Courtesy photo of Trampled Under Foot
by B.J. Huchtemann | The Reader
Blues and roots shows coming up include some fan favorites. The early 5:30 p.m. Thursday matinees at The 21st Saloon continue with the high-energy, big and soulful blues of Trampled Under Foot Thursday, Feb. 23.
The coming Thursday shows at The 21st Saloon include boogie-woogie and blues keyboardist Kelley Hunt Thursday, March 1. Tab Benoit returns to Omaha for a Thursday, March 8, show. Benoit is a multiple Blues Music Award winner and Grammy nominee. He is up for four Blues Music Awards this year.
Blues Music Awards
Speaking of the national Blues Foundation’s 33rd Annual Blues Music Awards, public voting ends March 1. All you need to do to vote for your favorite artists is to become a member of the Blues Foundation at blues.org and then cast your ballot. Many of the nominees are popular acts among Omaha-Lincoln fans including Benoit and Curtis Salgado who is up for Soul Blues Male Artist. Hadden Sayers is nominated for Song of the Year for his wonderful song “Back to the Blues,” which he recorded with Ruthie Foster. Lincoln blues man Magic Slim is nominated in the Traditional Blues Male Artist category.
Zoo Bar Blues
Shows of note coming up at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar include the Mezcal Brothers with Lloyd McCarter & the Honky-Tonk Revival in an acoustic show Thursday, Feb. 23, after 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, Brad Cordle Band has the 6 p.m. slot followed by Kris Lager playing solo acoustic after 9 p.m
Winter Blues & BBQ
The Blues Society of Omaha and Operation BBQ host a third annual dinner to raise funds for special BBQ meals to welcome our troops home. Australian bluesman Michael Charles performs, along with BluesEd band Mojo Bag. The event is Saturday, Feb. 25, at The Barn, 15220 Military Rd. See operationbbqmw.org for tickets.
Hot Notes
At The Waiting Room Saturday, Feb. 25, catch local Americana-rockers Travelling Mercies in a big local rock show with Rock Paper Dynamite, Snake Island! and Landing on the Moon.
Texas psychobilly master Rev. Horton Heat hits Slowdown Sunday, Feb. 26, with Larry & His Flask and The Goddam Gallows.
B.J. Huchtemann has been writing about local music for more than 20 years. She writes a column for The Reader called Hoodoo, focused primarily on the area's blues and roots music.