Redd and the Paper Flowers wrap up their 2026 Garden Party Tour Across OK, CO & KS
Redd & The Paper Flowers brought their 2026 Garden Party Tour to a close after a spirited run that bookended in and about Oklahoma City, with the heart of the shows ranging across Colorado and Kansas. The Knoxville, Tennessee based Appalachian Folk band delivered captivating sets packed with new material, plenty of “oldie but goodies,” and their signature warmth and coziness that makes their live shows feel more like a gathering of friends rather than just your standard concert.
Redd & The Paper Flowers kicked off the tour in Oklahoma City with a great show back on May 20th at Grand Royale, a small but mighty dive bar in OKC’s Plaza District with local openers Patrick Newkirk and David James McKinney w/ Thembi Joy. I even timed arriving perfectly, catching the band warming up outdoors before their later full set. Next, they headed west into the mountains of Colorado.
Once there they played multiple dates in Fort Collins, Nederland and more, before a quick stop in Kansas, and then the tour wrap back in Oklahoma, which I was fortunate to be able to see as well. This one was just a bit east of OKC in a small city named Harrah this past Saturday at the Okie State Room. The really enjoyable and impressive Thembi Joy opened again with a nice mix of strong originals as well as a couple of cleverly delivered covers. Okie State Room was a really cool new venue/bar with a great stage and lighting as well as a really great sound and cool vibe. Owner Kenzie Borton has definitely built a gem smack dab in the heart of central Oklahoma.
During the tour, Redd & The Paper Flowers debuted some brand new songs that hint at a couple of forthcoming projects. There’s an EP titled Dead Little Things slated for this fall that’ll feature some road honed tunes like “Shower Thoughts,” “If The Devil” and more. There’s also a full-length album tentatively titled Birdies expected sometime in 2027, and the new track “Tennessee Cardinal” suggests the ensemble are going to be delivering the same clever songwriting and tight harmonies that made their debut, Appalachian Bell Jar so special.
Folky and bluegrassy at their core, with generous dashes of jazz, contemporary edge, and always an undeniable sincerity, Redd & The Paper Flowers is comprised of Redd Daugherty on vocals and guitar, Colleen d’Alelio on cello and vocals, Katie Adams on upright bass and vocals and Gavin Gregg on mandolin and vocals. They have absolutely convinced me that they’re a band worth following closely. With new music on the horizon and a bunch of new tour dates on the schedule (Another one in OKC too!) you really have to do your best to catch them sometime this summer. It’ll probably be one of the best nights of music you’ll have all year. Seriously.
Find out more about Redd & The Paper Flowers here: https://www.reddandthepaperflowers.com
Previous coverage: https://americanahighways.org/2025/09/13/show-review-redd-the-paper-flowers-at-okcs-blue-note-lounge