B.J. Huchtemann

The Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) continues to offer a curated calendar of area blues and roots music events at omahablues.com. The BSO is also hosting its annual competition to send a band and a solo or duo act to represent the area in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge (IBC), which will be held Jan. 19-23, in Memphis. The deadline to enter the competition is Friday, Sept. 25. The Nebraska Blues Challenge will be held Sunday, Oct. 25 at The B. Bar.

The emphasis is definitely on returns at this year’s Playing With Fire (PWF). This is the 22nd year of the annual free concert series organized by retired Omaha businessman and music lover Jeff Davis. What started as a series of free concerts on the then-new Omaha riverfront featuring heavy-hitting blues artists has grown and changed with time and new opportunities. This year, Davis has booked return performances by some of his favorite artists who’ve been featured in past PWF concerts.

July is here and that means it’s time to celebrate Lincoln’s historic Zoo Bar. The club brings its 53rd anniversary party to 14th Street between O and P streets Friday and Saturday, July 10-11. Though downtown Lincoln around 14th & O is in the midst of a lot of construction, the city of Lincoln promises 14th Street will be able to host the annual event. Parking is available in the garage at 14th & P streets adjacent to the festival site and the first hour is free.