by B.J. Huchtemann

This Saturday, July 28, marks the ninth annual Playing With Fire concert, made possible by the support of presenting sponsor FirstComp. The free show is back at the Lewis & Clark Landing on the riverfront. Cash donations will be accepted for Food Bank of the Heartland. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the event kicks off with music from young Lincoln band Cold In Hand (4:30 p.m.) and BluesEd band Us & Them (5:15 p.m.). Local band The Pounders takes the stage about 6 p.m.

Playing With Fire presents one of the first U.S. performances by Ruf Records’ recording artist Meena Cryle at about 7:15 p.m. Known as Meena, she was a runner-up in the 2011 European Blues Challenge, see meenacryle.com.

Headlining the show is Rick Vito, who is the lead guitarist for the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band and also was with Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1991. Vito has performed with the bands of Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne and more during his long career. He is a Grammy nominee and Blues Music Award winner. See rickvito.com.

There will be an all-star jam featuring PWF headliners after the show starting at approximately 10:45 p.m. at DJ’s Dugout, 10th & Capitol, hosted by Brad Cordle. See playingwithfireomaha.net for complete PWF details.

There are a few other PWF-related events. Meena performs at Gator O’Malley’s Thursday, July 26, 9 p.m. Previous PWF headliners Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Deslauriers will be in town and performing at The Ozone Thursday, July 26, 6:30 p.m. George Walker opens.

Benson Days
Benson celebrates 125 years with a number of events this weekend. See bensonnebraska.com. Friday night, July 27, The Waiting Room hosts Blue Martian Tribe with the Matt Cox Band and Phoenix’s The Sugar Thieves at 9 p.m.

Hot Notes
Blind Pig Records’ Sena Ehrhardt, nominated for Best New Artist Debut in this year’s Blues Music Awards, plays The 21st Saloon, Thursday, July 26, 5:30 p.m. Samantha Fish plays The 21st next Thursday, Aug. 2.
Heartland Cafe in Elkhorn has the Mike Gurciullo Band Friday, July 27, and Swampboy Blues Band Saturday, July 28, at 8 p.m.
Music at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar includes Brad Cordle Band, Friday, July 27, 5-7 p.m. and Kelley Hunt after 9 p.m. Mama Lenny & the Remedy play Thursday, July 26, 6-9 p.m., featuring soul/R&B from former Lincolnite Laniece Micek. Rick Estrin & The Nightcats hit the Zoo Sunday, July 29, 6-9 p.m.

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