L. KENT WOLGAMOTT / GZO | Posted: Thursday, June 29, 2006 7:00 pm
For 33 years, the Zoo Bar has been offering live music, making it one of the longest running roots music clubs in the country and likely THE longest running such venue still in its original location.
Through the years, the Zoo has celebrated its anniversary with a week of shows featuring national touring acts that are favorites among the bar’s customers. Such is the case again this year.
Here’s the lineup for the Zoo’s 33rd Anniversary Week:
Monday: Tinsley Ellis. This Atlanta guitarist has been among the top players on the blues/rock circuit for more than two decades. He’ll be joined by The Savants on this 8 p.m. show.
Tuesday: Closed for the Independence Day holiday.
Wednesday: Kelley Hunt. Based in Lawrence, Kan., Hunt is a barrelhouse/R&B pianist of note and an equally powerful singer. She’ll be joined by The Nimble Fingered Gentlemen on this early 6 p.m. show.
Thursday: Magic Slim. Slim’s a part-time Lincoln resident, one of the last of the original bluesmen who moved from Mississippi to Chicago and a Zoo institution. He’s joined by The Kris Lager Band. Showtime is 8 p.m.
Next Friday: The Bel Airs. The Columbia, Mo., trio, which might be the touring band that has played the most dates ever at the Zoo, headlines the anniversary weekend. Joining them on the three-band 5 p.m. show are The Tablerockers, the Arkansas trio featuring former Zoo owner Larry Boehmer, and The Tijuana Gigolos.
Next Saturday: The Bel Airs. The week wraps up with another three-band show with The Darlings and The Mezcal Brothers taking the stage before headliners. This show starts at 6 p.m.
Tickets for all shows are $15 in advance, $18 day of show. Weeklong passes are available for $60. Tickets are on sale at the Zoo.
Fair concert lineup set
Last week, Ground Zero reported a partial lineup of the Nebraska State Fair’s Open Air Auditorium shows. The full lineup now has been released by the fair.
Here’s the lineup and a brief description of each of the performers. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. in the Open Air Auditorium and are free with gate admission to the fair.
Aug. 25 — Mark Chesnutt. A Houston honky-tonk singer, Chesnutt was part of the ’90s country music boom and has continued to carry the new traditionalist banner.
Aug. 26 — Crossfade. This hard rock outfit led by singer Ed Sloan had a rock radio hit with 2004’s “Cold.” Its second major label album “Falling Away” is set to be released in August.
Aug. 27 — Blake Shelton. A regular-guy country singer, Shelton’s new record is called “Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill” and features conversation-like songs of daily life.
Aug. 28 — Three Dog Night. The ’70s band had 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, 18 straight Top 20s, 11 Top 10s, 3 No. 1s, and 7 million-selling singles. The band currently features founding members Cory Wells and Danny Hutton on lead vocals, as well as original keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon and guitarist Michael Allsup.
Aug. 29 — Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. One of the first female rock stars, Benatar hit her peak in the ’80s with hits like “Love is a Battlefield” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” She’s appearing with her husband, producer/songwriter/guitarist Giraldo.
Aug. 30 — Avalon. This contemporary Christian band has won an American Music Award, a Dove award, been Grammy-nominated and had 17 No. 1 radio hits in its 10 years of existence.
Aug. 31 — Neal McCoy. A two-time Entertainer of the Year, McCoy has been one of country music’s best live acts for well over a decade and is known for his performances for troops with the USO.
Sept. 2 — Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards and Russell Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics. Edwards became the Temptations’ lead singer in 1968, providing the vocals for, among other hits, “Papa Was A Rolling Stone.” Thompkins was the original lead vocalist for the Stylistics whose falsetto became the band’s signature sound on songs like “You Make Me Feel Brand New.”
Sept. 3 — Kansas. The classic rock band known for its hits such as “Dust In The Wind” and “Carry On, My Wayward Son” has recently released “Work In Progress,” an album of recordings from 1992 through 2002.
Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.