H O O D O O
Blues Heats Up
The popular Playing with Fire summer concert series announces a new venue for 2020, ZooFest and In the Market for Blues are back, and the club shows are going strong. by B.J. huChteMAnn
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t may still be winter, but plans are already underway for this summer’s bluesroots festivals. Playing with Fire founder and organizer Jeff Davis shared plans for the 2020 Playing with Fire concerts, announcing a new venue for this summer’s shows. In an email to The Reader, Davis said the concerts will be held at the Capitol District, and the shows will take place Friday, July 24, Saturday, July 25, and Saturday, Aug. 22. Davis said “Bands will hail from: Amsterdam, Paris, Ottawa, Minneapolis, Memphis, New Orleans, Sydney and Omaha. Lineup will be announced mid-February.” Start times and further details will be released later, and fans can check the website for announcements or sign up for the email newsletter to stay in the know. See playingwithfireomaha.net. Davis also asked fans to note that at the new Capitol District venue “NO outside food or beverages will be allowed, as well as NO pets please,” adding, “Still gonna be free.” Since its start in 2004, Davis has kept Playing with Fire a free event for the whole community. Davis scouts festivals in Canada and Europe for top new talent. Then he works at
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Jeff Jensen, left, and Brandon Santini, right, debut their new project, Tennessee Redemption, in Omaha at BSO Presents at Stocks ‘n’ Bonds Thursday, Feb. 13, 6-9 p.m. Photo courtesy Endless Blues Records. getting the artists he is most excited about booked to play for Omahans. More than 350 bands have played the series in its first 16 seasons, including top national artists. Take a look back at playingwithfireomaha.net/past-artists. Mark the dates for 2020 on your calendar and watch for the updated website with lineup announcements.
founded as a music venue in 1973, has announced dates for the annual ZooFest anniversary celebration, which will take to the streets at 14th & P in front of the bar Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11. Watch for the anniversary band lineup and keep up with all the latest at The Zoo Bar at zoobar.com and at fb.com/zoobarblues.
Zoo Bar Anniversary Dates Lincoln’s historic Zoo Bar,
In the Market for Blues 2020 The brainchild of Omaha
February 2020
blues musician Hector Anchondo, created with the help of E3 Music Management, In the Market for Blues has put teasers on Facebook for a 2020 event. The multiband, multi-venue event has grown exponentially each year. Last year, it expanded from its Old Market base to include venues in the Capitol District and an outdoor stage. Recent years have added sponsors and supporters, including the Blues Society of Omaha. In the Market for Blues celebrates its sixth year, and the organizing team reports the 2020 date is locked in for Saturday, Aug. 1. Keep an eye on fb.com/inthemarketforblues and inthemarketforblues.tumblr.com for further details.
BSO Presents The Blues Society of Omaha’s Thursday blues matinee concert series continues to flex between several venues; however, all the February Thursday shows are at Stocks ‘n’ Bonds. All Thursday shows are 6-9 p.m. The Paul Nelson Band is up Thursday, Feb. 6. Nelson was a guitarist alongside the late Johnny Winter, also producing the 2014 Grammy-winning recording Step Back (Megaforce/Sony)
