Nebraska Bluegrass concert series returns to Innovation Campus for fourth year
Nebraska Innovation Campus has partnered with local organizations to offer and host the Nebraska Bluegrass Concert Series for a fourth year. The live music concert series is free and open to the public and features local bluegrass bands opening for nationally recognized bluegrass bands. The 2025 concerts will be held in the Nebraska Innovation Campus plaza on September 3, 10, and 17. Food and drink will be available for purchase from The Mill Coffee & Bistro starting at 5:00 p.m., and live music will begin at 6:00 p.m.
“We are excited to host the 2025 Nebraska Bluegrass Concert Series at Nebraska Innovation Campus,” said Kate Engel, NIC executive director. “This series is a wonderful way to welcome people to Innovation Campus, and we are excited to activate our outdoor space with six fantastic bluegrass bands. Thanks to our generous partners for making this series possible for a fourth year.”
The concert series will kick off on September 3 with headliner Jason Carter Band and opening band the Shucks Brothers. True to his Kentucky roots, Jason Carter pours all he has back into bluegrass. For thirty years, Carter has been the fiddle player for the Del McCoury Band, the most awarded group in bluegrass history. He has won three Grammy awards and has taken home five International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards for Fiddle Player of the Year, including 2018’s Best Bluegrass Album with the Travelin’ McCourys. As a fiddler, Carter has been featured on albums by Steve Earle, Ricky Skaggs, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Asleep at the Wheel and many more. On Carter’s solo album, ‘Lowdown Hoedown’, listeners may recognize instrumental contributions from such legends as Jerry Douglas or Sam Bush alongside vocals from young trailblazers like Sarah Jarosz or Billy Strings, with Carter singing lead. The Shucks Brothers, based in Lincoln, Neb., will kick off the evening with some serious string tickling and great harmony vocals. They tip their hats to the great old bluegrass masters such as Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers, but they also feature country, swing and red-hot instrumentals. This group will surprise their audiences with dazzling improvisation, silly humor and a whole lot of fun.
The September 10 concert will be performed by Bronwyn Keith-Hynes and opener The Midnight Wanderers. Grammy-winning fiddle virtuoso Bronwyn Keith-Hynes is stepping into the spotlight. After several years of wowing audiences as the fiddler for Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, the two-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year is striking out on her own, fronting a band for the first time and bringing her voice to the forefront. Known for her fiery fiddle playing and pure, rootsy singing, Keith-Hynes’ debut vocal album ‘I Built a World’ earned her a Grammy nomination, and American Songwriter calls her “a world-class fiddler with a golden voice.” Keith-Hynes’ music blends high-octane bluegrass sensibilities with the soul of country and American Roots music. Backed by a powerhouse group of Nashville musicians hand-picked from her tight-knit community, Keith-Hynes represents the next generation of top-tier bluegrass musicians, who will be appreciated for generations to come. Hailing from Lincoln, Neb., The Midnight Wanderers started over a decade ago when husband-and-wife duo Matt and Jenny Richardson delved deeper into the folk tradition. Matt picked up the banjo, and Jenny gravitated to the upright bass. From there, they shaped their band and the old-time goodness of their setlists, with music covering the gamut of Americana. The Midnight Wanderers are a collaborative effort, taking turns singing lead and selecting songs that keep the set diverse. With tunes curated from many genres, including classic rock, Western swing, country and bluegrass, there is something for everyone.
The third and final concert, on September 17, will feature the Henhouse Prowlers with The Bottle Tops opening the evening. With two decades proudly under their belts, the Henhouse Prowlers' sight remains fixed on the future. Ever constant in the group's electric performances is their ability to showcase their passion for music and people. All four members possess a knack for storytelling, compelling songwriting and intricate instrumentation. Rooted in tradition yet unafraid to venture into new musical territory, the Prowlers occupy a space that defies easy categorization; one that is consistently fresh, relevant and captivating. To date, the band has toured 30 countries across five continents, collaborating with the U.S. State Department and through their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors. These global experiences have not only shaped their worldview but also reinforced their mission: to build bridges between cultures through music. For the Henhouse Prowlers, the work extends far beyond the stage; they are deeply committed to using their art in the service of a more connected and compassionate world. The Bottle Tops are a husband-and-wife duo, Kerry and Mike Semrad, from Lincoln, Neb. With family stories, the music industry and oddities along the way, their entertaining stage show brings nothing but smiles for miles. Audiences are sure to stomp along to the band’s unique rockabilly sounds and inspirations from yesteryear. On any weekend, you can see the band rocking every club from the Midwest honky-tonks to large theatres and a devoted fan base of old to young, dancing and singing along to their original songs.
“The Mill is thrilled to be part of bringing live music to Lincoln in a free, family-friendly environment,” said Daniel Sloan, owner of The Mill Coffee & Tea. “Nebraska Innovation Campus is a beautiful venue, sort of bluegrass on the prairie, but still in the city.”
Dave Miller, regional general manager at ALLO Fiber, assists with recruiting bands to perform during the Nebraska Bluegrass Concert Series. Miller is also a member of the Shucks Brothers and will perform during the September 3 concert.
“We continue to receive inquiries from national acts who want to come to Lincoln and perform,” said Miller. “We are grateful for the sponsors who make this happen.”
The concert series is sponsored by Nebraska Innovation Campus, The Mill Coffee & Bistro, ALLO Fiber, Union Bank & Trust, The Scarlet Hotel and Nebraska Nova. Limited concert seating is available; attendees are encouraged to bring chairs. Concert attendees may access NIC by bike via the Billy Wolff Trail, by campus bus service from City Campus and East Campus with a valid UNL/StarTran bus pass, and by personal vehicle with parking available in the paved parking lot north of Transformation Drive. For additional information, please visit https://www.nebraskabluegrass.com.