The Deadgummits of Tulsa, Oklahoma, are a Grateful Dead tribute band who have been with the Highlonesome Music Festival (September 3 - September 6) since day 1. Their leaders, Heather and Rex Langley, are also festival organizers and board members. They’ve answered a series of questions as they boot up for another “Hippy Hee Haw” in the Ozarks!

 

See their bio page on the festival website for information about each of the nine Deadgummits – The Deadgummits | Highlonesome Music Festival

 

Get festival tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/.../2026-highlonesome-music-festival

​

Brooke: What compelled your formation as a Grateful Dead tribute band?

 

Heather & Rex: The initial spark came out of the Covid-19 pandemic and lock down. So many people were experiencing a sense of loss and isolation, and Rex was interested in exploring ways to create community. The full concept of The Deadgummits was realized at our first visit to Dockley Ranch. I became an official Deadhead that weekend, and we spent most of our time playing music together. It was then that Rex realized a Grateful Dead tribute band would be a way to play the music we love, bring out our local community of Deadheads, and have something fun we could do together. 

​

Brooke: How do you select which songs you all want to play together? Do you rotate through a specific collection, or do you add in different songs over time?

 

Heather & Rex: The Grateful Dead are known for never repeating a setlist which has given us an enormous catalog of music but also creates an expectation that we are constantly learning new material and creating diversified setlists. At this time, we have approximately 5-6+ hours of music that could be played without repeating a song. We use that song list to compile unique setlists for every show; meaning, we may repeat songs, but they are never played in the exact same order, and songs are regularly swapped out to keep the setlists fresh. There is no set process for selecting new songs to learn. Usually, one of us, or another band member, expresses interest in a song and Rex works up the main chord progression. He brings it to practice, and the rest of the band uses that progression to create our interpretation of the song. Although, there have been times audience members or friends request a song, and we will work them up in secret to surprise them. It's a lot of fun to see their reaction when we play "their" song!

 

Mike: How did you envision the band you would become when you started playing together? How is that vision different than the band you have become?

 

Heather & Rex: At the time of our first show in 2021 The Deadgummits was only a 5-piece band, all on acoustic instruments: guitar, banjo, 2 mandolins, and cajon. Our goal was to play 4 or 5 shows a year. We have evolved and grown since that initial iteration. We are now a 9-piece party that includes: electric guitar, keyboard, drums, harmonica, fiddle, acoustic guitar, banjo, bass, and mandolin. We are gigging at least once a month, have a standing residency at Thelma's Peach (one of our favorite live music venues in Tulsa. If you come visit make sure to check it out!), have played every year at The Highlonesome Music Festival, and even had the opportunity to play the Tuscany Hotel and Casino's Shakedown Street pre-party event for Dead and CO's final Sphere residency. We've also been welcomed by our local Deadhead community with open arms, and they are some of the most gracious and kind folks we've met. The Deadgummits has morphed into something we couldn't have possibly fathomed when it first began. It's been an amazing and wild ride!

 

Brooke: What are some of the creative inspirations influencing your self-proclaimed “Hippy Hee Haw” style?

 

Heather & Rex: The term "Hippy Hee Haw" was coined by a fan referencing our onstage dynamics. We have been told our shows are entertaining not just because of the music but also due to the witty banter on stage. We assume the "hippie" part is because we play Grateful Dead music. Needless to say, we identified with the moniker immediately.

 

Brooke: What is most interesting about the relationships within your large band?

 

Heather & Rex: We think it's probably rare to find 9 people who enjoy spending this much time working together, making music, and collaborating. We've really figured out how to cheer each other on and provide feedback in ways that encourage all of us to grow and engage. It's pretty awesome.

 

Mike: What has been your band’s favorite experience performing together?

 

Heather & Rex: Hands down performing at Shakedown Street Las Vegas in 2025. We were able to perform in front of Deadheads from all over the country. The experience of playing a song, like Eyes of the World for example, and having the entire bar singing and celebrating with us was surreal.

 

Brooke: As contributing members of the Highlonesome Music Festival planning board and musical performers since year 1, what do you most enjoy about performing at the HLMF in the Ozarks each year? 

​

Heather & Rex: First, the community that has grown and invested in the festival. The collection of performers, vendors, festival-goers, and others that we see year after year reminds us of summer camp as kids. We get so excited to see our "festival friends" and catch up on everyone's whereabouts for the last year. There is so much joy and excitement - it's contagious! Secondly, watching new festival-goers experience Dockley Ranch and The Highlonesome Music Festival for the time. It's like magic.

 

Brooke: What would you tell a potential new festival-goer about why they should come to HLMF 2026?

 

Heather & Rex: Be prepared to be wowed! We offer such a unique range of experiences from the Musical Forrest to our coffee shop sets, midnight hike and storytelling, and specialty hikes that can not be found anywhere else. Pair that with the evolving list of new events, like the film festival and mimosas sets, the musical talent, vendors, delicious food trucks, good vibes and even better community, and you’re sure to have a weekend that you’ll want to relive every year.