Toy Drive for Pine Ridge takes the spotlight with a concert featuring Mato Nanji and Indigenous at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Sokol Hall. This 11th Annual Toy Drive for Pine Ridge event is a multi-band benefit coordinated by the Blues Society of Omaha. Doors open at 2 p.m. and music begins at 2:30 p.m. with Little Joe & Big Trouble. Toy Drive organizer Larry “Lash LaRue” Dunn and his new band LL Dunn & The Hired Guns perform at 4 p.m. Christy Rossiter & 112 North Duck plays at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are also appreciated.
I’ll be joining Dunn on Rick Galusha’s PS Blues radio show on KIWR, 89.7 The River, Sunday, Dec. 8, 9 a.m.-noon. Musical guests will perform in the studio and we will play cuts of original music produced in years past for Toy Drive fund-raising CDs.
The Toy Drive for Pine Ridge, founded by Larry “Lash LaRue” Dunn is a 501c3 non-profit and all funds raised by the Toy Drive go to help the families on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Toy Drive toy delivery provides hope and cheer to the children who might otherwise receive nothing. The Toy Drive also contributes to the emergency-heating fund for the elders and toward resources for food, clothing and education for youth and families. The Pine Ridge area is one of the poorest zip codes in the country. For details on conditions on the reservation, to find toy donation drop-off sites or to make an online donation, visit toydriveforpineridge.com.
Davina Jumps In
The always fresh and swingin’ Davina & The Vagabonds hits The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. This New Orleans style piano-driven, jazz, jump and old-school R&B band has made multiple European tours as well as appearances at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Monterey Herald called Davina “easily among the breakout stars at this year’s festival.”
Hot Notes
40SINNERS plays Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Thursday, Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. and is among the acts launching the OEAA Music Nominations showcase on Friday, Dec. 6. Catch 40SINNERS with some surprises on tap at PS Collective Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
The OEAA Music and Visual Awards Nominations Showcase offers more than 50 music nominees plus some nominated comedy artists. See oea-awards.com for the schedules for Waiting Room, PS Collective, Barley Street Tavern, Burke’s Pub and The 402. A $10 wristband gets you into all Showcase venues.