The Brokedown Palace’s 8th Annual Run for the Roses Music & Arts Festival

The Brokedown Palace’s 8th Annual Run for the Roses Music & Arts Festival returns in 2026 for three nights of live music, art, vendors, food, drinks, and community in Omaha, Nebraska.

Hosted at The Brokedown Palace, Omaha’s favorite Grateful Dead-inspired bar, this annual festival brings together local and regional musicians, artists, vendors, families, and music lovers for a weekend built around creativity, connection, and good vibes.

The festival will feature multiple bands across indoor and outdoor stages, professional full-scale production, local vendors, art, crafts, festival goods, food, drinks, and a one-of-a-kind community atmosphere.

Whether you’re coming for the live music, the vendors, the art, or the Brokedown Palace experience, Run for the Roses 2026 is a three-night celebration of music, arts, and family you won’t want to miss.

Info: Jared Gottberg is a seasoned singer-songwriter set full of heart, grit, and Midwest soul. A professional musician, songwriter, and producer from Omaha, Jared brings a rock-rooted sound.

Info: Peach Truckin’ Co. brings the jam-loving spirit with a set devoted to the music of The Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead, and more. Expect bluesy Southern rock, long grooves, dancing energy, and that full-on festival feeling under the outside stage lights.

Info: Ed Davis brings the kind of classic, easygoing live set that fits. With songs rooted in the spirit of the ’70s and a warm local-music vibe, Ed helps set the tone for a weekend built on good tunes, good people, and good energy.

Info: Coming in from Colorado, San Leandro brings Denver psych-funk, retro R&B, soul, and modern indie grooves to Run for the Roses. Led by keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Leandro “Leo” Albertoni, San Leandro blends layered arrangements, vintage keys, and feel-good rhythm-section chemistry.

Info: Triply Landlocked brings exploratory bluegrass and roots music with a playful, genre-bending edge. Made up of veteran Omaha musicians and songwriters, this group roots everything in traditional bluegrass while stretching into unexpected, original, and festival-ready territory.

Info: Back for another set, San Leandro keeps the Friday night groove rolling with their Colorado-born blend of psych-funk, soul, R&B, and indie rock textures. Their sound is smooth, layered, danceable, and made for the crowd that likes a little funk with their cosmic festival energy.

Info: Omaha’s Unbroken Chain pays tribute to the music and legacy of the Grateful Dead, making them a perfect fit for Run for the Roses. Expect familiar favorites, jam-heavy moments, and plenty of Deadhead energy to carry the outside stage deep into Friday night.

Info: The Nate Paul Trio brings Omaha country, blues, and guitar-driven energy to the inside stage. Nathan Paul’s sound pulls from heartland country and electric blues roots, making this set a strong early Friday warm-up for music fans ready to settle into the weekend.

Info: Valley Creatures brings a trippy, melodic, mind-bending sound to the Run for the Roses lineup. Known for “loopy ensembles” and a psych-leaning Omaha sound, they’re a great fit for fans who like their live music a little weird, groovy, and unpredictable.

Info: Coming in from Illinois, Colt Ball & The Git Down brings high-energy reggae, funk, and jam-infused grooves built for dancing. Their set is all about feel-good movement, festival energy, and getting the crowd locked into the pocket.

Info: Colorado’s The Bramblers bring a wild, rootsy blend of jamgrass, Americana, folk, funk, psych rock, country western, reggae, and rock ’n’ roll. This five-piece Fort Collins band has the kind of eclectic, mountain-grown sound that feels made for a late-night festival set.

Info: Colt Ball & The Git Down return Saturday afternoon to get the outside stage moving with reggae/funk-infused jams and high-energy grooves. Their feel-good sound is built for sunshine, dancing, and easing into the final day of the festival with a smile.

Info: Omaha’s Matt Cox and The Marauders bring road-worn Americana, folk, country, blues, rock, and roots music to Run for the Roses. A longtime Omaha songwriter and award-winning Americana/folk artist, Matt Cox delivers songs with grit, soul, and a true Midwest storyteller feel.

Info: The Bramblers keep Saturday night rolling with their Colorado jamgrass-meets-Americana-meets-psych-funk sound. Funky, spooky, groovy, and full of character, this is a set for folks who like their bluegrass with a little wild mountain magic.

Info: Nebraska-based Cruz Control brings funk, reggae, and jam-band energy to the outside stage. Their sound blends groove-heavy instrumentals, upbeat rhythms, and party-ready live energy, making them a strong Saturday night closer for the outdoor stage.

Info: Omaha’s Tanner Ledenbach opens the Saturday inside stage with a solo set rooted in jamgrass and country. His sound brings a fresh but grounded feel, perfect for kicking off the final day with acoustic warmth and local flavor.

Info: Ed Davis returns Saturday with another laid-back inside-stage set built for the Palace crowd. Expect a comfortable, familiar live-music vibe with classic songs, local energy, and the kind of set that keeps the room feeling loose and connected.

Info: David Sims brings a warm live acoustic set to the inside stage, giving Saturday night a stripped-down, personal touch before the later sets take over. His style fits the Brokedown Palace atmosphere perfectly: relaxed, musical, and easy to settle into.

Info: Lincoln’s Reddy Kilowatt brings the Dead-inspired energy with a set made for the Run for the Roses crowd. A Lincoln-based Dead band, they’ll keep the inside stage buzzing with jam-friendly spirit, familiar grooves, and that electric Palace atmosphere.

Info: Eva Blue Band closes out the inside stage with a powerful blend of soul, rock, funk, and blues. With raspy vocals, bluesy grooves, and a soulful live presence, this set is built to hit right in the feels and send the weekend out with serious energy.

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