Nebraska's Best Kept Secret: Omaha's Jazz and Blues Festival
Traveling through Nebraska can often leave visitors and locals alike with a unique sense of discovery, particularly when it comes to exploring the Cornhusker State's vibrant cultural scene. One such hidden gem waiting to be unearthed is the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival. This celebration of music, taking place in Omaha, the state's largest city, typically happens towards the end of July. It's an intimate yet thunderous showcase of artistic prowess, set amidst the picturesque backdrop of the city's historic Turner Park.
Every year, music enthusiasts flock to this tranquil oasis, tucked away in the Midtown Crossings area of Midtown Omaha, just steps from the elegant Mutual of Omaha Tower. This occasion provides a thrilling opportunity to revel in the richly textured soundscape of the finest in American jazz and blues. Festival-goers are spoiled for choice, as the event boasts an impressive lineup that span the gamut from local Nebraska-based acts to national heavy-hitters.
Headlining the 2020 edition of the festival was Omaha native and guitar legend Boyd Lee, who tore through his set with consummate ease and electrifying stage presence. Opening acts included Grammy-nominated local boy Josh Hoyer, backed by his genre-bending outfit the Shadowboxers, whose irresistible blend of funk, rock, and R&B melodies had the crowd enthralled from the very start. Additional notable appearances came courtesy of renowned multi-instrumentalist and Grammy winner saxophonist Nelson Riddle III, whose showstopping soloing served as an inspired highlight.
Musical programming aside, attendees to the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival can expect an exciting array of support events and attractions. Those with an appetite for local art can take advantage of the festival's accompanying art fair, showcasing works from Nebraska-based visual artists and craftspeople, often featuring wares available for purchase or commission. Foodies, meanwhile, are in for a treat as vendors serving a diverse assortment of traditional American cuisine, from smoked barbeque to artisanal coffee, vie for attention in the festival's culinary marketplace.
One among several activities geared towards fostering greater interaction with the music world is an immersive Blues, Inc. educational workshop, offering both novice and experienced musicians the opportunity for hands-on training under the expert guidance of highly skilled instructors. Not only do attendees get the rare opportunity to shape their instrumental prowess and broaden their musical range, but the prospect of rubbing shoulders with the esteemed artists themselves fosters lasting connections.
Key to the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival's immense longevity and influence, beyond mere cultural and geographic considerations, lies its deep commitment to the cultivation of rising star talent. This refreshing emphasis on the nurturing of emerging local voices weaves itself skillfully throughout every thread of the festival's fabric. Whether discussing participating artists, local vendor demonstrations, or highly immersive training sessions offered to would-be artists, each particular element drives an unshakable emphasis on cultivating vibrant cultural legacy in tomorrow's practitioners.
Through such diverse methods and influences, Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival is an all-around experience one would not want to miss, replete with breathtaking jazz and blues performances, colorful food sights and craft scene, and a deep soulful connection binding all together. Nebraska travelers and residents need look no further than Omaha's summer musical showcase of the richly diverse treasures of contemporary blues.
All told, the 20-odd-year-long iteration of the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival – and its captivating charm shared by music enthusiasts the world over – only reiterates why this lively, musically inclined gem deserves pride of place near the top of every Nebraska traveling sojourner's desired destination watch-list.
Every year, music enthusiasts flock to this tranquil oasis, tucked away in the Midtown Crossings area of Midtown Omaha, just steps from the elegant Mutual of Omaha Tower. This occasion provides a thrilling opportunity to revel in the richly textured soundscape of the finest in American jazz and blues. Festival-goers are spoiled for choice, as the event boasts an impressive lineup that span the gamut from local Nebraska-based acts to national heavy-hitters.
Headlining the 2020 edition of the festival was Omaha native and guitar legend Boyd Lee, who tore through his set with consummate ease and electrifying stage presence. Opening acts included Grammy-nominated local boy Josh Hoyer, backed by his genre-bending outfit the Shadowboxers, whose irresistible blend of funk, rock, and R&B melodies had the crowd enthralled from the very start. Additional notable appearances came courtesy of renowned multi-instrumentalist and Grammy winner saxophonist Nelson Riddle III, whose showstopping soloing served as an inspired highlight.
Musical programming aside, attendees to the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival can expect an exciting array of support events and attractions. Those with an appetite for local art can take advantage of the festival's accompanying art fair, showcasing works from Nebraska-based visual artists and craftspeople, often featuring wares available for purchase or commission. Foodies, meanwhile, are in for a treat as vendors serving a diverse assortment of traditional American cuisine, from smoked barbeque to artisanal coffee, vie for attention in the festival's culinary marketplace.
One among several activities geared towards fostering greater interaction with the music world is an immersive Blues, Inc. educational workshop, offering both novice and experienced musicians the opportunity for hands-on training under the expert guidance of highly skilled instructors. Not only do attendees get the rare opportunity to shape their instrumental prowess and broaden their musical range, but the prospect of rubbing shoulders with the esteemed artists themselves fosters lasting connections.
Key to the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival's immense longevity and influence, beyond mere cultural and geographic considerations, lies its deep commitment to the cultivation of rising star talent. This refreshing emphasis on the nurturing of emerging local voices weaves itself skillfully throughout every thread of the festival's fabric. Whether discussing participating artists, local vendor demonstrations, or highly immersive training sessions offered to would-be artists, each particular element drives an unshakable emphasis on cultivating vibrant cultural legacy in tomorrow's practitioners.
Through such diverse methods and influences, Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival is an all-around experience one would not want to miss, replete with breathtaking jazz and blues performances, colorful food sights and craft scene, and a deep soulful connection binding all together. Nebraska travelers and residents need look no further than Omaha's summer musical showcase of the richly diverse treasures of contemporary blues.
All told, the 20-odd-year-long iteration of the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival – and its captivating charm shared by music enthusiasts the world over – only reiterates why this lively, musically inclined gem deserves pride of place near the top of every Nebraska traveling sojourner's desired destination watch-list.
