’s “Ground Truth” on June 1
TRANSPORTATION
The venues are all within walking distance of one another and we encourage you to get out and explore this lively city. In the evening, we will provide shuttle service between the Hyatt and Cain’s from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Hyatt also has a free shuttle for guests subject to availability.
REGISTRATION
Once you’ve purchased your pass online, you can pick up a badge and a program at the registration table in the Upper Foyer at Hyatt starting at 11 a.m. on May 30. Registration will be open until 7 p.m. each day and you’ll find friendly staffers eager to provide assistance. If you arrive after the registration table closes, you can still find staff at Cain’s (easily identified by ribbons on their badges) who can get you into the evening concerts.
BADGES
Badges are required for admission to all events and must be clearly displayed. Replacements are available for a fee at the registration desk.
FIRST FRIDAY AND LEGACY FESTIVAL
This year, the Switchyard festival runs in partnership with the Black Wall Street Legacy Festival, which celebrates the history and future of the historic Greenwood district by spreading truth, inspiring hope, and extending tradition. Natasha Trethewey’s reading on Thursday, June 1 at the Greenwood Cultural Center marks the anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre and is free to the entire city thanks to the sponsorship of Legacy Fest.
COFFEE BREAKS
Light breakfast and coffee breaks will be provided to pass holders each day. And please join us for the reception on Friday at 5 p.m. on the upper level to celebrate the new Switchyard Magazine and Switchyard Podcast.
MAP
You can find maps of the Hyatt conference rooms as well as the downtown area in the program and on our website. If you need help finding a room or a suggestion for dinner, please just ask one of our staff. For a detailed listing of restaurants, galleries, bars, and coffee shops downtown, visit DowntownTulsa.com.
PROGRAM UPDATES
You’ll receive a glossy print program at check-in—guaranteed to be a collector’s item. There will, however, always be last-minute changes and updates. Please consult the website for the most up-to-date schedule.
BOOK SALES
Books will be for sale throughout the event thanks to Magic City Books, a locally-owned store with a retail location just down the street from 101 Archer. So grab something from their table in the hotel or visit the store for a real treat. Sales for the Trethewey event will be run by Fulton Street Books, another local bookstore and coffee shop that centers the stories of people of color and marginalized communities.
BOB DYLAN AND WOODY GUTHRIE CENTERS
Your badge entitles you to discounted admission prices at both places—located almost exactly halfway between the Hyatt and Cain’s on Reconciliation Way.
QUESTIONS AND HELP
We are here to help! Staff will be available at the registration table throughout the day and at Cain’s when the concert begins in the evening. They are wearing ribbons on their badges. Feel free to raise questions or concerns and we’ll do all we can to help. You can also email switchyard@utulsa.edu or call us at 918-631-4419.