Benson will be bustling again tonight with the start of this weekend's Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards summer showcase and Benson First Friday's one-year anniversary.
With 80 bands on OEAA's bill and 40 visual artists presenting their work as part of BFF this weekend, OEAA Vice President Justin Kadlec says he hopes this year’s showcase will be the most successful since the organization’s 2006 inception.
“It’s just putting all the art in one packed area and letting everyone loose,” Kadlec says. “It gives everyone a great chance to see a variety of artists, musicians and performers.”
See the showcase schedule here.
Local musicians will also be competing for a chance to play in the Maha Music Festival in Aksarben Village on Aug. 17. The winning band will join groups such as the Flaming Lips, Matt & Kim and Digital Leather for Maha’s fifth annual festival.
“Whoever wins and has their name on the bill next to some of these great artists that Maha has scheduled, that is invaluable,” Kadlec says. “It’s a really great thing.”
Because OEAA audience members will decide on the band to play Maha, Kadlec encourages fans to come out tonight and Saturday. Ballot boxes will be placed in each of the seven venues located throughout Benson.
Tickets for the showcase cost $10 for one night, or $15 for both nights.
While bands aren’t paid for their participation, Kadlec explained that the money raised will continue to support the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards, a non-profit organization.
“This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year,” Kadlec says. “The money goes toward us being able to do the actual awards show — anything from the trophies we give out, to getting the venues and providing an awesome evening.”
In addition to being a promising fundraiser and promoting local music, tonight also marks a special occasion for Benson, as the Omaha neighborhood celebrates Benson First Friday’s one-year anniversary.
photo from the first Benson First Friday in June 2012 by Nicholas O'Bradovich
Visual art will be displayed in galleries, restaurants and other businesses, performers will take to the streets, and lighting installations will illuminate the way.
Kadlec says he’s excited for the variety of both visual art and musical acts. The bands playing this weekend span a number of different genres, including hip-hop, singer-songwriters and metal.
“There’s so much out there,” Kadlec says. “I’m looking forward to bouncing around each venue and getting a taste of everything.”
SCHEDULE OF CONCERTS:
Friday, June 7
The Waiting Room: all ages
8-8:40: Escape from AlcaJazz
8:55-9:35: Civicminded
9:50-10:30: Narcotic Self
10:45-11:25: The Whipkey Three
11:40-12:20: Travelling Mercies
12:35-1:05: Ten Club
1:20-2: Galvanized Tron
The Sydney: all ages
8-8:40: Towne, Murray & Polipnick
8:55-9:35: Morning at Sea
9:50-10:30: All Young Girls Are Machine Guns
10:45-11:25: Halfwit
11:40-12:20: Touch People
12:35-1:05: Universe Contest
1:20-2: BuckHunter
Barley Street Tavern: 21+
8-8:40: Skyman
8:55-9:35: Black On High
9:50-10:30: Those Far Out Arrows
10:45-11:25: Dirty River Ramblers
11:40-12:20: Moses Prey
12:35-1:05: The Sub-Vectors
1:20-2: The Big Deep
Sweatshop: 21+
8-8:40: Pancho and the Contraband
8:55-9:35: Tracey Skretta
9:50-10:30: Polka Police
10:45-11:25: The Shidiots
11:40-12:20: Never Trust the Living
12:35-1:05: Guilty is the Bear
1:20-2: Kaitlyn Maria Filippini
Burke’s Pub: 21+
8-8:40: SPORK and SPiNSTER
8:55-9:35: 24 Hour Cardlock
9:50-10:30: Scott Severin
10:45-11:25: Michael Wunder
11:40-12:20: Mitch Gettman
12:35-1:05: Hector Anchondo Band
PS Collective: all ages
8-8:40: Acoustic Gangster
8:55-9:35: Belles & Whistles
9:50-10:30: Lucas Kellison & Undisco Kids
10:45-11:25: Elephantz
11:40-12:20: One Eye White
12:35-1:05: Island Alumni
Louis Bar & Grill: 21+
8-8:40: More Machine Now Than Man
8:55-9:35: The Minnahoonies
9:50-10:30: Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers
10:45-11:25: The Matador
11:40-12:20: The Impulsive
12:35-1:05: Rygol
1:15-1:50: Linear Symmetry
Saturday, June 8
The Waiting Room:
8-8:40: Save the Hero
8:55-9:35: John Klemmensen and the Party
9:50-10:30: Cannonista
10:45-11:25: The Electroliners
11:40-12:20: Voodoo Method
12:35-1:05: After the Fall
1:20-2: Lon-Meezy
The Sydney:
8-8:40: Mola-B
8:55-9:35: Edge of Arbor
9:50-10:30: Vago
10:45-11:25: Artillery Funk
11:40-12:20: AZP
12:35-1:05: Purveyors of the Conscious Sound
1:20-2: Wrekafekt
Barley Street Tavern:
8-8:40: The Counterplot
8:55-9:35: The Decatures
9:50-10:30: Big AL Band
10:45-11:25: Molehill (touring band)
11:40-12:20: Rock Paper Dynamite
12:35-1:05: Field Club
1:20-2: The Beat Seekers
Burke’s Pub:
8-8:40: FINO
8:55-9:35: Phoenix Rising
9:50-10:30: Ryan Osbahr
10:45-11:25: Dominique Morgan
11:40-12:20: shooK on3
12:35-1:05: Buzz Junior
PS Collective:
8-8:40: A Wasted Effort
8:55-9:35: Square1
9:50-10:30: Tenderness Wilderness
10:45-11:25: The Bishops
11:40-12:20: The Ronnys
12:35-1:05: Steps to Mars
Cara Wilwerding is a Hear Nebraska intern. She calls Omaha home. Reach Cara at caraw@hearnebraska.org.