Benson First Friday Femme Fest spreads to Lincoln; Mesonjixx headlines 1867 concert
For a third year running, Benson First Friday Femme Fest will showcase many of Nebraska’s talented women musicians in a sprawling, neighborhood-wide event in September. But first, the fest heads west.
Femme Fest has announced its first concert programming in Lincoln, a two-stage event Friday, June 2 at 1867 Bar featuring headliner Mesonjixx, The Mynabirds’ Laura Burhenn and more. The 14-act lineup is multi-genered, with a mix of full-band and acoustic performances, each with “at least one featured femme,” in accordance with festival tradition.
BFF Femme Fest launched in September 2015 with that exact purpose in mind: to showcase local performers and increase visibility for Nebraska’s femme artists. The unique concert event has also included regional acts, like Kansas singer/songwriter La Guerre, who plays the Lincoln concert.
Festival founder Rebecca Lowry says the expansion is the result of positive feedback from Lincoln-based musicians and community members. Collaboration with 1867 Bar’s Kelsey Graves and Maddy Hager and concert booker Cortney Kirby led to a concrete date. Lowry, a self-proclaimed “personal fan” of the Lincoln music scene, expressed her excitement at creating a second BFFFF platform.
“Lincoln has it’s own pool of unique, amazing musicians, totally deserving of their own celebration,” Lowry says. “So I think it was only a matter of time.”
The show’s opening ceremony — a set from Lincoln folk band The Bottle Tops — starts at 6 p.m., with performances running through 1:45 a.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. View the full schedule below and RSVP here.
1867 Bar Main Stage
6 – 6:45 :: OPENING CEREMONY: The Bottle Tops
7 – 7:45 :: The Toppings
8 – 8:45 :: Verse and the Vices
9 – 9:45 :: Domestica
10 – 10:45 :: Laura Burhenn (of The Mynabirds)
11 – 11:45 :: La Guerre (KS)
12 – 12:45 :: DAZZLESHIPS
1 – 1:45 :: Mesonjixx
1867 Bar Smoking Patio
7:15 – 8 :: Ashley Buck
8:15 – 9 :: Blowing Chunks
9:15 – 10 :: The Artichoke Hearts
10:15 – 11 :: Joya
11:15 – 12 :: Kait Berreckman
12:15 – 1 :: Jewel
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Jocelyn appears on ‘Undercover Boss’
In the new season of Undercover Boss, Omaha singer/songwriter Jocelyn takes an Austin, Texas stage for what appears to be a typical barroom set. Back of house, there’s an oddly familiar looking man that seems to be really digging it.
That man is Darius Rucker, host of a special celebrity edition of the CBS Series, out to find the next great musical acts, and Jocelyn is on his radar. In the promo clip for the episode airing May 12, Jocelyn is her usual energetic, upbeat self. She prompts Rucker — of Hootie In The Blowfish fame and his own country music career — into a physical reaction.
“She really blew my mind tonight,” Rucker tells the camera post-performance. “The world needs to hear that girl.”
Jocelyn’s episode is a bit of a twist for Undercover Boss, which in the past has featured CEO-level management performing entry-level roles within their companies to get a taste of life as their own employees. This one appears to be pitched as a talent discovery vehicle.
Tune in this Friday at 7 p.m. CST to catch Jocelyn’s episode. Sneak a preview below:
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Teetah, NugZ release new singles
Today in new music, we’re hitting tracks by two Omaha artists in Teetah and NugZ.
First up, Teetah, aka electronic producer Thomas Flaherty, who released “Degrees of Freedom” this past week. It starts with keys that illuminate like orbs, easing into a catchy, conveyor belt beat which cycles in and out under wide brush strokes of synth. Listen in below:
And today, Omaha rapper NugZ released the first track from his forthcoming EP Waves. “They Know” is calm and minimal in terms of production (by Trill Emotion), yet NugZ and guest rapper J Crum are seething and gritty in one verse apiece.
Waves is out June 3, celebrated by a show at Lookout Lounge with Friday, J. Crum, Mola-B and DJ Madix. RSVP here and Watch the video for “They Know” below.
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Concert Round-Up
Here’s a look at what’s going on over the next couple of days. Send show info to news@hearnebraska.org.
Monday
There isn’t much in the way of shows this evening; add what you know in the comments or tweet at us @hearnebraska.
You could tune into KZUM tonight at 8 p.m. CST for Hear Nebraska FM, our two-hour all-Nebraska show on Lincoln’s community radio station. Shannon Claire fills in for Andrew Stellmon, who is out on the Good Living Tour storytelling/promo trip (and sends his love). That’s 89.3 FM in Lincoln or kzum.org or the Tune In app around the world.
While we’re here, send (radio-friendly) music for HN FM/HN Radio consideration to news@hearnebraska.org.
Tuesday
Sam Smith (Whisperer), Mike Schlesinger, Sean Pratt at Barley Street – Seattle singer/songwriter Sam Smith, performing as Whisperer, comes to Omaha on the heels of this March 17 LP The Open Window. Smith’s vocals are twangy and deliberate, and with a weeping lap steel and plodding rhythm, tracks like “Blue Mornings” play like a young, introspective Neil Young. He’ll be in good company with Mike Schlesinger and Sean Pratt, both songwriters with similar sensibilities. 9 p.m., $5, RSVP here.
The Bombpops, Russian Girlfriends, Alpha 5, The Boner Killerz at Lookout Lounge – SoCal punk quartet The Bombpops has been a thing for more than a decade, its songwriters Poli van Dam and Jen Razavi running through a revolving door at rhythm section until coalescing in the last couple of years with Neil Wayne and Josh Lewis. Finally, that meant the release of its debut full-length Fear of Missing Out on Fat Wreck Chords. The band tells the full story to Westword here. Albuquerque, N.M. punks Russian Girlfriends accompany The Bombpops on tour, and Alpha 5 and The Boner Killerz fill out the bill. RSVP here.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for updates, news and features plus photos from the Good Living Tour storytelling trip (hello from Imperial!) where we’ll be speaking with students and community members about this summer’s tour. More info at goodlivingtour.com.