Nebraska Crossroad Music Festival

KVNO is proud to be the media sponsor for the 2025 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival!

What is the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival?

Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival is returning for its sixth season and is bringing multiple free events to Omaha, July 27th – August 2nd.

• Sunday, July 27th – Enjoy a scenic evening of music and poetry at Gene Leahy Mall at 8 p.m. with festival headliners Dawn of Midi, Layale Chaker and Sarafand, and Kinan Azmeh, along with poetry from the current and former Nebraska State Poet and true Cornhusker wordsmiths Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason.
• Tuesday, July 29th – Join internationally acclaimed composer Dinuk Wijeratne at Gallery 1516 at 7 p.m. for a rare behind-the-scenes look into his creative process. Wijeratne shares personal insights, stories, and musical excerpts in this intimate conversation about inspiration, collaboration, and invention.
• Tuesday, July 29th – Dawn of Midi reunites to perform their landmark album Dysnomia live in its entirety at Gallery 1516 at 8:30 p.m. Known for creating hypnotic, electronic-sounding grooves with purely acoustic instruments, their music has been described as “a jazz album unlike anything you’ve heard before”.
• Thursday, July 31st – Turkish composer and electronic artist Erdem Helvacioglu invites audiences into an immersive world of sound. Erdem will collaborate live with festival artists for a one-of-a-kind improvisational set. This unique event will take place in the Bowtruss of KANEKO at 7 p.m., in the midst of large sculptural works from artist Bruce Beasley.
• Thursday, July 31st – A double billing of sonic contrasts and cello virtuosity at the BLUEBARN outdoor stage at 9 p.m. Experience a solo set of David Downing’s mesmerizing loop-based compositions followed by a soulful segment drawing on Jake Charkey’s deep roots in Hindustani music. The evening concludes with a collaborative finale—two distinct voices blending into one unforgettable sound.
• Saturday, August 2nd – Crossroads joins forces with The Joslyn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a day of creativity and connection for the whole family. Enjoy a fun-filled children’s concert, two performances by the enchanting Nordic-folk duo ííS, live poetry with Nebraska State Poets, current and former, Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason, and an interactive storytelling-through-poetry workshop with Matt Mason.
• Saturday, August 2nd – Come and see the Crossroads Festival Orchestra finish out the festival at the Strauss Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. with a program, curated by Kinan Azmeh. Including Omaha Symphony Concertmaster Susanna Perry Gilmore, Russian virtuoso violinist Olga Smola, and Lincoln-native bassist Sam Beck-Johnson just to name a few, it will be a tribute to Nebraska’s own musical environment, it’s musical institutions and it’s artistic export to the world. Featuring soloists Layale Chaker, Jake Charkey, Dinuk Wijeratne and Kinan Azmeh, the program features works of those artists and more, conducted (in part) by pianist/composer Dinuk Wijeratne and led by a rotating cast of concertmasters.

What to Expect

We strongly encourage you to bring your own water bottles, folding chairs, and blankets to the outdoor concerts. You can start reserving spots at 3pm at the Gene Leahy Mall the day of the performance. Food trucks, water fountains, and public restrooms will be available on site.

Stop and Visit the KVNO table!

Make sure to visit the KVNO table at the Orchestral Extravaganza concert at Strauss Performing Arts Center to meet our staff.

Get Involved

Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival is looking for volunteers. You can contact admin@nebraskamusicfest.org or call 402-450-7978 if interested.

For more info on the festival, visit: NebraskaMusicFest.org