27th ANNUAL

Rotella’s Bakery Stage

2024 ROTELLA’S BAKERY STAGE
“Omaha’s Favorite Bread”

Friday

5 PM  ~ Blues Ed Band – The Redwoods 

The Redwoods band is made up of powerful middle school and high school musicians from the Omaha area. The band formed in 2016 as part of the Blues Society of Omaha’s youth program, BluesEd. Over the years, the musicians have had an impressive record of accomplishments including being recognized as All-State musicians, holding leadership roles in their school bands, participating in MAYJO, being selected for Nebraska Young Lions and receiving awards at local music competitions. They have enjoyed playing at many venues and festivals in the Omaha area including Jazz on the Green, Playing with Fire, Zoofest, Taste of Omaha, Omaha Summer Arts Festival, private events and numerous local bars and lounges. In 2018 the band traveled to Memphis to perform at the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase. The Redwoods play diverse R & B, funk, and traditional Blues.

6:30 PM  ~ The Persuaders – Variety Band

Omaha’s favorite PARTY band! Covering a variety of classic & modern hits from the last 5 decades, this band features dynamic performances of popular dance/rock hits. It’s hard to put into words what this band does, but their live music experience is second to none! Known for their high-energy entertainment, Persuaders offers a little something for everyone. 

9:00 PM  ~ REO Classics with Terry Lattrell Original Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon

Terry Luttrell performs some of the songs that he had recorded on the first album with REO SPEEDWAGON along with some of REO’s Greatest Classic Hits that sold more than 40 million records and charted 13 Top 40 hits. The group performs the number ones “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” as well as ““Keep the Fire Burnin’”, “Take it on the Run”, “Riding the Storm Out”, and “Time for Me To Fly.  He has joined forces with Michael Mesey, long time drummer for Head East and Chuck Berry to put together a Show. Terry has spent many years touring with some of the Greatest Bands and Artists from around the world, and is highly respected in the music community.  He is very excited about this new Band and looks forward to performing these timeless songs for fans everywhere.  

 

Lead Vocals:  Terry Luttrell was the Original Lead Singer for REO Speedwagon and was on the first album released by REO. Terry was also the lead singer for StarCastle, and an accomplished songwriter earning 8 GOLD & PLATINUM RECORD AWARDS. Terry has recorded at some of the Most Recognizable Studios in the World including: THE RECORD PLANT Los Angeles, LE STUDIO Montreal, SARM STUDIOS London and others.  He has also produced the bands Screams, South of Georgia, and Jett. Over the years he has performed many concerts at iconic venues and major stadiums in Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Ohio to name a few. These venues also included Kiel Auditorium in Saint Louis, Fillmore East and West, Los Angeles Coliseum, and The Montreal Olympic site. These Tours were with Great Bands like RUSH, VAN HALEN, FLEETWOOD MAC, HEART, JOURNEY, AEROSMITH, BOSTON, STYX and many more.

 

Over the last 15 years, Terry has been performing around the country with a few different bands like Tons O Fun, and performing songs that range from Chicago to Deep Purple along with REO songs at venues that include Summerfest in Milwaukee many years in a row as well as touring around the country.

 

REO CLASSICS MEMBERS:

 

MIKE BAUE: Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals

Mike has been performing for many years in and around the country and has done opening shows for many top National Bands. His High Energy style of guitar playing fits perfectly to accomplish that Gary Richrath sound.

 

GREG SHUTE: Keyboards/Backing Vocals

Greg played, wrote and recorded with Michael Mesey years ago. He also played with Michael in a band with lngrid Berry and some shows with Chuck Berry. Greg has played with National Artists and has toured with them out of Florida and other big cities in the country. Gregs piano performance along with that Big 83 sound fills out the keyboard parts needed for this band.

 

WILL POLAZZO: Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals

 Will is a rock solid progressive Bass Player. He has played with some of the best musicians around and has performed many shows over the years. He has performed over 10 years of that time together with Mike Baue in a band which creates that tightness needed to bring that full REO Sound.

 

 MICHAEL MESEY: Drummer (Chuck Berry/Head East )

As the go-to special show and traveling drummer for Chuck Berry for many years, Michael Mesey had a blast creating explosive moments on stage with the legendary musical pioneer all over the country, Yet one of his most cherished memories is a moment on a tour bus, when Berry was listening to a blues tune, turned to him and said, “This is how I want us to play the blues – because when it’s time to rock, you rock me. No, I mean, you REALLY rock me!” Mesey split his time for many years between high profile gigs with Chuck Berry and recording and touring with famed St. Louis based Classic Rock Band Head East, including performances with Sammy Hagar, Boston, ZZ-Top, REO Speedwagon, Heart, Cheap Trick and many others. His time with Berry includes shows at legendary venues like The Fox Theatre in St. Louis, The Show Boat in Atlantic City, Bayside in Miami for the Super Bowl, in front of 66,000 at Busch Stadium and performing “Johnny B. Goode” for a live worldwide broadcast from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena CA for The Voyager project. Michael has also produced and performed on an all-star version of “Johnny B. Goode” featuring one of the last studio performances by legendary pianist Johnnie Johnson, in addition to Michael McDonald (who sang lead vocals) and saxophone legend David Sanborn. Also interesting to note, Mesey owns the only Chopper drum set in the World and has been featured in many articles around the world including Drum Magazine, Music Connection, Motorcycle USA and Thunder Roads Magazine. This drum set was designed by him and built at a custom motorcycle shop for his band American Greed that performed and received many awards over the years at the L A Music Awards, Producer Choice Awards in Hollywood and Las Vegas. Michael Has worked over the last few years producing a Live album from a recording he played on in 1986 with Chuck Berry. He went to Abbey Road Studios in London to have it mastered by Sean Magee who has mastered some of the greatest Bands and Artists ever. Now Michael is embarking on a new exciting project with Terry Luttrell (The original singer for REO including the first Album) performing songs from the first Album and some of REO’s Greatest Hits.

 Saturday

11 AM  ~ BluesAgent – Classic Rock & Variety

Omaha’s Rock and Blues Dance Band. “We make you feel like dancin’!”

“BluesAgent” Band

1:30 PM ~ Rhythm Collective

RHYTHM COLLECTIVE is an award winning band, the recipient of multiple OEA Omaha Entertainment Awards.​

RC performs original reggae and calypso tunes from their two albums. They also performs standard island reggae tunes of Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff’s and Kitchener and Byron Lee Soca and Calypso party tunes. They also perform American Classic rock in reggae and ska styles.

Rhythm Collective is the Omaha area’s only Caribbean voice, formed around the singer-songwriter talents of Joseph Mitchell, with Frank Fong on bass, Brent Vignery on drums, and guitarists John Green and Joe Hall.

4 PM ~ Raptor – US Air Force Heartland of America Band

Raptor, the commercial music ensemble of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band, performs high-energy music from a variety of genres. Their dynamic stage presence that enables them to tell the Air Force story to audiences of all ages.

 

From rock & roll classics and patriotic favorites, to the chart-topping hits of today, Raptor showcases the Air Force’s excellence, precision, and innovation in every performance. They are committed to inspiring our American public and honoring our nation’s veterans through the incredible power of music.

6:30 PM ~ High Heel – Rock & Classic Rock

Omaha’s #1 family friendly band!

With the sole purpose of having fun with the audience, this band covers a wide variety of your favorite songs including classic rock, new country, disco and sweet ballads.

Featuring lead vocalist Lisa Larsen, most recognized by her amazing vocals and of course her… high heels!
She is all over the stage and in the audience, creating an interactive show that’s charming to watch as well as listen to. Her signature move is to walk out into the crowd and deliver the performance within arms reach, considered nothing less than endearing.

Lisa was the lead singer for the band HIGH HEEL & THE SNEEKERS, where she toured the region locally in the early 90’s. Sharing the stage with Lisa:
Clay Gochenour (bass and lead vocals), Vince Andreasen (drums and fun vocals),
Doug Parker (keyboards & piano… x’s 6), and David Carabello (lead guitarist).

HIGH HEEL… more than a band, it’s a show!

9:00 PM ~ MICK ADAMS & THE STONES® 

Not only does Mick Adams have the “moves like Jagger,” but he’s also a dead-ringer for Mick Jagger and brings Mick’s intense energy to every show. His full-production Rolling Stones show, Mick Adams and The Stones®, features look-alike performers, multiple costume changes, choreography, and video accompanying each song. The energy is through the roof, and the band will have you and your audience dancing and singing in the aisles as they cover The Rolling Stones’ biggest hits of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s including, “I Can’t Get No – Satisfaction” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Beast of Burden”.

Among their numerous awards, Backstage Magazine has named Mick Adams and The Stones® one of the top ten tribute bands in the world. Mark Cuban and Ryan Seacrest have named Mick Adams the world’s greatest Mick Jagger impersonator, featuring his band on their television show, The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands, multiple times over seven seasons. Former Atlantic Records President Jerry Greenberg, who signed The Rolling Stones, says, “This band must be seen to be believed. It doesn’t get any closer than this!”

As a former lead vocalist for Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods, Mick has toured with Tommy James, The Turtles, The Monkees, The Association, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Buckinghams, Herman’s Hermits, and the Rascals. Mick has also performed with Spencer Davis, Rick Springfield, Johnny Rivers, Neil Sedaka, and rock and roll hall-of-famer Sam Moore. He has recorded with Mark Kendall of Great White and Ronnie James Dio’s guitarist, Tracy G, and has done voice-over work for MADD TV. Mick Adams is also the lead vocalist with Windborne Music’s The Music of The Rolling Stones, performing with symphonies worldwide.

Sunday

11 AM ~ BluesEd Band Vertigo

Vertigo Blues Band is celebrating its sixth year in BluesEd, a music education and performance program sponsored by the Blues Society of Omaha. A blues-rock crossover band, Vertigo has six accomplished high school aged musicians – two guitars, a bass guitar, drums and two vocalists.  Our musicians are multi-instrumentalists with experience on stage with BluesEd, marching band and show choirs across the Omaha region.  Vertigo covers legends like Led Zeppelin, Freddy King and Aretha Franklin and features music by newer soulful rock and blues artists like Samantha Fish and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.  Look for original music later this season along with acoustic versions of band favorites.  Last season Vertigo performed over 20 gigs including Playing with Fire at Turner Park, In the Market for Blues, the Five One 8 and the B Bar.

2023 band members: Vocals: Val P, Sammy E; Guitars:  Jackson F, Johan W; Bass Guitar:  Izzy D; Drums:  Colin M

Facebook: Vertigo Blues Band

Instagram: officialvertigobluesband

www.bluesed.com

bookings@bluesed.com

11:50 AM ~ BluesEd Band  – True Blues

It’s all in the name with True Blues! This dynamic eight- person ensemble stays true to the blues

genre with their mix of classic twelve bar and modern blues sets. Six members of True
Blues began their BluesEd experience in other bands and they are joined by two new members this
season. The band is excited to participate in the BluesEd program sponsored by the Blues
Society of Omaha. The various members have played on stages across the Omaha area such
as the B Bar, Rathskeller, Playing with Fire, Omaha Arts Festival as well as many others. When
the musicians are not playing in True Blues they can be found participating in various sports and
music programs at the five different high schools they attend.

Members are: Cameron, Mia, Sam, Caden, Claire, Wes, Arina and Izzy

Facebook: TrueBluesOmaha
Instagram: officialtrueblues
www.bluesed.com
bookings@bluesed.com

True Blues logo

1 PM ~ The Clockstoppers – Classic Rock Band

The Clockstopers are a classic rock band, playing the great tunes from the 60s, 70s and 80s. We play hits by the Beatles, Eagles and Rolling Stones, plus songs you love but don’t often get to hear live like Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, The Who, The Moody Blues, Santana and others.

3:30 PM ~ Blue House – Rhythm & Blues Party Band

6:00 PM ~ The Finest Hour – Party Favorites

Finest Hour Band photo

MID- AMERICA EXPOSITIONS, INC.
MIKE MANCUSO, EVENT DIRECTOR
7015 SPRING ST * OMAHA, NE 68106-3518
(402) 346-8003 FAX (402) 346-5412
info@showofficeonline.com