Playing With Fire celebrates its 10th Anniversary with shows Friday and Saturday at the Lewis & Clark Landing on Omaha’s riverfront. Friday, July 12, the headliner is Grammy nominee Robert Randolph & The Family Band. Randolph was named one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists” by Rolling Stone. Randolph was also featured in April 2013 as one of the guitarists in Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Opening the Friday show is BluesEd band Us & Them (5 p.m.). About 6:30 p.m. catch Australian Kim Churchill, a guitarist, instrumentalist and songwriter that one reviewer said “represents the definition of live performance.” See kimchurchill.com.
Then the Ben Poole Band from the UK makes their U.S. debut. Poole is a young guitarist on the rise who has established musicians like Jeff Beck raving. Beck proclaimed Poole “amazing.” See benpooleband.com.
Saturday, July 13, the Playing With Fire headliner is Otis Taylor Band with featured guest Mato Nanji. Nanji is the frontman for Indigenous and a popular guitarist with local audiences. The title and direction for Taylor’s new disc, My World is Gone (Telarc), came from Nanji’s words regarding his people, “My world is gone.” Nanji performs on the CD. Taylor is known for his signature “trance blues” and has won two Blues Music Awards with 19 nominations. See otistaylor.com.
Also playing Saturday is Austria’s Meena & The Chris Fillmore Band. They delighted audiences last year at Playing With Fire with gritty, passionate blues. Opening Saturday are BluesEd band Dilemma and the Kris Lager Band. See playingwithfireomaha.net.
Playing With Fire is a free, family-friendly event. Donations will be accepted for the Food Bank of the Heartland Friday and for Parkinson’s Disease organizations Saturday.
Sunday Roadhouse
The Sunday Roadhouse presents Malcolm Holcombe Sunday, July 14, 5 p.m. at the Side Door Lounge. Holcombe is an internationally respected folk/Americana performer and guitarist. Lucinda Williams says “From the first note I was drawn in. Malcolm Holcombe is an old soul and a modern day blues poet.” See sundayroadhouse.com.
Hot Notes
Playing With Fire hosts a showcase at The 21st Saloon Thursday, July 11, 5:30 p.m., $10, with Ben Poole Band and Meena & The Chris Fillmore Band.
Dick Dale rocks the Waiting Room Thursday, July 11, 9 p.m. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals rock Harrah’s Stir Cove Thursday, July 11. 40 Sinners has a solo gig at
at Dave & Buster’s on the patio, 2502 S. 133rd Plaza, Friday, June 12, 8 p.m.