Playing with Fire Concert Series: August 14
Third concert in the 2010 Playing with Fire series
Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 4:00pm - 11:00pm
Print
Email
Price: It's Free (sweet!)
Touted as the best music event held in Omaha, the 2010 series features family-friendly concerts June 19, July 17, and August 14. A "free will donation" of $5 to $10 will be requested at the gate, with 25% of the total raised being donated to the Omaha Food Bank.
Read more about the Playing with Fire summer concert series - an annual Omaha event.
The lineup for Saturday, August 14 includes:
Ellis Hooks
This dynamic, Alabama-born blues, soul and R&B vocalist began his blues career as a busker at age 15. Hooks, the third youngest of 16 children born to sharecroppers, didn’t own a pair of shoes until age 8. He was discovered by Diana Ross who offered him a recording session for which he did not show. His blues fate seemed predetermined when he accompanied a friend to an audition, and the producer instead signed Hooks. Hooks headlined the BBC’s 2003 World Music Festival, was Bonnie Raitt’s Special Guest onstage at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and has opened for Terrence Trent D’Arby. His 2003 album, Up Your Mind, earned him a W.C. Handy Award nomination. The Chicago Sun Times says, Hooks “plays Stones-like riffs one minute and conjures Sam Cooke with his voice the next…”
The Blackburn Brothers Blues Band
Winner of Canada’s 2010 Maple Blues Awards “Best New Artist/Group” Awards brings its infectious blend of blues, R&B and soul with an urban vibe to Omaha. A band of three brothers, Duane, Brook and Cory Blackburn, along with friend Mark Ayee recently released Brotherhood. Performing together since 1995, Blackburn has played or recorded with Shakura S’Aida and Canadian Idol finalist Toya Alexis and appeared on stage with Etta James and Mary Wells among others.
Stacy Mitchhart
Based in Nashville, this Grammy-nominated blues artist won a 2003 Albert King award, won numerous Music City Blues awards, and has been featured on HBO among other TV shows. Delivering live shows that fans call “phenomenal” and, “boisterous and fun,” Mitchhart’s music is a decent mix of up tempo blues and boogie. Mitchhart has released nine CDs, and has a worldwide fan base that craves his masterful guitar work and strong vocals.