The Bishops Turn 30, Areas First Outdoor Festival, Improv Tonight, Soul Summit In Benson, Area Bands At The Astro and Much More
Saturday and Sunday Live Music Lineup
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Saturday, there’s a who's who of legendary local ska and reggae at The Slowdown as The Bishops celebrate thirty years as a band. I’m trying to remember when I first saw The Bishops, and I think it may have been at Sharkey’s. Or perhaps it was in that same building when it was the Music Box on Cass Street. Either way, we’ve been watching them for a long time, and they deserve a great party tonight—not that they’re slowing down by any means! Joining them tonight are The Wingtips, Rhythm Collective, Linoma Mashers, and DJ Stryker.
Not sure how you plan an indoor-outdoor festival for mid-March, but Duffy’s Tavern has, and it looks like it will work out for them. Lost Weekend is a convergence of bands from around the country who were probably at SXSW in Austin and are heading back home or just touring after that event. On the lineup are Heligoats from Chicago, Horse Bitch from Denver, Leisure Hour from Muncie, The Macks from Portland, Pons from New York, and Shred Flintstone, also from New York. Joining them will be area bands Dream Ghoul, Ex-Lover, and Social Cinema.
Saturday will also feature an evening of improv performances at Project Project. Lillian Kay, Kyle Jessen, Dereck Higgins, Phill Smith, and Steve Urbauer will all perform in different configurations. Dereck Higgins doesn’t play out all that much, though he has been putting out a lot of original music. That makes this event one you should really consider attending.
It’s the Spring Soul Revival on Saturday at Waiting Room Lounge. This event will feature Big Wade & Black Swan Theory and Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal. Big Wade & Black Swan Theory just won Best Soul at the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards, while Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal took that award home last year, along with Album of the Year. Hoyer and company also took first place earlier this year at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Sounds more like an area soul summit to me!
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Hector Anchondo and his band will be headlining a FREE evening of music at The Astro on Saturday. You will be able to enjoy and chat with makers of your favorite craft brews and enjoy the music of Speck Nelson and the Ralstones, The Broadways, and Hector Anchondo Band. They made 500 reserved tickets available awhile ago but those sold out immediately. There will be GA tickets available, though, on the day of the event.
Other events happening include David Graham and the Eskimo Brothers at Bucks Bar and Grill on Saturday, as they got their power back last night. Them Uke Boys will be at Harney Street Tavern on Saturday, and Benson Soul Society will take you late into the night at The Sydney that same evening. On Sunday, the Tetsuya Nishiyama Organ Trio will perform at Red Lion Lounge for their weekly Sunday jazz night. Zac Kellum is the Sunday matinee at Bucks Bar and Grill, and a kid-friendly version of Holst’s The Planets, featuring a lot of visuals, will take place at The Holland Center on Sunday.
Here is the full schedule for the weekend
Saturday March 22nd
The Bishops, Rhythm Collective, The Wingtips, Linoma Mashers, DJ Stryker at Slowdown 8PM (Omaha)
Dream Ghoul, Ex Lover, Heligoats, Horse Bitch, Leisure Hour, The Macks, Odd Pets, Pons, Shred Flintstone, Social Cinema at Duffy’s Tavern 4PM (Lincoln)
Kyle Jessen, Lillian Kay in duo, Dereck Higgins, Phill Smith, Steve Urbauer in trio and then all of them in quintet at Project Project 8PM (Omaha)
David Graham and the Eskimo Brothers at Bucks Bar and Grill 9PM (Venice)
Them Uke Boys at Harney Street Tavern 9PM (Omaha)
Infinite Cathedral, Vining, Turquoise and Fontenelle at Reverb Lounge 8PM (Omaha)
Big Wade and Black Swan Theory and Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal at Waiting Room 8PM (Omaha)
Benson Soul Society at The Sydney 10PM (Omaha)
Citizen Steely Dan at The Jewell on Capitol 7:30PM (Omaha)
Hector Anchondo Band, The Broadways and Speck Nelson and the Ralstones at The Astro 6PM (La Vista)
Bad Bunny Night at Royal Grove 9PM (Lincoln)
The Planets with Omaha Symphony at Holland Center 7:30PM (Omaha)
Dirty Boots Band at Bosona Events 7PM (Lincoln)
Augustana Choir at First Plymouth Congregational Church 7PM (Lincoln)
Jericho Strays and Red Cities at The Zoo Bar 5PM (Lincoln)
Ed Archibald and the USB Band at Beach House Bar and Grill 8PM (Omaha)
Sqwerv at B. Bar 7PM (Omaha)
Cameron and Mike from Flannigans Right Hook at Dubliner Pub 9PM (Omaha)
Pert Near Sandstone with Midnight Wanderers at The Zoo Bar 9PM (Lincoln)
Marcelles Walker at Red Lion Lounge 5PM (Omaha)
Seminary Chorus Concert at St. Mark Lutheran Church 7PM (Lincoln)
Cary and Davis at Rathskeller Bier Haus 6PM (Omaha)
Jonathan Leach at Bar 48 at 8PM (Lincoln)
Church Beers Band at Tanks Country 9PM (Lincoln)
Smokin’ Otis at Roca Tavern 8PM (Roca)
Poundtown at Philly Bar and Grill 8PM (La Vista)
One More Time at Cappy’s Hot Spot 8:30PM (Lincoln)
Bucky McCann Trio at Gorats 6PM (Omaha)
Jason Mayer Band at Whiskey Roadhouse 9PM (Council Bluffs)
Dan Medeiros at Guy Fieri’s Kitchen and Bar 8PM (Council Bluffs)
Mark Irvin at Vino Mas 7PM (Omaha)
PVP Dueling Pianos at Island Bar and Grill 8:30PM (La Vista)
Chad Lee at Copacabana 9PM (Omaha)
Nick Hermsen at Twisted Vine 7PM (Papillion)
The Trayner Band at Bushwackers 8PM (Ralston)
Sunday March 23rd
Zac Kellum at Bucks Bar and Grill 2PM (Venice)
(Family Friendly Performance with NASA visuals) The Planets with Omaha Symphony at Holland Center 2PM (Omaha)
Tetsuya Nishiyama Organ Trio at Red Lion Lounge 7PM (Omaha)
Honeytown & Mason Michaels at Pla More Ballroom 7PM (Lincoln)
Acoustic Sunday at Bottles and Barrels 2PM (Omaha)
DJ A-Rhab at Bar 415 (Omaha)
Luigi Inc. at Mister Toads 9PM (Omaha)