The Blues Foundation’s annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) awarded first place in the band competition to Lincoln’s Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal.
Hoyer and his band were selected by the Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) to be their band representative in Memphis through a competition in October following IBC guidelines. The IBC winners are selected with a specific judging criteria by a panel of blues industry professionals. The Memphis competition showcases hundreds of artists from around the country and the world, while narrowing down the talent pool to the finalists who performed at the Memphis Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 11. Check out a fan video recording of their winning finals round performance here.
“After our experience at the IBC, the band and I are definitely thankful for the validation we received from the deep well of experienced industry professionals that were gathered in Memphis,” Hoyer shared via email. “We have worked hard for 12 plus years to hone our craft and create music that deeply and respectfully borrows from the great blues and soul artists of the past, while still trying to approach the music in a current, unique and honest way. Knowing that the songs and performances were clearly heard and felt is a huge feather in our collective cap.
“We look forward to continuing to deliver our unique brand of soul blues going forward, and are excited at the new opportunities this recognition has afforded us. This is also a testimony to the Lincoln and Nebraska blues and roots scene at large. Without that expansive community of players and music lovers, this band would simply not exist. We should all be proud of how Nebraska has such a wonderful group of people spanning over the decades that continues to support and grow this music.”
It’s the second time that a local artist has taken top honors in the IBC. In 2020, Omaha’s Héctor Anchondo took home the first-place honors in the solo/duo category. Previously, in 2016, the Héctor Anchondo Band went all the way to the finals, performing as one of eight finalists in that year’s band competition. Guitarist/vocalist Steve Lovett was the BSO’s representative in this year’s solo/duo category, but did not advance past the preliminary round of performances.
Zoo Bar Hosts Omaha Invades
Speaking of celebrating local music, Lincoln’s historic Zoo Bar is trying a new series to introduce the capital city audience to Omaha musicians. Omaha Invades takes place Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 6-8, with a three-day pass for $30 or individual admissions of $12 per night. Come out, show your support, help make this inaugural celebration of local talent a success and discover some new local artists.
Multiple genres are represented – to get your started with the schedule, I highly recommend checking out Matt Cox & The Marauders, Big Wade & Black Swan Theory and the Blake Deforest Collective. Here is the night-by-night schedule. Thursday night, Feb. 6, features Matt Cox & The Marauders (6 p.m.), Ebba Rose (7 p.m.), Paper Canaries (8 p.m.), and Secret Formula (9 p.m.).
Friday, Feb. 7, get down with the funky soul of Big Wade & Black Swan Theory (9 p.m.), Las Cruxes (10 p.m.), Funk Trek (11 p.m.) and Doom Lagoon at midnight. The Saturday night lineup kicks off with Ex Lover (9 p.m.), P.A.R.F.A.I.T. (10 p.m.), Virgin Mary Pistol Grip (11 p.m.) and Blake Deforest Collective at midnight. Find details on Omaha Invades and also the upcoming Lincoln Exposed events at zoobar.com.
Lincoln Exposed
The annual Lincoln Exposed music showcase takes place Wednesday, Feb. 12, through Saturday, Feb. 15, at multiple downtown venues. It’s the 20th anniversary of this popular annual event with multiple bands each night at five participating venues: The Zoo Bar, The Bourbon Theatre, Bodega’s Alley, Duffy’s Tavern and the 1867 Bar.
A lot of genres are represented, and the schedule includes established and new bands. This event showcases around 200 local artists. Check the participating venues for their individual schedules or check out the Facebook event page. Advance tickets are $35 for an all-access pass or $12 for single day passes Wednesday and Thursday and $15 each for single day passes Friday and Saturday. Advance tickets are available at the Bourbon Theatre, The Zoo Bar or 1867 Bar or online at ticketweb.com.
Other Zoo Bar Highlights
A few other notable shows on the Zoo Bar’s February calendar include Austin’s honky-tonk heroes The Derailers Friday, Feb. 7, 5-8 p.m. Anchored by one of the founding members, Brian Hofeldt, the band has been making hip roots music anchored in the Bakersfield sound since 1993. Former Lincoln musician Basil McJagger plays keys in the band. Tickets are $18 advance/ $22 day of show. Advance tickets are recommended and are available at the bar or on ticketweb.com.
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6-9 p.m., Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations bring their self-described “electrified American Roots Music” to the club. Fans may remember Arbuckle as half of Moreland and Arbuckle, and he continues to make excellent, soulful roots music with this band that was formed in 2017. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you are missing out!
Monday nights feature a songwriter’s showcase called the Troubadour Sessions. See zoobar.com or facebook.com/zoobarblues for the weekly lineup and all the latest on shows at the historic venue.
Mark your calendar now for the return popular swing ensemble Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys Tuesday, March 11, 6-9 p.m. and get ready for the multi-talented Vanessa Collier, who’s back on The Zoo Bar stage Friday, March 15, 5 p.m.
BSO Shows
The Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) has multiple shows on the horizon including award-winning boogie piano sensation Eden Brent Thursday, Feb. 13, 6-9 p.m. at The B. Bar. Brent is a multiple Blues Music Award winner and nominee. Friday, Feb. 21, 5:30-8:30 p.m., catch Lawrence, Kan., guitarist Howard Mahan in a CD release party show.
On Saturday, March 8, 5 p.m., at Philly Sports Bar and Grill, the BSO invites you to attend its annual general meeting, which is open to the public and a good place to learn more about the non-profit that has been around for over 25 years. Volunteer opportunities are available to help the organization keep the blues alive in the Omaha metro area. Following the meeting, the popular guitar-driven blues-rock sounds of Jeremiah Johnson take the stage for two sets, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Admission charges are discounted for members attending the meeting. See omahablues.com or facebook.com/bluessocietyofomaha for more about the organization, the annual meeting and show plus a curated calendar of local blues and roots shows.
Looking ahead, the fine Texas blues of guitarist Mike Morgan is back to entertain fans Thursday, March 13, 6-9 p.m. at Philly Sports Bar and Grill. And mark your calendar now for Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, who hit The Waiting Room Sunday, March 9, 8 p.m.
OEAA Celebration
The 19th Annual Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards (OEAAs) takes place Feb. 16, 6 p.m., at The Admiral in Omaha. The OEAAs are the brainchild of The Reader’s late founder John Heaston, who will receive a special tribute at this year’s ceremony, according to OEAA board president Doug Meigs. Find this year’s nominees listed at oea-awards.org and see the final details for the evening at the Facebook event page. Find out more about this year’s event in Leo Adam Biga’s recent Reader article here. Advance tickets are available at etix.com for this evening that celebrates Omaha’s music scene, visual arts and performing arts.
Hot Notes
Folk-rockers Michigan Rattlers hit the Slowdown front room on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m. Elias Hix opens the show. They just released their third record, “Waving from a Sea,” to a lot of buzz. The disc was produced by Dominic John Davis who has worked with Jack White, Willie Nelson and Greensky Bluegrass. Find out more about this up and coming Michigan band that draws critic’s comparisons to artists like Turnpike Troubadours and Reckless Kelly at michiganrattlers.com.
A couple of big shows are already on the touring horizon. Blues icon Bonnie Raitt performs Tuesday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. at The Astro. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com. This is a big tour pairing Raitt with an opening act that is another blues legend, Jimmie Vaughan and his fantastic band Tilt-a-Whirl.
Tickets also go on sale on Ticketmaster Friday, Feb. 7, for two top rising blues guitar stars, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Samantha Fish and their Gone Fishin’ Tour, which hits The Astro Theater on Wednesday, May 21. Matthias Lattin opens. Lattin is the 2023 IBC winner and was also awarded best guitarist that year.