If you are reading this on Thursday, June 4, run, don’t walk, as the old saying goes – however you do it, get yourself to North Omaha Music & Arts (NOMA), 2510 N. 24th St., Thursday night for celebrated West Coast blues guitar master Chris Cain. He is considered a master of jazz-inflected blues guitar work. B.B. King himself said of Cain, “Chris Cain? Now that boy can PLAY the guitar.” Doors open at 5 and this is a 6 p.m. show.
Blues Music Magazine says, “Chris Cain is one of the most brilliant and vital figures making music of any kind… He’s near legendary on the blues scene… an extraordinarily talented, consummate musician delivering passionate, heartfelt vocals, potent, superb playing and marvelous songs.” There’s no better blues player working today, according to guitarist and in-demand producer Kid Andersen, who produced Cain’s latest recording, 2024’s “Good Intentions Gone Bad” (Alligator).
Jack Barksdale Friday, June 5 at B. Bar
The moveable musical feast that is The Sunday Roadhouse concert series brings a slice of Texas to Nebraska when Jack Barksdale plays The B. Bar Friday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. When I posted about this show while sharing a preview in last month’s column, none other than fellow Texas guitarist Jim Suhler, a longtime favorite of mine, commented “Jack Barksdale is great!”
At 18 years old, Barksdale is already an accomplished guitarist. A local Fort Worth venue, Tulips. regularly has Barksdale perform. In an April 2026 Fort Worth Report article, venue owner Jason Suder said to the publication, “We are on the sidelines of greatness watching Jack,” Suder observed, “It’s an honor every time he’s on that stage.”
In the same Fort Worth Report article, Barksdale noted influences ranging from Texas songwriters like Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt to blues legend Lead Belly. Barksdale classifies his sound as Americana. If you want to get in on the ground floor and discover a rising young artist, make time for this show. Learn more and hear Barksdale’s music at jackbarksdale.com. For tickets and details see sundayroadhouse.com.
Zoo Bar Thursday
Thursday night, June 4, 6 p.m. in Lincoln, catch Nashville’s David Graham & The Eskimo Brothers for the early show at The Zoo Bar. Melodicmag.com raves, “David Graham is the modern-day King of the Honky Tonks. His high energy performances have become a crowd favorite in Nashville’s neon lit Lower Broadway district as long-time leader of hillbilly trio, The Eskimo Brothers,” adding that the band is known for “embracing a wide variety of American Roots music and delivering it with a rowdy edge.”
And popular Omaha band Sailing in Soup has The Zoo Bar’s early Friday, 5-7 p.m. slot.
Devon Allman Blues Summit Sunday in Lincoln
To round out the weekend offerings, Devon Allman’s Blues Summit is scheduled for Lincoln’s Bourbon Theatre Sunday, June 7, 7 p.m. It’s a multi-artist show featuring The Devon Allman Project with guitarist Larry McCray, vocalist Jimmy Hall who has performed with Wet Willie and Jeff Beck, and St. Louis soul/R&B and blues vocalist Laka Soul. Advance tickets are available from TicketWeb here with pricing for General Admission standing room and also table seating options.
Hot Notes
I’ll be back Friday, June 5, with a full look at June highlights and a preview of summer festivals including the lineup for Lincoln’s Zoo Bar’s annual ZooFest July 10-11.