The 21st Saloon hosts Louisiana bluesman Larry Garner Thursday, Oct. 25, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Next Wednesday, Oct. 31, Mississippi Heat takes the stage at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, Mississippi Heat plays The 21st Saloon’s 5:30 p.m. show. They are touring in support of their new disc Delta Bound.
Wednesday, Nov. 7, Oklahoma blues-rockers the Dustin Pittsley Band play the Zoo. Thursday, Nov. 8, Pittsley’s at The 21st Saloon. Pittsley puts on an appealing show mixing originals and interesting covers, they are well worth checking out.
Zoo Blues
Country soul musicians Dave Gonzalez, Mike Barfield and the Stone River Boys hit The Zoo Friday, Oct. 26, 9-11 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 27, 3-6 p.m. prior to the Husker game, which will be shown on the big screen. Gonzalez sizzles on guitar and their dynamic blend of honky-tonk and soul is adventurous and fun. Kris Lager Band plugs in post-game. Tex-Mex musician Billy Bacon returns to the Zoo next month for shows Nov. 8-10.
Toy Drive
Lash LaRue is saddling up for another holiday season of Toy Drive benefits for the Lakota children and families of the Pine Ridge Reservation. LaRue and friends have been working on a new Toy Drive benefit CD. The discs are always hugely popular with music fans, featuring seasonal music written expressly for the event by a variety of local artists. The Waiting Room stages a benefit show Dec. 1 and the Blues Society of Omaha presents a show with headliner Chubby Carrier Dec. 2 at The 21st Saloon.
Big Shows
Bob Dylan plays the CenturyLink Saturday, Nov. 3.
Tickets are on sale now for the always-wonderful Branford Marsalis in concert at the Holland Performing Arts Center Friday, Nov. 9.
Serious music fans were not too surprised that Red Sky Music Festival announced there will not be another event in 2013. The Festival seemed beleaguered by scheduling inconsistencies from the beginning, with even less interesting bookings this year. It also managed to be hit by some of the hottest days of the summer both years.
Hot Notes
Omaha Rockabilly Night is back at Gator O’Malley’s Sunday, Oct. 28, with Los Lobos Locos, Rumble Seat Riot and the Hot Tail Honeys.
Hullabaloo’s Brandon Miller presents Andy Frasco & The UN at The Hive Tuesday, Oct. 30, 11 p.m., $5. Miller describes Frasco as “upbeat party blues at its finest.” The show follows the weekly free blues jam at The Hive, which happens every Tuesday 7:30-11 p.m.