Featured Pick: Amythyst Kiah at Zoo Fest 50 

It is time again for Zoo Fest, the annual celebration of the legendary Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it’s the big 50! Congrats to them, and if there was ever a place still in existence that needs to be preserved in this state, it is the Zoo Bar. I have mostly seen area bands and artists at The Zoo Bar over the years, with a smattering of national acts. It is an oasis for touring bands, mainly of the blues or Americana persuasion, but also a mainstay of local music culture. If memory serves me correctly, we saw one of this year’s headliner, Charlie Musselwhite, inside the intimate bar one year after rain forced him inside at a Zoo Fest.

This year, among the many big acts such as Karl Denson, Musselwhite, and Shemikia Copeland, is Amythyst Kiah. Kiah is an Americana artist from Tennessee. Her 2021 album Wary + Strange is a favorite of mine, and many of us got to see them perform at the Orpheum earlier this year, opening for Jason Isbell. It was a captivating performance with her on guitar and banjo. I think her set at Zoo Fest will be even better, and hopefully she will play more songs from her album there. Check out her song “Black Myself” for a preview. Make sure you are front and center for her set.

Monday July 3rd

DJ Jon Dorner at Cottonwood Cove Marina 

Daddy Mac & The Flak at Cottonwood Cove Marina 

Baby Jason & The Spankers at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln with Emily Bass, All Star City Blues and Tony Meza and El Chupacabra  5PM

The Ongoing Concept-with Bloodlines, Lightworker, and Radio Of The World at Reverb Lounge 7PM 

Open Mic at Shakedown Street 8PM 

Jazz Jam at NOMA-7PM-May want to check before heading out because of holiday

Lemon Fresh Day at The Granary 8PM 

Tuesday July 4th 

The Crabby Blues Band-Shucks on Pacific-6PM 

DJ Sean Michael at Cottonwood Cove Marina

Action Mike and the Sweaty Boys and Universe Contest at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln 5PM 

Contemporary Jam at NOMA-7PM-May want to check before heading out because of holiday 

Wednesday July 5th 

Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal, Sailing in Soup and Vibe Check at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln 6PM 

DJ Lay-C at Bar 415 

Kody West at Reverb Lounge-8PM 

Gemini Dragon with Vertigo at Dream On The Green 7PM 

Open Mic at The Tavern 9PM 

Acoustic Happy Hour with Georgeanne and Friends at The Down Under Lounge 5PM 

Open Mic Night at The Down Under Lounge 8PM 

Big Wade and Black Swan Theory Open MIc-The Jewell 8PM 

Pons with Cat Piss and Western Haikus at The Sydney 9PM 

Thursday July 6th 

Larry McCray with The Redwoods at Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing 6:30 PM 

Tom Buller and Just Plain Trouble at Rathskeller 7PM

Say We Can Fly with Hold Your Breath, and Blondo at Maloney’s in Council Bluffs 7PM doors  

Kevin Llloyd Organ Combo at B. Bar 8PM 

Open Mic at Beach House Bar  9:30PM 

Zoo Fest with The Bel Airs, Igor and Red Elvises and Charlie Musselwhite at Zoo Bar in Lincoln 5PM

Royal Bliss with Royal Thunder and New Monarch at The Waiting Room 7:30 PM 

Doyle Tipler Trio at The Jewel 7PM 

Crack Mountain with Trillion Ton Beryllium Ships and Thunderchief at 1867 in Lincoln 8PM

Cover Me Badd at The Drinkery 7PM

Casper McWade at Bucks Bar and Grill in Venice 9PM

Friday July 7th 

Sweet Tea Music at Havana Garage 9PM 

SKOLD with Clock Work Echo, Grimm, ‘Till Hell & Devil Down at 1867 in Lincoln 6PM doors 

Hector Anchondo Band at The Jewell 7PM

Benson Soul Society at The Sydney 10PM

Alexsed at Bar 415 

Midnight Wanderers at Deer Springs Winery in Lincoln 7PM

Charm School Drop Outs at Cottonwood Cove Marina 

Tragic Kingdom with Speck Nelson and the Ralstones at Maloneys in Council Bluffs 8PM 

Positions & Player Dave at The Waiting Room 8PM 

Bliss, Cyphen and Jack McLaughlin at Slowdown 8PM 

Animals on LSD with Dose and Contend at Reverb Lounge 7PM 

Zoo Fest with The Jimmys, Amethyst Kiah, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and Andy Williams & The Nebraska Allstars at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln 5PM 

We’re In The Back Concert Series with Dream Journal, Uniquesixteen, Sgt. Leisure and Compressed at Project Project 6PM 

Cary Morin and Ghost Dog at Benson Theatre 7:30PM 

The Polka Police at The Down Under Lounge-9th Anniversary Show 8PM 

Dunn and Moore play at The Down Under Lounge 9th Anniversary show after Polka Police  

John Fino at Celler 44 6PM 

Ro Hempel at Sonny’s 7PM

The Powell Brothers at Barnato 8PM 

Mason Michaels at Barrel & VIne 9PM 

IONE

Saturday July 8th 

Enjoli & Timeless and Edem Soul Music at Miller Park 7:30PM 

Los Dos Carnales at Liberty First Arena 8:30PM 

A Live Orchestral Rendition of Dr. Dre 2001 at Falconwood Park 7:30PM

Shadow Ridge Band at Barrel & Vine 9PM 

Future Sounds Showcase Presents: Four On The Floor 9PM 

Leila’s Rose with Hold Your Breath at The Slowdown 8PM

Cinemartyr at The Sydney 9PM

Brother East Brother West at Cellar 426 in Ashland 6:30 PM 

Sandy Creek at Deer Springs Winery in Lincoln  7PM 

Rhythm Collective at bob & willies wonderbowl 7PM 

The Redwoods and Blue Sunday at Slattery Vintage Estates in Nehawka 6:30 PM 

HairNation at Cottonwood Cove Marina

Citizens at Bar 415  

Sister Scarlet, Before We Die, and We Are Arya at Maloney’s In Council Bluffs 8PM 

Blue Venue at Heron Bay in Springfield 6PM 

The Pranksters at Rathskeller 7PM 

Zoo Fest In Lincoln with Blues Ed, The Lightning Bugs, Fabtones 5, John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band, The James Hunter Six and Shemekia Copeland at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln 

Lightspeed Highway with Blubber and Christian Leif at Down Under Lounge 9:30PM 

IONE-at The Jewell 6:30PM and 8:30 PM

Garagefest with Whitemore, The World Without Us, Reign Of Eris and Neo Sol at the Drinkery 8PM 

Beyond Confinement at Dream On The Green 8PM 

Dallas Moore at Bucks Bar & Grill in Venice 

Tommy Stinson

Sunday July 9th 

Tim Koehn at Florence Mill 10AM 

Eva Blue at Mouth Of The South-11AM 

Tommy Stinson-Zipline Brewing in Lincoln-6PM 

Bela Fleck at Holland Performing Arts Center 7:30PM 

Meadowlark Music Festival with Astral Mixtape & Mark Feldman 7PM

Backroads Lullaby at Heron Bay in Springfield 3PM 

DJ Romeo at Cottonwood Cove Marina 

Luigi Inc. at Mr. Toad 9PM 

Lainy Lou & The Bird Dogs at Reverb Lounge 6:30PM 

Dear Neighbor, Wyrmwood and Big World at The Slowdown 8PM 

Kurt Travis at Maloney’s in Council Bluffs 7PM doors 

DJ Shif-D at Celler 44 2PM