Jeremy Buckley, the guy behind the Lincoln Calling and Lincoln Invasion festivals, has announced the Omaha Invasion Festival, slated for April 22 and 23 at Lincoln clubs Duffy's Tavern, 12th St. Pub, Bricktop and the Bourbon Theatre Rye Room (front room). The line-up so far:

The Answer Team
Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies
Brent Crampton
Capgun Coup
Conchance
Dim Light
Flight Metaphor
Honeybee
It's True
Jes Winter Band
Kethro
DJ Kobrakyle
Little Brazil
Lonely Estates
Matt Cox Band
Matt Whipkey (solo)
Mello Mic
Mitch Gettman
Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship
Rock Paper Dynamite
Stryke
Talking Mountain
Thunder Power
Ultimate Downhill Machines
Vago

Impressive. And Buckley is still waiting to hear from two or three more bands. He said the idea behind the mini-fest branched out from the Lincoln Invasion weekend he and Dub Wardlaw from Duffy's put together last June in Benson. Each Lincoln venue will host three to four bands or DJs (at the Bricktop) per night. A $6 cover will get you into all three venues for the evening, or you can pay $3 just to get into one venue if you don't expect to mosey around. The Bricktop won't have a cover. The Zoo Bar isn't involved because it already had shows booked for the weekend.

By the way, all bands involved will get paid for performing. Buckley said he will divide 80 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales among the bands, keeping 20 percent to cover expenses. It's his willingness to pay bands that is one of the main reasons why his events have been successful in attracting the area's best acts. "We figure we are helping and whatnot, but it's the bands the people are coming to see, they should get paid as much as possible," Buckley said. "For Lincoln Exposed this year and last, the bands averaged about $150 a piece, and while I don't expect (the amount) to be as high with out-of-town bands (playing in Lincoln), I think they'll all walk away with respectable paydays."

Speaking of festivals, tomorrow's column will focus on the MAHA Festival with data from the organizers. Stay tuned.

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