On Friday, September 11, the 8th annual Shadow Ridge Music Festival will bring the biggest 90s alt-rock lineup of the summer to Omaha. This year’s headliner is BLUES TRAVELER, featuring the iconic harmonica-playing lead singer, John Popper. Over the band’s illustrious career, Blues Traveler has played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people, won a grammy for their hit, “Run-Around,” which was the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, and sold over 11 million albums.
“We’ve tried for years to get Blues Traveler to headline the Shadow Ridge Music Festival, so we are very excited to finally get them here” said Festival founder Justin Shanahan. “They put on an incredible live show and are the perfect band for an outdoor late-summer concert.”
Joining BLUES TRAVELER are GIN BLOSSOMS and SPIN DOCTORS, who, together sold over 9 million albums, received multiple grammy nominations, and produced some of the biggest hits of 90s, including “Hey Jealousy,” “Follow You Down,” “Two Princes,” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong”.
“Gin Blossoms has so many incredible songs that every 90s music fan knows by heart. And Spin Doctors had some of the most recognizable alt-rock hits of the 90s” Shanahan said. “These three bands have had more hits than any lineup we’ve ever had.”
Colorado jam band THE SAMPLES will open the show. The SAMPLES bring a unique blend of reggae-influenced alt-rock that made them one of the most popular indie acts of the early 90s across the Midwest, including Omaha.
“The Samples were huge in Omaha back in the early 90s. I remember seeing them at the Ranch Bowl when I was 15, and they have been one of my favorite bands ever since. They actually toured with our headliner, BLUES TRAVELER, in the mid-90s so it will be fun to see them take the stage together again.”
In addition to great music and cold beverages, a dozen local restaurants and food trucks will be on hand for festival goers to enjoy. “Great food is important and we always try to bring in interesting local food trucks that represent the diverse culinary scene Omaha has. We have some great new additions this year that festival goers will love.”
This year, the Shadow Ridge Music Festival has partnered with the 50 MILE MARCH Foundation, whose mission is to empower and support military veterans facing mental health challenges. A portion of every ticket sold will go to supporting our veterans, with a guaranteed donation of at least $10,000.
“With our festival falling on September 11 this year, we thought it would be a great idea to pay homage to our veterans here locally.” Shanahan said. “The 50 MILE MARCH foundation does great work and I am really proud to support their cause.”
With nearly 6,000 in attendance last year, the Shadow Ridge Music Festival was one of the biggest paid outdoor concerts in Omaha in 2025, putting the Music Festival on the map as a premier concert event.
“We are becoming a summer tradition that people look forward to and every year just keeps getting better. I am very proud of how much our festival has grown, and
this year is shaping up to be our best show ever. ”
For tickets and information, visit www.ShadowRidgeMusicFestival.com
