Food, Food, Food ...and Music!

4 stages, numerous restaurants take part in Taste of Omaha

Free non-stop concerts  and plenty of food for purchase is the theme this weekend at the annual Taste of Omaha, which is being held Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 2, 3 and 4) at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena.

The annual foodie event will feature four stages for free concerts all weekend long along with selections from more than 50 of Omaha's favorite restaurants.

Included among the several bands set to perform this weekend are Blue House with some R&B; Jordan Harvey with country; Happy Endings with classic pop and rock; and Rhythm Collective with an island mix of reggae and calypso.

On Saturday, Slim Jim Phantom (pictured above) – the drummer for the Stray Cats – will perform. 

In addition to live music, there will be a World Dance Stage, with fire-spinning dance performers, belly dancers, flamenco dancers and lots more.

And there's plenty of fun for the kiddos, too, with the Family Village Rides & Fun. 

What: Taste of Omaha

When: 5-11 p.m. Friday, June 2; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 3; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 4

Where: Liberty First Credit Union Arena, 73rd and Q streets

Web: showofficeonline.com

Country Spring Fling

The Admiral hosts hootenanny on Saturday

Country singer-songwriter Joe Nichols (above) is set to headline the Spring Country Fling on Saturday (June 3) at the Admiral. Known for No. 1 country hits like "Brokenheartsville," "Sunny and 75" and "Yeah," Nichols has gained a loyal following since bursting on the scene in 1996.

Joining Nichols in this country shindig will be Eric Burgett, the Wildwoods and Kali Indiana.

Get primed for the show by watching the new video to Nichols' song "Good Day for Living." Just click on the red play button above to see it.

What: Spring Country Fling featuring Joe Nichols, with Eric Burgett, the Wildwoods and Kali Indiana

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3

Where: The Admiral, 13th and Martha streets

Tickets: Start at $20

Web: etix.com

Music and Wine to Flow

Annual Blues and Balloon fest at Soaring Wings this weekend

The annual Wine, Beer, Blues and Balloons Festival at Soaring Wings scored a big one this year with headliner Vanessa Collier. The blues powerhouse is the 2019 and 2020 BMA Winner for "Horn player of the year" and the 2022 BMA Winner for "Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year," and nominee for the 2023 "Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year."

While she is a force on saxophone, Collier has some serious blues chops, which you can hear on the video to "I Can't Stand the Rain." (Click on the play button above to see it.)

Also performing on Saturday (June 3) will be Lauren Anderson and Mathias Lattin – with a jam session at 9:30 p.m.

And, weather permitting, there will be a hot air balloon launch.

What: Wine, Beer, Blues & Balloons Festival

When: Gates open at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 3

Where: Soaring Wings Vineyard, 17111 S. 38th St., Springfield, Neb.

Admission: Starts at $25

Web: soaringwingswine.com

'90s Country Lives On

Brooks & Dunn bring 'Reboot' tour to CHI Center

It's the 1990s all over again for Brooks & Dunn, a duo featuring Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks. The Country Music Hall of Famers are seeing a resurgence of popularity via sold-out concerts at arenas across the U.S.

A whole new generation of Brooks & Dunn fans are coming out to hear the duo's '90s honky-tonk-meets-modern-county hits, like "Boot Scootin' Boogie," "Brand New Man," "New Moon" and "My Maria."

And on Thursday (June 1), Brooks & Dunn are set to sing those songs at the CHI Health Center Omaha. Opening the night will be Megan Maroney and Scotty McCreery.

Get primed for the show with a flashback – click on the play button above to see the original video to "Boot Scootin' Boogie."

What: Brooks & Dunn, with Scotty McCreery and Megan Maroney

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 1

Where: CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St.

Tickets: Start at $25.75

Web: ticketmaster.com

Blasts From the Past

Local bands gather to perform at B Bar

Through the '80s, '90s, 2000s and 2010s you saw names like the Mighty Jailbreakers, Little Joe & Big Trouble and Ninja Phunk all over the local music scene. And on Sunday (June 4) you can see those bands – plus Shades and Danger and E.T.C. – at the B Bar in midtown. Who else? The show's flyer says "plus surprise guest artists" ...

What: Shades of Danger, E.T.C., The Mighty Jailbreakers, Little Joe & Big Trouble and Ninja Phunk

When: 4 p.m. Sunday, June 4

Where: B Bar, 4330 Leavenworth St.

Admission: Donations requested

Where The Band Goes

Matchbox Twenty brings new album, new tour to Omaha's CHI Health Center 

Armed with their first new album in over a decade – titled "Where the Light Goes" – the members of Matchbox Twenty are feeling energized and ready to rock audiences on their  "Slow Dream" tour, which makes a stop in Omaha on Thursday (June 8).

Set to play the CHI Health Center arena, the Florida-rooted band will bring about 30 years worth of hits, including "Push," "3AM," "Bent," "If You're Gone" and "How Far We've Come."

The new single, "Don't Get Me Wrong," from the album is vintage Matchbox Twenty – alt pop-rock with solid hooks and rock-steady guitar work. Check out the new video to the song by clicking on the play button at right. 

And what about lead singer Rob Thomas' solo hits? Like "Lonely No More," and "Smooth," the Grammy-winning No. 1 song from 1999 that Thomas recorded with Santana. He's gotta sing those, right? Has to.

Either way, this is a highly anticipated show. BTW, there are still tickets available, so get on it.

What: Matchbox Twenty, with Matt Nathanson

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8

Where: CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St.

Tickets: Start at $36.50

Web: ticketmaster.com

New shows, one I missed ...

Just announced: Black Veil Brides & VV tour will make a stop on Oct. 6 for a show at Steelhouse Omaha. Tickets for the neo-glam metal band go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday (June 2) at ticketmaster.com. 

Meanwhile, tickets for Cody Johnson and Friends go on sale at 10 a.m. on June 21 at ticketmaster.com. The country singer-songwriter will be in Lincoln on Nov. 17 to perform at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.

And finally, a show I missed: Barenaked Ladies, Collective Soul, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Samples will be in Omaha on Sept. 8 for the 5th annual Shadow Ridge Music Festival. Tickets are on sale now at etix.com.

What else is going on this week?

From Late Nights at the Zoo and Taste of Omaha at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena, to "Night Light" at the Kiewit Luminarium and the Wine, Beer, Blues & Balloons Festival at Soaring Wings, this weekend is filled to the rim with fun.

Plus, Death Cab for Cutie is at the Admiral; the Omaha Storm Chasers play as the Runzas; Spring Country Fling is at the Admiral; and Brooks & Dunn are at the CHI Health Center, as is Matchbox Twenty.

You can read about those events in this week's edition of the Dispatch – and don't forget to glance at the doppelgängers of the week and our viral video clips, too.

And last but not least, please try to do a kindness for someone today without anyone else knowing about it.

#its3am

– Jim Minge

Publisher of the Dispatch

Get Illuminated

Thursday evenings offer adult playtime

Here's a chance for the adults in the audience to check out the new Kiewit Luminarium, an 82,000-square-foot museum that’s packed with interactive exhibits – more than 120 overall – that combine the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math with art, music, identity and local culture.

On Thursdays, the Luminarium offers an adults-only (7-10 p.m.) event called "Night Light." This week's edition features artist Demetria Geralds in the Luminarium's Maker Space for a special workshop where participants can make large upcycled baskets. You can learn basket weaving by constructing baskets from plastic bags and upcycled fabric and using different stitches to hold the baskets together.

Demetria is the founder of SowMobile, a mobile art program that aims to bring more accessibility to fashion and textile design. You can learn more about Demetria and SowMobile in a multimedia exhibit inside the Grid at the Luminarium that features her work.

What: Night Light

When: Thursdays, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive

Admission: $20

Web: kiewitluminarium.org

Indie Icons

Death Cab for Cutie returns to Omaha

As the poster boys for indie rock, Death Cab for Cutie continues to carry the indie torch 26 years after forming in Seattle. The band released its latest album – "Asphalt Meadows" – last year, and are now on a full U.S. tour that brings the band to Omaha on Wednesday (June 7).

The show – at the Admiral – is officially sold out. But you can still get resell tickets via ticketmaster.com starting at $79. It's a highly anticipated show (obviously), especially with the 20-year anniversary of Death Cab's pivotal breakthrough album, "Transatlanticism," which was released in 2003. 

Judging from recent reviews, the band's new music is being just as well received as their classics. Get pumped for the show by watching Death Cab's video to ""Here to Forever," from "Asphalt Meadows." Click on the play button above to see it.

What: Death Cab for Cutie, with Lomelda

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 7

Where: The Admiral, 13th and Martha streets

Tickets: Officially sold out, but you can get official resale tickets via ticketmaster.com starting at $79

Web: ticketmaster.com

Funza at Werner Park

Big promotions this week from the Chasers

The summer promotions at Werner Park are heating up this week as the Omaha Storm Chasers continue their series against the Memphis Redbirds.

Tonight (Thursday, June 1) is Pride Night. The players will be wearing special Community Series jerseys, which will be available for purchase at the team store. 

Fireworks will cap the evening on Friday (June 2). And then on Saturday (June 3), the team plays as the Runzas, which will feature special jerseys (see above). Those player-worn jerseys will be auctioned off during the game. And if you're one of the first 1,200 fans, you'll get a free Runza bucket hat like the one at right.

Be sure to get there early on Saturday. The night begins at 5:30 p.m. with Bands & Brews featuring Omaha jam and rock band Strange Pleasures (pictured below).They'll be playing from 5:30 to 6:50 p.m.

Rounding out the series on Sunday, it's Family FUNday –  face painters will be on hand, and kids get to run the bases after the game.

What: Omaha Storm Chasers vs. Memphis Redbirds

When: 7:05 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 5:05 p.m. Sunday, June1-June 4

Where: Werner Park, 12356 Ball Park Way, Papillion

Tickets: Start at $10

Web: omahastormchasers.com

After Hours at the Zoo

Adults-only nights continue this summer

Martinis with the monkeys. Screwdrivers with the Sharks. Old fashioneds with the owls. It's a rager at the Henry Doorly Zoo on select Thursdays through August.

The popular adults-only (21 and older) "Late Nights at the Zoo" – from 7 to 10:30 p.m. – are back and bigger than ever, with a variety of food trucks lined up to serve visitors. 

Tonight's edition (Thursday, June 1) will include Beyond BBQ, Pim's Thai Food Truck, Carousel's Soft Serve Icery, Javi's Tacos, Johnny Ricco's Brooklyn Pizza and many more.

Get all the details at omahazoo.com.

What: Late Nights at the Zoo

When: Select Thursdays through August, including tonight (June 1) and next Thursday, June 8

Where: Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 S. 10th St.

Admission: Start at $15

Web: omahazoo.com

doppelgängers of the week

I haven't put these two together, but now that reader Quincy Schaffer sent in this look-a-like, I can't unsee it! It's Prince, on the left, and "Aladdin's" Jafar on the right. Gotta be the stache!

Meanwhile, how about actress Portia de Rossi, on the left below, and actress Drea de Matteo on the right. It must be the "de" – right?

Got a doppelgänger? Send 'em over to jim@omahadispatch.com