Lincoln
Nebraska
Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival 2025
Arts and Entertainment
July 9, 2025
From: Nebraska Crossroads Music FestivalSchedule Of Events
July 20, 2025
FAMILY DAY
Music and Storytelling for All Ages
2-4pm
Join us for Family Day at Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln—a joyful celebration of music and storytelling for all ages.
We are proud to partner with the esteemed Sheldon Museum of Art as they embark on a new series – Family Day – for all ages to enjoy the museum’s groundbreaking exhibitions and innovative programming.
For the July edition of Family Day with Nebraska Crossroads, you can enjoy a special children’s storytelling concert with Crossroads’ artists, a evocative performance by Nordic-folk duo iiS in the Museum’s Great Hall, and a hands-on, storytelling-through-poetry-workshop with the wryly perceptive and truly Nebraskan wordsmith and former Nebraska State Poet, Matt Mason.
Location: Sheldon Museum of Art
July 26, 2025
LINCOLN SHOWCASE
Festival Stars
7:30-9:30pm
Grab your blanket, lawn chair, and favorite drink for our annual Crossroads Showcase—this year in Sheldon Museum of Art’s beautiful Sculpture Garden, the beloved and traditional home of Lincoln's iconic “Jazz in June” series. In it’s first appearance in this new venue, Crossroads and our esteemed co-presenting partner, the Lied Center, are trying something completely new. Come and see!
Enjoy an eclectic evening of music and poetry with festival headliners Dawn of Midi, Layale Chaker and Sarafand, and Kinan Azmeh performing his iconic Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra, along with poetry from the current and former Nebraska State Poet and true Cornhusker wordsmiths Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason, food trucks, and family activities with our friends from the Asian Community and Cultural Center.
Location: Sheldon Sculpture Garden–UNL Downtown Campus
July 27, 2025
OMAHA SHOWCASE
Festival Stars
8:00-10:00pm
Grab your blanket, lawn chair, and favorite drink for our annual Crossroads Showcase in downtown Omaha’s Premiere Outdoor Venue, Gene Leahy Mall Pavilion – the young, but already iconic gem in Omaha’s RiverFront district.
Enjoy an scenic evening of music and poetry with festival headliners Dawn of Midi, Layale Chaker and Sarafand, and Kinan Azmeh, along with poetry from the current and former Nebraska State Poet and true Cornhusker wordsmiths Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason.
Bring a picnic or peruse the many food trucks offering a myriad of uniquely-Nebraskan culinary experiences and let the kids run wild on Nebraska’s best playground or stop by the face-painting and other family-friendly activities throughout the park. And be sure to stop by our co-presenter KVNO's tent for treats and fun items!
Location: Gene Leahy Mall Pavilion
July 29, 2025
DINUK WIJERATNE
The Composer's Mind-Creativity Insights
7-8pm
Join internationally acclaimed composer Dinuk Wijeratne for a rare behind-the-scenes look into his creative process. Described as “Exuberantly creative” (New York Times), Wijeratne shares personal insights, stories, and musical excerpts in this intimate conversation about inspiration, collaboration, and invention.
We are proud to partner with Omaha's Gallery 1516, a stalwart champion of Nebraska art and music, and Humanities Nebraska to put on this unique program.
Location: Gallery 1516
DAWN OF MIDI
Jazz-flavored Minimalism
8:30-9:30pm
"Hearing Dawn of Midi perform Dysnomia from beginning to end is simply a transcendental experience." –Kinan Azmeh, 2025 guest festival curator.
After a decade-long hiatus, the genre-defying trio Dawn of Midi reunites to perform their landmark album Dysnomia live in its entirety at Gallery 1516 in Omaha. Known for creating hypnotic, electronic-sounding grooves with purely acoustic instruments, their music has been described as “a jazz album unlike anything you’ve heard before” (Drowned in Sound).
Location: Gallery 1516
July 30, 2025
LAYALE CHAKER AND SARAFAND
Arabic Jazz Fusion
7:00-8:30pm
Back for her fourth Crossroads appearance, Layale Chaker brings her acclaimed ensemble Sarafand to perform their evocative new release, Radio Afloat. We are grateful to partner with University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Glenn Korff School of Music as they unveil the newly-revitalized Kimball Hall, exploiting its state-of-the-art acoustics and technical wizardry with Chaker’s rich, distinct musical language.
Blending Arabic microtonality, jazz, and contemporary classical, Chaker’s music reflects on the tides of identity, power, and the natural world, "cherry-picking from cool contemporary classical, simmering jazz, ear-tweaking Arabic microtonality, and gently probing improvisation” – The Strad.
Location: Kimball Hall, UNL Glenn Korff School of Music
ERDEM & FRIENDS
Immersive Soundscapes
9-10pm
“Like a movie, but just with sound.” Turkish composer and electronic artist Erdem Helvacioglu invites audiences into an immersive world of sound. Known for transforming guitar lines into hypnotic rhythmic structures, Erdem will collaborate live with festival artists for a one-of-a-kind improvisational set at the newly-opened Music Box in Lincoln (MBX)
Crossroads is proud to partner with the newly-minted MBX as it opens it’s State-of-the-Art sound facility available to all with the mission of developing young talent and elevating the voices of the future within our community.
Location: Music Box Lincoln (MBX)
July 31, 2025
ERDEM & FRIENDS
Immersive Soundscapes
7-8pm
“Like a movie, but just with sound.” Turkish composer and electronic artist Erdem Helvacioglu invites audiences into an immersive world of sound. Known for transforming guitar lines and prepared piano into hypnotic rhythmic structures, Erdem will collaborate live with festival artists for a one-of-a-kind improvisational set unlike anything you’ve heard before.
–or anything you’ve seen. This unique event will take place in the Bowtruss of the iconic KANEKO, in the midst of large sculptural works from artist Bruce Beasley. In this exciting new partnership between Crossroads and KANEKO, we strive to fulfill KANEKO’s mission of exploring the creative process, and promoting freedom in creativity and imagination. It promises to be an experience to remember.
Location: KANEKO
CELLO SPECTRUM
From Raga to Reverb: Hindustani Roots and Electric Loops
9-10pm
A double billing of sonic contrasts and cello virtuosity. Experience a solo set of David Downing’s mesmerizing loop-based compositions followed by a soulful segment drawing on Jake Charkey's deep roots in Hindustani music. The evening concludes with a collaborative finale—two distinct voices blending into one unforgettable sound.
We’re also delighted to partner for the first time with Omaha's iconic BLUEBARN theatre on their iconic outdoor stage, contributing to BLUEBARN’s long-standing commitment to bold and original performances.
Outdoor experience on the green. Blankets and chairs encouraged.
Location: BLUEBARN Theatre
August 1, 2025
LINCOLN FINALE
Orchestral Extravaganza
7-8:30pm
Come and see the newly-minted Crossroads Festival Orchestra finish with a flair and a program curated by Kinan Azmeh, that promises to go deep.
We’ve put together an orchestra with familiar and new faces, local and visiting artists – a true expression of the festival’s ability to connect across geography and culture. Including Omaha Symphony Concertmaster Susanna Perry Gilmore, Russian virtuoso violinist Olga Smola, and Lincoln-native bassist Sam Beck-Johnson just to name a few, it will be a tribute to Nebraska’s own musical environment, its musical institutions and its impact on the wider world.
Featuring soloists Layale Chaker, Jake Charkey, Dinuk Wijeratne and Kinan Azmeh, the program features works of those artists and more, conducted by pianist/composer Dinuk Wijeratne and led by a rotating cast of concertmasters.
Experience it at the newly-revitalized Kimball Hall, with its state-of-the-art acoustics, redesigned seating and modern stage. We’re honored to partner with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Glenn Korff School of Music and share in the activation of their new dynamic performance spaces.
Program Highlights
Kareem Roustom: Dabkeh
Layale Chaker: Hints on Memory, for solo violin and string orchestra
Dinuk Wijeratne: Gajaga Vannama, for solo piano and orchestra
Stan Charkey: J/J, Jake Charkey, solo cello
Kinan Azmeh: Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra – Love on 139th Street / November 22nd / Wedding
Location: Kimball Hall, UNL Glenn Korff School of Music
August 2, 2025
ART-TASTIC SATURDAY
Music and Storytelling for all ages
11am-2pm
Since opening the Joslyn Hawks Pavilion, Nebraska’s premiere art museum is setting attendance records – Don't miss Art-tastic Saturdays with Nebraska Crossroads on August 2 at The Joslyn!
Crossroads joins forces with the The Joslyn for a day of creativity and connection for the whole family. Enjoy a fun-filled children’s concert, two performances by the enchanting Nordic-folk duo ííS, live poetry with Nebraska State Poets, current and former, Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason, and an interactive storytelling-through-poetry workshop with Matt Mason. It’s a perfect way to experience music, stories, and art–together.
Location: The Joslyn
OMAHA FINALE
Orchestral Extravaganza
7-8:30pm
Come and see the newly-minted Crossroads Festival Orchestra finish out the festival with a flair with a program, curated by Kinan Azmeh, that promises to go deep.
We’ve put together an orchestra with familiar and new faces, local and visiting artists – a true expression of the festival’s ability to connect across geography and culture. Including Omaha Symphony Concertmaster Susanna Perry Gilmore, Russian virtuoso violinist Olga Smola, and Lincoln-native bassist Sam Beck-Johnson just to name a few, it will be a tribute to Nebraska’s own musical environment, it’s musical institutions and it’s artistic export to the world.
Featuring soloists Layale Chaker, Jake Charkey, Dinuk Wijeratne and Kinan Azmeh, the program features works of those artists and more, conducted (in part) by pianist/composer Dinuk Wijeratne and led by a rotating cast of concertmasters.
Program Highlights
Kareem Roustom: Dabkeh
Layale Chaker: Hints on Memory, for solo violin and string orchestra
Dinuk Wijeratne: Gajaga Vannama, for solo piano and orchestra
Stan Charkey: J/J, Jake Charkey, solo cello
Kinan Azmeh: Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra – Love on 139th Street / November 22nd / Wedding
Location: Christiansen Hall, Strauss Performing Arts Center, UNO
Date: July 20 - August 2, 2025
Location: Various Venues in Lincoln and Omaha, NE