Nebraska Summer Concert Guide 2014

photo by Nicholas O’Bradovich | Maha 2013

 compiled by Gabriella Martinez-Garro and Hanna Guenther

As summer heat floods the state, music festivals release their lineups and bands announce their upcoming tours. While many look to California and Chicago for summer music events, Nebraska rises up, hosting a handful of concert series and festivals, empowering the Midwest music scene. Find everything from more intimate weekly events, such as Hear Lincoln, that focus on exposing local artists amidst the downtown business scene, to bigger events including Maha Music Festival, which slates nationally known bands with rising Nebraska talent. Check out this full list of concert series and music festivals kicking off this summer.

May 16 through July 25: Hear Lincoln | Lincoln

June 3-24: Jazz in June | Lincoln

June 20-22: Junkstock | Omaha

June 15 through August 14: Stransky Park Summer Concert Series | Lincoln

July 4-5: 80/35 Music Festival | Des Moines

July 5: Saturday in the Park | Sioux City

July 11-13: Omaha Under the Radar | Omaha

July 11-12: Zoofest | Lincoln

July 12: Grassroots Music Festival | Council Bluffs

July 18-19: Nebraska Folk & Roots Festival | Lincoln

July 24-26: Hullabaloo | Bellevue

August 16: Maha Music Festival

June 20 through August 25: Pinewood Bowl | Lincoln

July 5 through September 27: Stir Cove | Council Bluffs

August 22 through September 1: Nebraska State Fair | Grand Island


HEAR LINCOLN

FRIDAYS | 13TH & O STREET | NOON | LIVE MUSIC + FOOD TRUCKS

June 20: Root Marm Chicken Farm Jug Band

June 27: Stonebelly

July 11: The Mezcal Brothers

July 18: blét

July 25: Jack Hotel


JAZZ IN JUNE | LINCOLN

TUESDAYS | 7 PM

June 3: Evening in Brazil

June 10: CALJE: Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble

June 17: Donna Singer & the Doug Richards Trio

June 24: Susan Pereira and Sabor Brasil


JUNKSTOCK | OMAHA | JUNE 20-22

Friday, June 20

9 a.m.: John Larsen

10:30 a.m.: Justin Johnson

12 p.m.: McKenzie JaLynn & the Renegades

2 p.m.: Reggie Shaw

3:30 p.m.: Banjo Loco

5 p.m.: Max Cox Band

Saturday, June 21

9 a.m.: FCC Brothers

10:30 a.m.: Justin Johnson

12 p.m.: Waterfront Blues Band

2 p.m.: Hillfolk Noir

3:45 p.m.: Brad Hoshaw

5 p.m.: Bad Country

Sunday, June 22

10 a.m.: The High Crest

11:30 a.m.: Justin Johnson

1 p.m.: The Prairie Gators Band


STRANSKY PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES | LINCOLN

THURSDAYS | 7 PM

June 19: Cornerstone Dub (Ska/Reggae)

June 26: Sandy Creek Bluegrass

July 10: Hector Anchondo (Blues)

July 17: John Walker & The New Hokum Boys (Country Blues), with The String Demons (Country Western Swing)

July 24: Jack Hotel (Americana)

July 31: The Honeyboy Turner Band (Blues)

August 7: The Bottle Tops (Americana)

August 14: Josh Hoyer & the Shadowboxers (R&B/Soul)


80/35 MUSIC FESTIVAL | DES MOINES | JULY 4-5

The seventh annual 80/35 music festival is set for July 4 and 5, 2014 in downtown Des Moines. The 2014 lineup includes Cake, Conor Oberst, Dr. Dog, Dawes, Caroline Smith, and Xavier Rudd.

Find full schedule here and tickets here.

photo of Conor Oberst by Randy Edwards

photo of Dr. Dog by Mike Bell


SATURDAY IN THE PARK | SIOUX CITY | JULY 5

“Great Southern Bank’s Saturday in the Park Festival is pleased to announce the headliners for the 2014 festival. The Avett Brothers and Bonnie Raitt will headline this year’s 24th installment of the festival, event co-founder Dave Bernstein announced March 20. “This year’s headliners are amazing and take us back to the festivals roots. The Avett Brothers and Bonnie Raitt are both well known for incredible recorded music and amazing live shows, this year will be all about top notch live free music event.”

– Avett Brothers
– Bonnie Raitt
– Ziggy Marley 
– Wild Feathers
– 
Full Lineup here.


OMAHA UNDER THE RADAR | OMAHA | JULY 11-13

“Omaha Under the Radar is the manifestation of a desire for the development of a truly unique performance, classical music, dance, and theatre voice in Nebraska. We will explore the latest in performance styles with a penchant for Avant-garde and experimental genres.”

Artists performing include Ken Vandermark and Tim Daisy, Aspidistra, Andy Costello and Colloquy. Find full the schedule here and purchase tickets here.


PINEWOOD BOWL THEATER | LINCOLN

JUNE 20 through AUGUST 25

June 20: Ray LaMontagne

June 24: Widespread Panic with special guest Galactic

August 1: Sara Bareilles “Little Black Dress” Summer Tour

August 2: Lynyrd Skynyrd

August 8: Boston & The Doobie Brothers

August 25: The Moody Blues

Find tickets here.


ZOOFEST | LINCOLN | JULY 11-12

Friday, July 11

5 p.m.: The Bel-Airs

7 p.m.: Brave Combo

9 p.m.: Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers

11 p.m.: The Killigans

Saturday, July 12

1 p.m.: OKETO

3 p.m.: Black Lillies

5 p.m. Lil Ed & The Blue Imperials

7 p.m.: Kelley Hunt

9 p.m.: Delbert McClinton

11 p.m.: Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers

Tickets available at Zoo Bar, O’Rourke’s Tavern, Sportcaster’s and ETIX.CO. No advanced tickets can be purchased after July 10. Ticket price: $15 Adv / $25 Both Days. Day of Show: $15 Friday / $20 Saturday.


STIR COVE CONCERT SERIES | COUNCIL BLUFFS

July 5: Matt Nathanson and Gavin Degraw

July 11: Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss w/ Jason Isbell

July 18: The Band Perry

July 19: Dierks Bentley

July 20: REO Speedwagon

July 26: Counting Crows w/ Toad The Wet Sprocket

July 27: Fitz and The Tantrums

July 30: Arctic Monkeys

August 5: Foster The People

August 15: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo w/ Special Guest Lita Ford

August 20: Prince Royce

September 11: Summer Nationals

September 27: Lorde

Tickets on sale here.


NEBRASKA FOLK & ROOTS FESTIVAL | LINCOLN | JULY 18-19

Tickets go on sale June 18 for $15 for the whole weekend and $10 for one day. Austin group Wild Child will headline the event and bands (both local and national), including David Mayfield Parade, Union Specific, Jack Hotel and The Bottle Tops will also perform. Stay up to date on the event here.


HULLABALOO | SOKOL PARK, BELLEVUE, NE | JULY 24-26

Line up includes Kris Lager Band, Nappy Roots, Cornmeal, Universe Contest and Desert Noises.

Schedule and tickets here. Read about the festival here.


MAHA MUSIC FESTIVAL | OMAHA | AUGUST 16

This year Maha is bringing in national acts Death Cab For Cutie, The Head and the Heart and Local Natives. The festival will also feature The Both, Doomtree, Radkey, The Envy Corps, Icky Blossoms, Twinsmith, Domestica, Matt Whipkey and M34N STR33T.

Learn more here and buy your tickets here.


NEBRASKA STATE FAIR | GRAND ISLAND

AUGUST 22 through SEPTEMBER 1

August 22: Chris Young | 7:30 p.m.

August 23: Styx | 7:30 p.m.

August 27: BJ Thomas | 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.

August 28: Michael W Smith | 7:30 p.m.

August 29: Terry Fator | 7:30 p.m.

August 31: Brantley Gilbert | 7:30 p.m.

Tickets will be available on July 28 at the Heartland Events Center Box Office and at ETIX.com.


Reach Gabriella and Hanna at gabriellamg@hearnebraska and hannag@hearnebraska.org.