While I’ve got your attention, note that a couple of Hoodoo favorites play The Sydney Thursday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. showtime. Catch solo sets from Jeremy Mercy with Justin Bloss from Tulsa and Matt Cox on the night this column posts. Mercy and his band, The Rapture Orphans, just dropped the second track from “Dark Country,” titled “God of Fear,” which was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ian Aeillo, spotlighting Mercy’s evocative vocals and featuring Colin Duckworth on guitar. Check it out on their Bandcamp page here and find all their releases on streaming platforms. Matt Cox has also been previewing new material he’s been working on at his shows. Justin Bloss is an alternative/folk/Americana singer songwriter based out of Tulsa, Okla., whose release “Claymore,” has been getting noticed by fellow artists. He frequently performs and opens for artists like John Moreland, John Fullbright and others.
Nebraska Blues Challenge Winners
The Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) held its annual Nebraska Blues Challenge on Oct. 25 at The B. Bar. The winners have the opportunity to perform at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis Jan. 19-23, 2027. Taking home the honors were the Jeni Grouws Band and Kearney’s Paul Hanich (Solo/Duo category). The winners were selected by a panel of judges who used the same point-scoring criteria that the judges at the Blues Foundation’s annual International Blues Challenge use. Find out more in the BSO’s Facebook summary found here.
The BSO’s wrap up noted that “Jeni Grouws said at the conclusion, she didn’t feel it was a competition, but a chance to get to know the other artists and develop a real comradery with them.”
Grouws said about her band in her own Facebook post “this group of talented musicians is on fire and we’re ready to tear it up at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.”
Grouws’ career is on a roll with her September release of a new record “Music House,” recorded in Nashville, which hit the Living Blues magazine charts at #22 and hit #1 on the Collectif des Radios Blues chart compiled by blues DJs in France, Belgium and Quebec. Digital publication Blues Blast Magazine profiled Grouws in a cover story for their Oct. 15 publication. And Grouws just announced that “Music House” is in the top ten for the second month in a row on The Big Blues Chart, hitting #9 for October. Grows also performed in September at Las Vegas event the Big Blues Bender, a blues-star-studded indoor blues festival. Grouws’ bio on the Bender’s website highlighted her “powerful vocals, evocative songwriting, and a refreshing generosity on stage help Jeni Grouws shine as a compelling new voice in American roots music.” Watch for Grouws to perform some local gigs to help raise funds for the Memphis trip. Follow her at facebook.com/jenigrouwsmusic.
The Jimmys Return
The next official BSO show is popular horn-driven band The Jimmys Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m. at the Candlelight Bar and Grill, 5031 Grover St. It’s a new venue for BSO shows but the organization promises plenty of parking and the venue also has food service. Award-winning band The Jimmys are local audience favorites. After their Omaha gig, they hit Lincoln’s Zoo Bar for two shows, playing Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, at 5 p.m. each night. The band, based in the Madison, Wisconsin, area, has been honored with a ton of local music awards including being awarded the 2025 and 2026 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Musicians Industry) awards for Best Blues Band, along with recognition for bandleader Jimmy Voegeli for Organist of the Year in 2024, 2025 and 2026. See thejimmys.net Established bluesman Tinsley Ellis says, “The Jimmys are one hard act to follow at a blues festival…they’ve got it all: songs, musicianship and showmanship. Great guys. Great Sounds!”
And mark your calendar now for the BSO presents show with blues great John Primer, Thursday, Dec. 3, at NOMA – North Omaha Music & Arts.
Other BSO Presents Shows
The BSO also presents the Weary Ramblers Friday, Nov. 13, 5:30-8 p.m. The Des Moines-based Americana duo features singer-songwriter Chad Elliott and fiddler Kathryn Fox. The Weary Ramblers were awarded first place in the Solo/Duo category at the 2026 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. Elliott also won the award for Best Guitarist in the Solo/Duo division. Among other recognitions, they received honors in the 2026 European International Music Awards Gold Medal Winners for Best Americana Album, Best Americana Duo, Best Americana Single & Best Americana Single Lyrics. The band hits Omaha fresh from their appearances on the fall 2026 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.
Find out more and hear music at wearyramblers.com.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. at The B. Bar, the BSO hosts a volunteer appreciation party. Volunteers who have donated their time during the year will be admitted free, but the general public can attend with a $10 cover charge. Performing is Kris Lager and an all-star band featuring Myles Jasnowski (guitar), Craig Balderston (bass), Matt Arbeiter (drums), Jeremiah Weir (keyboards) and Jimmy Cuadros (trumpet).
The War & Treaty at Barnato
Powerful soul duo The War & Treaty gig at Barnato Saturday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m. While the vocal duo has been making waves on the national country scene, their sound is still rooted in the classic soul-gospel music that they started out performing. They took home the Americana Awards honor for Duo of the Year in 2022 and 2024 and are Grammy nominees. Check out their official music video for “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore” here on YouTube.
Get advance tickets at ticketweb.com
Organ Fairchild Gigs
Based in Buffalo, New York, the instrumental trio Organ Fairchild is back in the area after wowing local audiences earlier this year. The band’s bio describes their sound as “synthesizing influences ranging from The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers to Steely Dan, Soulive and Medeski Martin & Wood.” Live for Live Music said they are a “fast-rising band…[whose] decades of musical telepathy shine through.” FunkCity wrote, “Get ready to be bowled over by this terrific trio – old school funk with new era notions of jam.”
Their most recent studio album, “BOOM!” officially debuted at #1 on the Relix/Jambands.com National Radio Charts. Find out more and check out live YouTube videos at organfairchild.com. The band hits Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Friday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m. and plays a special show Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 p.m. at Benson venue Shakedown Street. The Omaha show has some special VIP ticket options – check out the advance ticket page at eventbrite.com.
B. Bar Shows of Note
The B. Bar offers live music throughout the week, find their updated schedule here at thebbaromaha.com. Other November shows include keyboard man Kevin Lloyd’s Baddest Band in the Land Friday, Nov. 6, 5:30 p.m. and Omaha’s own Terry Parker Band Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 p.m.
Denver’s Taylor Scott Band plugs in Wednesday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m. Scott collaborated with producer (and Los Lobos member) Steve Berlin for early 2020s releases “All We Have” and “The Hang.” In 2024 Scott and his band self-produced an EP called “Sorry, Kids.” Elmore Magazine wrote, “With their combination of soul, funk, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll, Taylor Scott’s music is gaining a reputation for transcending the limitations of a single genre.”
Friday, Nov. 20, 5:30 p.m., popular local all-star band Sailing in Soup takes the stage.
Friday, Nov. 27, 5:30 p.m., Lincoln’s super-group of blues musicians, Church of Blues, takes attendees to musical church with their incendiary interpretations of classic blues tunes. Church of Blues is Levi William, Josh Hoyer, Joe Gourlay and Dave Boye, four of Lincoln’s finest blues players.
Zoo Bar Blues
Speaking of Lincoln, the historic Zoo Bar is delivering on great shows all month. Here are some highlights. Find the updated schedule at zoobar.com and facebook.com/zoobarblues.
The Shawn Holt Band is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6-9 p.m. For those who don’t know, Shawn is the son of the late, great Magic Slim and he is keeping the blues alive with his own guitar-driven performances.
Popular Lincoln band Vibe Check gets the grooves going about 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, after the early Organ Fairchild show.
Longtime Lincoln keyboard player Jeremiah Weir has been talking up the Zoo Bar debut of the Afro-fusion band Pachanga & Purp coming Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 p.m. Weir says band founders “Keeran Woode and Malcomb Opoku are raised in Nebraska but both their fathers were Ghanian musicians who formed the Nebraska band Ashanti. This band is a tribute to their dads.”
Pachanga & Purp describe their sound as a “10-piece rhythmic collaboration that blends Afro-inspired grooves with jazzy harmonies and horns.” The band members are all based in Lincoln. After their set, the grooves continue with DJ Relic spinning African vinyl.
The always crowd-engaging Kris Lager Band brings Lager’s spirited, celebration of life sound to The Zoo Bar stage Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20, 5 p.m., the electrifying traditional blues of Church of Blues takes center stage.
Josh Hoyer’s Colossal 4 is set to get their original funk and soul sounds filling the club and the dance floor Saturday, Nov. 28, 5 p.m.
Mouth of the South Music
Locally owned Cajun restaurant Mouth of the South continues to offer great blues acts with Sunday Brunch and Thursday night shows. Table reservations are recommended though walk-ins are welcome. Find the details on the calendar and to reserve a table at motsomaha.com.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 8-11 p.m. catch Des Moines, Iowa’s, popular Matt Woods Band.
Sunday, Nov. 8, 11a.m. to 2 p.m., Emily DeGraff is onstage bringing the powerhouse piano playing she delivers weekly at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar’s Blues Piano Happy Hour to the stage. DeGraff is also the leader of Emily D & The Near Miracle. You might have seen her performing locally as Emily Bass, now working as Emily DeGraff, she’s a soulful tremendous performer.
Sunday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nick Townsend performs. Nick is a Tekamah, Nebr., native who has competed in NBC’s “The Voice” and ABC’s “American Idol” where he placed in their top 40.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tom Peaver is scheduled. Peaver is currently based out of Tulsa, Okla. He has an old-school finger-picking style and one reviewer writes that Peaver has influences ranging from Frank Stokes to Rev. Gary Davis and “a respect in approach that is true to the form of acoustic blues, yet, with his inventive arrangements, are infused with his personality. Keep an eye and ear out for Tom.” Take a listen and find out more at tompevearmusic.com.
Sunday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Omaha’s own award-winning blues man Héctor Anchondo is on the schedule. Anchondo’s band was a finalist in the International Blues Challenge (IBC) band competition in 2016 and he was the 2020 IBC Solo/Duo winner as and the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award recipient for best guitarist in the solo/duo category. A multiple OEAA best blues winner, he’s also the original visionary behind the In the Market for Blues annual festival in the Old Market.
Final Bow for FolkHouse Concert Series
Jerome Brich’s and Mary Montag’s FolkHouse concert series is drawing to a permanent close with two shows left in November. The efforts of FolkHouse have brought listening-room caliber artists to the metro for decades, making a huge contribution to the local live music scene. The shows are held in the Joslyn Castle’s historic Carriage House. Thursday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. Pennsylvania-based House of Hamill performs. The band’s original song “Banks of the Brandywine” was a Grand Prize winner in the 2024 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
The final show on Friday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., presents Moors & McCumber, two multi-instrumentalist artists who bring vocal harmonies and “unconventional instrumentation” to their shows. Moors & McCumber’s history with FolkHouse go back to the original living room shows. They’re a fitting closer to the long-running series.
Get details and tickets at joslyncastle.com
Hot Notes
Squirrel Flower, the project of Chicago artist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ella Williams is at Reverb Tuesday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m. Her sixth studio album and new record is “Say A Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going” (PolyvinylRecords). Pitchfork calls her sound “tender, twangy indie rock” and says the record is “another stop on her rock ’n’ roll road trip” while noting that on the new work “Williams proves herself one of indie rock’s greatest travel writers, an expert at forging a new path from a dead end.” Paste says the album “has all the hallmarks of a storied, vivid travelogue,” adding that “no one is touching her songwriting right now, and the hyperbole is warranted.” I like what I hear on the official music video track, “Cleveland,” featuring jangly, electrified Americana guitar work and a somewhat haunted pop vocal style. Check out her music on her YouTube channel here.
The Holland Performing Arts Center looks to be continuing to use the flexible space now also being booked as The Matchbox, a standing room venue, for the seated Holland Music Club shows. Omaha powerhouse soul vocalist Kathy Tyree is set to perform in the Holland Music Club Friday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. Get advance tickets at ticketomaha.com.
Saturday, Nov. 14, Grrrl Camp “In the Streets” at The Admiral, 2234 S. 13 St., offers a free vendor Market from noon to 4 p.m. featuring fifty vendors plus live music from Vempire, Lula and Glitter Bush. In the evening, a benefit concert starts at 7 p.m. for Nebraska Abortion Resources featuring performances by Stepmom, Estrogen Projection, Bad Self Portraits, Hair Person and DJ Angie Spence. Find out more here at the link.
Omaha’s big blues band, Blue House & The Rent to Own Horns, continues their Thanksgiving Eve show tradition with a performance at the Candlelight Bar & Grill, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Héctor Anchondo’s popular brothers-in-guitars Latin and Reggae influenced rock band Anchondo has their annual show at Slowdown, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m.
Other November shows of note include Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox at the Astro Theater Saturday, Nov. 14, 8 p.m. And the wonderful Pokey LaFarge brings his vintage-inspired sound to the Waiting Room Friday, Dec. 4, 8 p.m. If you haven’t seen LaFarge live, you are missing out.
Remember there is also a lot of cool jazz going on in the local scene with venues like The Red Lion in the Blackstone district presenting jazz Tuesday through Saturday with early 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. start times. Follow their Facebook page here to get the latest music listings. Most shows are free to attend.
Meanwhile at NOMA (North Omaha Music & Arts) at 2510 N. 24th St., there are also weekly jazz jam sessions on Mondays and other concert offerings. Check out their Facebook page for details and events at facebook.com/northomahamusic.
The Jewell on Capitol also offers music in a variety of styles throughout the month in a great listening room with a plush vibe. Some shows are free to attend. Find all the details at jewellomaha.com.
Mail Bag: Genre-Jumping Pop from the U.K.
For some reason I’m getting a lot more email requests from music publicists these days. This is a show that I normally wouldn’t have on my radar, but when someone takes the time to reach out, I try to check out the artist in question. So while not the blues or Americana, the eclectic music of the U.K.’s Patrick Wolf takes center stage at Reverb Sunday, Nov. 8, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Kansas City, Missouri, soul artist Calvin Arsenia opens the show. Wolf has a powerful, soaring voice which put me in mind of David Bowie in tone and style, as does his theatrical approach to performance. The Guardian calls him a “goth-folk pioneer.” Lady Gaga says “Fantastic, Amazing, I listen to him, I meditate.”
Publicity for the show promises that Wolf’s theatrical solo shows offer “an astounding collision of genres and musical storytelling features live electronics driving the rhythm alongside his multi-instrumentation, playing Appalachian mountain dulcimer, five-string viola, piano, lyre, folk and electronic guitar and of course all just the backing to his inimitable multi-octave voice and deep narrative baritone.”
He also has the distinction of being featured in “Wolf,” a 2026 documentary narrated and produced by Tilda Swinton currently on the festival circuit.
Midtown Magazine said, “Wolf is not an easy artist to file away. And that’s part of the fun. One moment the show leans into old-world folk ritual; the next, it drifts into electronic pulse, chamber-pop drama, or something closer to gothic cabaret. He moves between instruments and moods with the confidence of someone who has spent years building his own strange little kingdom…Wolf’s voice is the anchor. It has that deep, theatrical shape-shifting quality that can feel wounded one second and commanding the next.”
Find his music here and hear for yourself.