On Friday, September 9, the Shadow Ridge Music Festival will welcome home Omaha’s own, 311, as they take the stage to headline this year’s festival. Formed in 1988 by Omaha natives Nick Hexum, Aaron Willis, and Chad Sexton, 311 has sold over 11 million albums worldwide and is the biggest band to come out of Omaha in the past 30 years.
“To have 311 headline our festival is something I am very proud of,” said festival founder Justin Shanahan. “Those of us who grew up in Omaha in the 90s have a special affinity for 311. They are Omaha’s hometown band and they put Omaha on the map in terms of music. I couldn’t be more excited to have them here.”
In addition to 311, this year’s lineup includes platinum selling artists Eve 6 and Lit, whose chart-topping hits were alternative rock anthems of the early 2000s, and Tropidelic, a band well known for its high energy blend of reggae, rock, and hip-hop. In addition to great music, local restaurants, food trucks, and bars will be on hand for festival goers to enjoy. “If you are an alt-rock fan, it doesn’t get better than this lineup,” Shanahan said. “And if you like good food, we will have some of the best restaurants and food trucks in Omaha.”
Also new this year, the Shadow Ridge Music Festival has partnered with the Lane Thomas Foundation, a local non-profit whose mission is dedicated to supporting families of children in need of life-saving transplants. A portion of every ticket sold and sponsorship dollars raised for this year’s festival will go to the Lane Thomas Foundation, who will be on site to raise awareness for its cause.
“As our festival grows, I feel it’s important that we give back to our community and support worthwhile causes,” said Shanahan. “The Lane Thomas Foundation, founded by our friends Matt and Melissa Graves, is an organization that is near and dear to us. I encourage everyone to visit www.LaneThomas.org and learn about the incredible work Matt and Melissa are doing to support these families who are facing incredible adversity.”
With over 5,000 in attendance in 2021, the Shadow Ridge Music Festival was one of the biggest paid outdoor concerts in Omaha that year, putting it on the map as West Omaha’s premier concert event of the summer. This year’s show is setting up to be even bigger.
“The success we had last year was amazing,” Shanahan said. “But the demand for tickets this year is off the charts. We have already sold out of reserved seating and VIP ticket packages, and general admission tickets are 75% sold out. I attribute this, in large part, to 311’s homecoming. It has been over five years since they’ve played in Omaha.” The festival also serves as a source of pride for West Omaha, proving that it’s a viable location for events traditionally found in midtown and downtown. Shanahan added, “We are helping to expand the footprint of live music in our city, which is a great thing.”
