Blues Challenge, Rockabilly Night & More
by B.J. Huchtemann

The Blues Society of Omaha’s Nebraska Blues Challenge 

concluded the first round of the local showcase on Sunday, 

April 10. Judges were local musicians Matt Amandus, Seth 

Ondracek and Greg Jones, musician and part-owner of the 

Barley Street Tavern. The Brad Cordle Band received the 

most votes from the judges and will advance to the finals, 

which will be held May 15 at The 21st Saloon. 

Check omahablues.com for details.

The Nebraska Blues Challenge continues this Sunday, April 17,

 at the Zoo Bar with an evening round of Lincoln bands. 

Due to a scheduling conflict at the Zoo,the NBC will not 

start until 7 p.m. Four bands entered from Lincoln. A $5

admission fee will go towards assisting with expenses for 

the NBC, which will send one band to represent the Blues 

Society of Omaha in the International Blues Challenge in 

Memphis in February 2011. The IBC is hosted each year by 

the national Blues Foundation and is a great springboard 

for up-and-coming bands to be seen and heard by people 

on the national blues scene. See blues.org for more details. 

This is the Blues Society of Omaha's first effort at participating 

in this event, with goals of further building our blues community 

and supporting local bands.

Performing at the Lincoln event will be the Blues Orchestra (7 p.m.),

The Sons of 76 (8 p.m.), The Lil’ Slim Blues Band (9 p.m.) and 

Levi William (10 p.m.) There will be one more preliminary round on 

May 1 at The Waiting Room and winners from the preliminary 

rounds will perform again for the judges in the finals on May 15 

at The 21st Saloon.

21st Saloon Blues
Nick Moss & The Flip Tops play the 5:30 blues matinee at the 21st 

Saloon on Thursdsay, April 14. The 21st hosts a special show next 

Wednesday, April 20, when guitarist Mike Zito plugs in. 

Blues-rocker Chris Duarte plays on Thursday, April 28

Rockabilly A-Go-Go
Omaha Rockabilly Night #4 happens Thursday, April 14, after 8 p.m.

This is a free 21 and over show at Gator O’Malley’s featuring Cat 

Club from Spain and The Afterdarks from Iowa. Join the Omaha 

Rockabilly group on Facebook to stay up to date on these events.

Also check out The Sandbox at 2406 Leavenworth on Saturday, 

April 16, at 9 p.m. for three hot rockabilly bands including Reckless 

Ones from Minneapolis, Th’ Empires from Indiana and The Blacktop 

Ramblers from Omaha. This is an all-ages show.

Curtis Salgado in Lincoln

Tickets are on sale now at etix.com for soul great Curtis Salgado at

 Lincoln’s Bourbon Theatre on Saturday, May 14. Brad Cordle Band 

opens. As many folks know, Salgado received a life-saving liver 

transplant in Omaha in 2006 and has gone on to make more great 

music. It's always a treat to have him back in the area.

Here's a link to a 2001 interview I did with Salgado for BLUES ACCESS 

magazine that includes lots of great history and background on the 

award-winning soul-blues man who inspired John Belushi's BLUES 

BROTHERS character. Check out the article at  

bluesaccess.com/No_44/salgado.html
 

Hot Notes

Keep your eyes on SundayRoadhouse.com for a very exciting May 

concert announcement.

Travelling Mercies has just released a new disc called Ghosts in the 

Bloodline. Catch the band at Barley Street Tavern on Saturday, 

April 16, and get a copy of this vibey mix of electric troubadour 

gypsy folk that rocks. You can also find Travelling Mercies new 

music at CDBaby.com.

Tuesday, April 19, Kris Lager Band is featured all evening at Slowdown.