Blues Rock Review to provide coverage of Playing With Fire festival
Blues Rock Review is excited to announce that, for the second straight year, we’re partnering with Playing With Fire to bring you coverage of one of America’s top free blues rock events. Hosted at Slowdown in Omaha, Nebraska, this two-weekend celebration of live music runs July 25–26 and August 15–16, 2025, marking 21 years of unforgettable summer concerts.
With a world-class lineup of international artists, regional favorites, and rising stars, Playing With Fire offers four nights of stellar music, all with free admission until venue capacity is reached.
WEEKEND ONE: JULY 25–26
Friday, July 25
Kicking off the festival is Omaha’s Jared William Gottberg. Steeped in classic rock with touches of blues and folk, his music carries a timeless quality and a heartfelt, personal tone.
Harry Manx, returns to Omaha for the first time in 25 years. Known for his mohan veena mastery and East-meets-West blues fusion, he’ll be joined by special guest Kevin Breit for a set fans won’t soon forget.
The night’s headliner is The Cinelli Brothers, making their Omaha debut. Known for their infectious energy and throwback sound, the UK-based group is quickly earning fans across the globe.
Saturday, July 26
Free Clinic – Blues Ed will also host a free clinic featuring Alice Armstrong from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Slowdown.
Marcus Trummer opens Saturday night’s show with emotionally rich songwriting and a tight Calgary-based band that’s quickly gaining attention.
Next is the powerful voice of Alice Armstrong, whose British soul-blues delivery is loaded with grit and charisma.
Closing out the night is Kansas City’s Danielle Nicole. With deep roots in blues and funk, Danielle is one of the genre’s premier performers, both locally and internationally.
WEEKEND TWO: AUGUST 14–16
Thursday, August 14
A sneak peek at this year’s lineup with a pre-party at the host hotel, The Moxy. The pre-party runs from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM and will feature three 40-minute solo sets.
Friday, August 15
The encore weekend begins with Omaha’s own Hector Anchondo, winner of the 2020 International Blues Challenge and a beloved figure in the Midwest blues scene.
He’ll be followed by Ben Poole, a dynamic UK blues rocker known for his expressive guitar playing and heartfelt performances.
Headlining the evening is King King, back by popular demand after a crowd-pleasing 2024 set. Led by Alan Nimmo, the Scottish rockers are sure to bring another explosive performance.
Saturday, August 16
Free Clinic – Blues Ed will also host a free clinic featuring Chris Buck and Tom Hollister of Cardinal Black from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Slowdown.
Levi Platero gets things started Saturday night with Hendrix-influenced blues rock from New Mexico, showcasing impressive guitar work and passionate delivery.
Fan-favorites Bywater Call return for their third straight year, delivering horn-fueled soul, soaring vocals, and a powerful live show.
Wrapping up the festival is Cardinal Black. After making their U.S. debut at PwF in 2024, the Welsh group returns to close 2025 with their melodic, emotional sound.
Admission & Info
Admission is free until venue capacity is reached. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Guaranteed Admission tickets are available in limited quantities for each date through Slowdown until one week before the show.
Dates:
- Friday, July 25
- Saturday, July 26
- Friday, August 15
- Saturday, August 16
Fans traveling to Omaha can access special hotel rates by booking through the Playing With Fire website: https://www.playingwithfireomaha.net/
Blues Rock Review will be on the ground throughout the event with artist interviews, exclusive photo galleries, and in-depth reports highlighting the performances and fan experience. Stay tuned to Blues Rock Review this summer as we help bring Playing With Fire to audiences around the world.
Y’all should be LIVESTREAMING this bad boy!!! I see many livestreams on volume.com
This festival is absolutely amazing. I really appreciate how well-organized events like this keep things smooth for both artists and fans. It actually reminds me of how PLADSE Chiapas has brought similar organization and simplicity into the education system in Mexico. Just like Playing With Fire creates a seamless experience for music lovers, PLADSE Chiapas helps teachers manage their work and payroll effortlessly through one digital platform. Both show how good planning and smart systems can make a huge difference in any field.
¡Esta programación del festival se ve increíble, y es genial ver que Blues Rock Review ofrece una cobertura completa nuevamente este año! Me encanta cómo la música en vivo une a las personas a través del ritmo y el sonido estructurado, donde cada compás tiene un propósito. De manera similar, el alfabeto morse utiliza puntos y rayas simples para representar cada letra: señales cortas y largas que crean mensajes claros cuando se combinan en el orden correcto. Al igual que los músicos siguen patrones para crear canciones poderosas, el código Morse sigue patrones fijos de letras, como A (.-) y B (-…), para comunicarse a distancia. Es asombroso cómo tanto la música como los códigos dependen del tiempo, la estructura y la precisión para conectar a las personas de manera significativa.