I’m passing the torch.

I’m moving on from the Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards as Music Nominating Committee Chair and Marq Manner has been elected to fill this important position.

After more than a decade of covering local music for the street weeklies along with producing shows in a variety of venues I know Marq will bring a fresh perspective to the OEAs.

In his able hands I expect the OEA Summer Showcase to be bigger and better than 2008 filling the void of the now-defunct Mid-American Music Festival.

It will be an exciting year for music in Omaha and the OEAs with so many terrific album releases out since the first of the year and a number of others on the horizon.

Saddle Creek Records recording artists have certainly been busy. In the last three weeks we’ve been treated to a new album from Cursive (OEA winner), with sales already over 10,000 units, a new project from former Azure Ray member Orenda Fink, entitled O + S, the project is a collaboration with former Remy Zero (Smallville TV theme) band member Cedric Lemoyne, and a new release from local electronic outfit Beep Beep.

And Beep Beep member Darren Keen just released a new Show is the Rainbow album and early reviews are very positive. TSITR will support Beep Beep on tour this year.

But Saddle Creekers aren’t the only artists with national distribution deals.

Little Brazil (OEA winner) is now a member of the roster of Kansas City’s Anodyne label, distributed nationally by E1E Entertainment (formerly Koch) and celebrated the release of “Son” at the Waiting Room last Saturday. Hope they enjoyed the fruit and vegetable trays we donated.

Four weeks ago metal act and OEA winner Paria dropped their second album for legendary record label, Metal Blade, which is distributed nationally by RED.

Slumber Party Records, a sort of minor league farm team for Saddle Creek, just announced new reissues from Outlaw Con Bandana, which precede a planned new release from the band scheduled for late April.
And there’s more to come!

The other half of Azure Ray, Maria Taylor, will unveil her third collection, the terrific “Lady Luck” on March 31 through Nettwork Records, the label run by her management team, home to Sarah Mclachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Miranda Lee Richards and more.

Lincoln-based metal act Dirtfedd will unleash a new CD in June through Koch Records and support with tours supporting Devildriver and Slipknot. Plan on hearing this one on KIWR 89.7 the River, a strong supporter of these guys.

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band will perform in Omaha in April to showcase music from their upcoming May release, Outer South. The band will also make stops at the Coachella Music Festival and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

The local landscape has also been treated to some special independent releases over the last couple months with new discs from Brad Hoshaw & the Seven Deadlies and the first album in three years from Anchondo.

Local favorites the Filter Kings, Matt Cox, It’s True, Thunder Power and Rock Paper Dynamite all have new albums out and while no longer an Omaha band but still a fan favorite around these parts, 311 have a new CD scheduled for July.

These follow successful late 2008 releases from Brimstone Howl, the 9′s, Midwest Dilemma and the Black Squirrels and I’m sure I’ve left a few off the list and will surely receive e-mails over those omissions.

The “next Austin” or “next Seattle” comparisons have come and gone, but clearly there is much to be thankful for with so many diverse artists choosing Omaha as their home to create. Get out and support original local music. Any artists not listed here hoping to garner an OEA nomination this year better be prepared to bring their “A” game because the competition just keeps getting better and I am looking forward to seeing these and a number of other acts at this year’s OEA Summer Showcase.

Good luck!