In the Market for Blues - 8/5/2023 - Omaha's Blues Fest

$35 from July 16 - Aug. 5, 2023

Individual venues are $10 Day of Show, except the Holland Center outdoor Mammel Courtyard which requires a wristband for entry.

Saturday / Aug. 5, 2023 - Old Market / Downtown / The Capitol District in Omaha, Nebraska

• General Admission Wristbands are available for pick-up day of show (Saturday, Aug. 5) at Will Call / Box Office booth.  Show a copy of your ticket on your phone at Box Office or print a copy of your ticket and exchange it for a wristband for entry into all participating venues.  
• Wristband required for entry into Holland Center outdoor Mammel Courtyard for Headliner shows
• Save $10 from day of show ticket pricing by purchasing early. Day of Show Tickets/Wristbands will be $35.

Partial List of Performers: *

• All Star City Blues
• Back Alley
• Blue House with The Rent to Own Horns
• Blue Sunday, BluesEd band
• Coyote Bill/O'Shaya Adams
• Crabby Blues Band
• Hadden Sayers
• Hector Anchondo
• Hector Anchondo Band
• Howard Mahan
• Hurricane Ruth
• Josh Garrett
• Josh Hoyer & the Soul Colossal
• Kevin Burt
• Kris Lager Band
• Levee Town
• Max Kaplan
• Mezcal Bros
• Midwest Blues All-Stars
• Old No. 5's
• Polly O'Keary
• Rascal Martinez
• Shaw Davis & The Black Ties
• Stranded in the City
• Sweet Tea
• The Redwoods, BluesEd Band
• Tony Holiday
• Toronzo Cannon

• Us and Them, BluesEd Band

• Vertigo, BluesEd Band

Check back frequently as Additional Artists will be added!

*Subject to change

Harney Street Tavern  - Dubliner Pub  - T-Henery's Pub  - Havana Garage  - Annie's Irish Pub Omaha  - Beer Can Alley Omaha -  The Jewell  - Omaha Performing Arts, Holland Center Outdoor Mammel Courtyard - Mouth of the South - Performance Pavilion at Gene Leahy Mall - Box Office at Gene Leahy Mall

Join the VIP Experience to get exclusive access to your favorite Blues Artists! Special VIP-only performance at The Jewell on Friday, Aug. 4th. Be a part of the VIP Experience for In the Market For Blues for just $85. Very limited seating at two shows, 6:30 PM or 9:00 PM, choose your time when purchasing your VIP Ticket.

VIP Perks include:

• VIP Bonus Show at The Jewell on Friday, August 4th Secret Artist To Be Announced!
• VIP Experience Express Check-in at The Jewell on Friday, August 4th
• VIP Express Check-in on Festival Day at The Hilton Garden Inn
• VIP Exclusive Festival “Swag Bag”
• VIP Lanyard
• VIP text messages – sent day of show only for updates to VIP experience
• VIP Experience at Hilton Garden Inn: cool off, charge your phone, light snacks & private restroom access
• VIP Reserved Front Row Seating @ Main Stage – Holland Center Outdoor Mammel Courtyard
• **More VIP Experience perks to be added!**

Omaha, NE - Héctor Anchondo, Omaha’s own Blues hero and the 2020 champion of the International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo award, has teamed up with the Blues Society of Omaha to present In The Market For Blues, Omaha’s Blues Fest on Saturday, August 5, 2023. The all-day music festival features 14 hours of live music at multiple venues in Omaha’s Old Market, Capitol District, and Downtown Omaha.

Joining Héctor as the headliner for In The Market For Blues is Toronzo Cannon. Cannon is a 10x Blues Music Award nominee as vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. Between his searing chops, soul-satisfying vocals and vibrant and distinctive original songs, Cannon has grown from being a local attraction to become a world-renowned torch bearer for the blues. PBS Television's Chicago Tonight sums it up like this: "Cannon is just your typical CTA bus driver who moonlights as a sought-after Chicago blues musician. As a guitarist, singer and songwriter, he drives the sound of Chicago blues from the city to blues clubs and festivals around the world."

Great guitar player, excellent vocalist, amazing personality.
—Joe Bonamasa

Cannon is part of the post-'80s generation that is just as much influenced by rock as the blues. Where he separates with the rest of that pack is that Cannon puts the song ahead of the solo. —Chicago Tribune,

Schedule: Music from 12 PM to 2 AM. The full schedule will follow.

 FAQs:

Where can I find more information?:

Where is the Box Office/Will Call? The Box Office and Blues Festival Merch tent is on 11th street Promenade on the Gene Leahy Mall.    You can not use your paper receipt to enter a venue.  You must come and exchange your receipt for a wristband. VIPs will pick up their VIP lanyard at The Jewell during the exclusive concert for VIP Ticket Holders.

What time is the Box Office/Will Call open? The Box Office and Blues Festival Merch tent is open from 11:00 AM to approximately 7:00 PM on Saturday, Aug. 5th. A mini box-office will be open at the Holland Center on 12th & Douglas from 6:30 - 8:00 PM.

What is included in the VIP Experience Ticket?

Join the VIP Experience to get exclusive access to your favorite Blues Artists! Exclusive VIP-only performance at The Jewell on Friday, Aug. 4th, opportunities to meet your favorite Blues artists and listen to their stories in Q & A sessions! Be a part of the VIP Experience for In the Market For Blues for $85. Very limited seating at two shows, 6:30 PM or 9:00 PM, choose your time when purchasing your VIP Ticket.

• VIP Bonus Show at The Jewell on Friday, August 4th Secret Artist To Be Announced!
• VIP Experience Express Check-in at The Jewell on Friday, August 4th
• VIP Express Check-in on Festival Day @ The Hilton Garden Inn
• VIP Exclusive Festival “Swag Bag”
• VIP Lanyard
• VIP text messages – sent day of show only for updates to VIP experience
• VIP Experience @ Hilton Garden Inn: cool off, charge your phone, light snacks & private restroom access
• VIP Reserved Front Row Seating @ Main Stage – Holland Center Outdoor Mammel Courtyard**More VIP Experience perks to be added!**

May I purchase wristbands at a participating venue before Aug. 5th? No. Wristbands are only sold at Blues Society of Omaha shows through authorized sellers at our merch table. We will have wristbands available for purchase if you would like to save the (small) fees from Eventbrite. Please watch our Facebook page for the shows that In the Market for Blues wristbands will be available for purchase.

Do you have t-shirts for sale? Yes, In the Market for Blues t-shirts and koosies will be for sale.  We also have all of our Blues Society of Omaha merch for sale, including hats, shirts and koosies.  

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event? All venues (except Havanna Garage) are all ages up until 9 PM, accompanied by an adult.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions? [email protected]

Can I bring in outside food or beverages? No outside food or beverages are allowed.  Every venue has drinks available for purchase.  Most venues have food available. Please support our local venues who have suffered so much during the pandemic.

May I bring a lawn chair? No

Is there a preferred hotel for In The Market for Blues Patrons? Yes, we recommend our hotel partner for In The Market For Blues is the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Omaha/Old Market on 10th & Dodge. Located right in the heart of the festival action with the Capitol District in your front yard and the Gene Leahy Mall/Old Market in your backyard. Special room rates for festival goers are available while quantities last. Save oodles by booking your sleeping room accommodations using this link: https://tinyurl.com/23ITMFBhotel

May I get a refund? Sorry, all sales to In the Market for Blues are final. Thank you for your donation to the Blues Society of Omaha.

What if I bring a friend with me to the festival and they did not purchase their ticket online? Tickets are $35 day of show and are available at our box office on the Gene Leahy Mall at 11th & Farnam.

I don't have a PayPal account. How can I purchase tickets? A PayPal account is not needed to purchase tickets on Eventbrite. When you get to the screen asking for payment, scroll down to "Pay by Debit or Credit Card." Click that and you will be taken to another screen that will ask if you would like to set up a PayPal account. You may decline that request and enter your credit card on the secure platform as usual. If you have questions about payment, please email [email protected].

Host or Publisher In The Market For Blues