photo from Maha Music Festival 2012 by Daniel Muller
compiled by Cara Wilwerding
SUMMER FESTIVALS, CONCERT SERIES
July 4-6: ZOOFest | Lincoln
July 4-Aug. 8: Fort Cody Summer Music Series | North Platte
July 6: Oregon Trail Days | Gering
July 11-Aug. 8: Stransky Park Summer Concert Series | Lincoln
July 27, Aug. 18 and Sept. 28: Party in the Parks | Lincoln
Aug. 17: Maha Music Festival | Omaha
Aug. 25-Sept. 1: Nebraska State Fair | Grand Island
Sept. 5-8: Hullaballoo Music and Camping Festival | Omaha
July 4-6
ZOOFest | Lincoln
Thursday, July 4
1 p.m.: Lloyd McCarter and The Honky Tonk Revival
3 p.m.: James Harman and The 44's
5 p.m.: John Primer
7 p.m.: Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
9 p.m.: Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers
11 p.m.: Universe Contest
Friday, July 5
3 p.m.: The Mezcal Brothers
5 p.m.: Tinsely Ellis
7 p.m.: Junior Brown
9 p.m.: The Paladins
11 p.m.: The Self-Righteous Brothers
Saturday, July 6
1 p.m.: Freakabout!
3 p.m.: Tijuana Gigolos
5 p.m.: Walter Trout
7 p.m.: DaveAlvin & The Guilty Ones
9 p.m.: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
11 p.m.: Sidewalk Chalk
For 40 years, the Zoo has hosted the finest in national, regional and local blues, rock, soul, funk, jazz, country, zydeco, bluegrass, reggae, tex mex, polka, folk, indie rock, pop and dance music.
Join us in thriving downtown Lincoln this Fourth of July weekend for our celebration of music, community and liberty.
More info at: www.zoobarfestival.com.
(from ZOOfest Facebook event)
July 4-Aug. 8
Fort Cody Summer Music Series | North Platte
July 6
Oregon Trail Days | Gering
Saturday, July 6: The Josh Abbott Band and Stonegate Road
6:30 p.m. at Five Rocks Amphitheater. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased from the Oregon Trail Days Office.
July 11-Aug. 8
Stransky Park Summer Concert Series | Lincoln
Thursdays throughout the summer, 7 to 9 p.m.
Last summer, concerts attracted up to 400 people per show. Although only donation buckets support the musicians, some of the best local bands eagerly participate because it has gained a reputation for being a “great gig,” in a wonderful outdoor environment.
Support your local musicians and come listen to some great bluegrass music this summer.
Enjoy a free snow cone, popcorn, or lemonade, and spend a wonderful evening with your family, neighbors and friends. All of this courtesy of members supporting the Irvingdale Neighborhood Association.
(from Stransky Park Summer Concert Series Facebook page)
July 27, Aug. 18 and Sept. 28
Party in the Parks | Lincoln
photo by Megan Farmer | Lincoln Journal Star
Saturday, July 27: Twinsmith and UUVVWWZ
Saturday, Aug. 17: bands yet to be announced
Saturday, Sept. 28: bands yet to be announced
Aug. 17
Maha Music Festival | Omaha
Saturday, Aug. 17: The Flaming Lips, Matt & Kim, Digital Leather, Rock Paper Dynamite…
Noon at Aksarben Village.
Perhaps you had realized, but now we know for sure: The Flaming Lips will be headlining this year's Maha Music Festival on Aug. 17 at Stinson Park in Omaha.
Maha slyly let its followers in on the secret, asking, "Do you realize what is happening tonight?" via Facebook. For anyone who didn't catch the hint, Maha officially released the news on April 28.
The annual festival, now in its fifth year, has filled its lineup with national acts also including Matt & Kim, Bob Mould, The Thermals, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down and Sons of Fathers with Omaha band Millions of Boys opening the national stage. On the local stage, Digital Leather will close out a strong, diverse bill with Criteria, HERS, The Millions, Rock Paper Dynamite and the winner of June's Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards showcase.
General admission tickets for this year's Maha Music Festival are on sale for $45, as are a few varieties of VIP tickets.
Millions of Boys
HERS (with special guest Omaha Girls Rock)
Purveyors Of The Conscious Sound: OEAAs showcase winner
The Omaha Entertainment Awards Summer Showcase took place June 6-7. The public voted to decide which band or artist among the showcase performers will be playing the Maha Music Festival on Aug. 17, and Purveyors Of The Conscious Sound came out on top.
Aug. 25-Sept. 1
Nebraska State Fair | Grand Island
The following concerts require a purchased ticket:
Tickets went on sale Tuesday, June 18 at 8 a.m. Tickets for these concerts can be purchased at the Heartland Events Center Box office, any Ticketmaster location, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000. For questions, you may call Fonner Park General Office at 308-382-4515.
Trace Adkins
Sunday, Aug. 25, 6 p.m.
Heartland Events Center
$18 plus gate admission, facility fees & Ticketmaster fees
Trace Adkins’ trademark baritone has powered countless hits to the top of the charts and turned albums into Platinum plaques, selling over 10 million albums, cumulatively. The Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry is a television personality, actor, author, spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Program, the American Red Cross and has performed seven USO Tours.
Chicago
Saturday, Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m.
Heartland Events Center
$30 plus gate admission, facility fees and Ticketmaster fees
Starting in 1967, well before all the hits started flowing, Chicago established a reputation for its powerful live show. Fueled by a passion for music, Chicago's members exploded the conventions of what rock music could or should be. The result was a groundbreaking new form, played by extraordinarily talented musicians.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sunday, Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Heartland Events Center
$31 plus gate admission, facility fees and Ticketmaster fees
With a catalog of over 60 albums, sales beyond 30 million worldwide and their beloved classic American rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” having sold over two million ringtones, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a cultural icon that appeals to multiple generations.
The following concerts are free with paid gate admission:
Free concert entry process:
Wristbands are required for entry into all free concerts. Each concert's wristbands are available and valid only on the day of that concert. They will be distributed at 12 p.m. (noon). The Older Nebraskan's Day Concert wristbands will be available at 8:00a.m. Visit the Heartland Events Center Box Office on the day of the concert to obtain a wristband.
There is a limit of two wristbands per person.
Wristbands for each entry time are available on a first come, first serve basis. and are divided into the four following entry times per concert: 5:30 p.m. (blue wristbands), 6 p.m. (yellow wristbands), 6:30 p.m. (red wristbands) and 7 p.m. (green wristbands). Entry times for the Older Nebraskan's Day Concert are different. Please see the Older Nebraska’s Day Concert below for this concert's specific entry times.
All wristbands must be secured on the wrist for entry into the concert. You will only be permitted to enter after the specified entry time on your wristband. Wristbands guarantee admission but not necessarily a seat.
*Entry times are subject to change pending artist approval.
Kellie Pickler
Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Heartland Events Center
Pickler is a bonafide singer, songwriter, the 2013 winner of Dancing with the Stars, and has been a hit on USO Tours to troops stationed overseas.
Mel Tillis
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Heartland Events Center
Tillis is a musician, songwriter, actor and comedian. Tillis’ storied career includes a litany of accolades and awards as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.
TobyMac
Thursday, Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Heartland Events Center
With 11 million albums sold and 5 Grammy Awards to his credit, TobyMac refuses to settle on past accomplishments, as he delivers a diverse album built on honest struggle. His latest album, “Eye On It”, which he describes as a complete labor of love, speaks to the flawed human side in all of us.
Eli Young Band
Friday, Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Heartland Events Center
It’s a crazy-good story. The Eli Young Band—four musicians who met during their college days in Texas—is now 11 years into a career built on touring without a single lineup change. That dedication is paying off big-time as the band enjoys a crazy new level of success. They sell a crazy amount of tickets. Get a crazy amount of airplay. And are selling a crazy amount of downloads—EYB received their first platinum record for "Crazy Girl" and have sold over 1.5million downloads of the track.
(from the Nebraska State Fair website)
Sept. 5-8
Hullaballoo Music and Camping Festival | Omaha
Aaron Freeman, former lead singer of Ween (Gene Ween)
Monophonics
Blackalicious
Pimps of Joytime
The Floozies
Kris Lager Band
Samantha Fish
Jon Wayne & the Pain
Sophistafunk
Spoonfed Tribe
Dumptruck Butterlips
Blue Martian Tribe
Mama Lenny & the Remedy
Henry + the Invisibles
Jake Briscoe & the Moonlighters(formerly of the Paperclips)
Ian Hilmer
Monstars
Low Spark
BASSthoven
Sharkweek
Purveyors of the Conscious Sound
Rock Paper Dynamite
Matt Whipkey
Funk Trek
Djem
Midland Band
Hector Anchondo Band
John Klemmensen & the Party
Linear Symmetry
Cadillac Flambe
Artillery Funk
White Wolf T-Shirt
DJ Destro
Lovedrunk
Cara Wilwerding is a Hear Nebraska intern. She would appreciate any comments or suggestions on additional music festivals and concert series as she continues to add to this list. Reach her at caraw@hearnebraska.org.