After more than two decades of producing concerts and celebrating live music with an incredible community of volunteers, artists, and fans, I never expected a moment like this. The Blues Foundation recently announced that I will be honored with a 2026 Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award—a recognition that means far more than I can put into words.

This isn’t just my story, though. It’s a story about community, friendship, and 22 years of bringing FREE, LIVE music to Omaha. Before I share the Blues Society of Omaha’s (BSO) nomination below, I want to take a moment to thank the incredible people who helped make this recognition possible.

There are so many Thank You’s to extend. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to our dear friends Walter and Marie Trout, as well as Fred Robertson and other BSO members, for the countless hours they dedicated to creating the nomination. I also want to thank the Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) for their years of support and for nominating me not once, not twice, but three times.

Although my name appears on the award, it truly belongs to Playing with Fire co-producer Vanessa Marie, to Laura Luger and our entire Playing with Fire team; to the hundreds of BSO volunteers; to the artists; to the fans; and to everyone who has supported our 22-year mission to bring FREE, LIVE music to Omaha. This recognition reflects the passion, love, and commitment of an entire community.

Thank You All!!

Jeff Davis

Founder/Producer

Playing with Fire

 Each year, The Blues Foundation presents the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the Blues world.

Keeping the Blues Alive: 2026 Nomination

Submitted by the Blues Foundation Affiliate Organization, Blues Society of Omaha

Profile

Since 2004, Jeff Davis has produced an annual free Blues summer concert series, Playing with Fire, in Omaha, along with several other music events, such as the PwF Winter Series, Music For The City, and special concerts to raise funds for musicians and non-profits. He also has created The Music House Residency Program to support artists needing a creative space. His work has not only consistently brought great blues artists to Omaha but has also supported non-profit youth artist development programs such as the Keeping the Blues Alive award-winning BluesEd program and School of Rock. One unique aspect of Playing with Fire is its emphasis on bringing young blues artists - especially international acts - to Omaha, often for their first exposure to US audiences.

Career Overview

PRODUCER, PLAYING WITH FIRE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, 2004-PRESENT

•  Works year-round to curate talent and arrange logistics for hundreds of bands/artists to travel to Omaha, including dozens of international acts.
• Recruits, hires, and trains thousands of Omaha Blues fans who volunteer to make Playing with Fire happen.
• Promotes PwF, along with co-producer Vanessa Marie, in order to draw fans to Omaha from around the country, as well as around the world, to celebrate the Blues.
• Coordinates with city officials and venues as the series has been hosted at the Lewis and Clark Landing, Turner Park at Midtown Crossing, the Gene Leahy Mall, and, most recently, moved indoors to The Slowdown.
• Supports and fosters continued appreciation of the Blues, by hosting free musician workshops held by PwF guest artists for students in the Omaha BluesEd youth artist development music program.
• Donates funds to non-profits such as BluesEd, Foodbank of the Heartland (over $38,000), and Donate Life, as well as providing education and attaining organ donation registrations from blues fans.

PRODUCER, MUSIC FOR THE CITY, PwF WINTER SERIES, AND SPECIAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS

• Produced six smaller venue shows featuring Blues artists in 2021/2022 at Miller's Landing.
• Produced twelve ticketed PwF Winter Series shows in 2008 at the Holland Performing Arts 1200 Club.
• Sponsored and produced fundraising events over the years for musicians in need, and Omaha non-profits.
• FOUNDER/DIRECTOR, CATALYST FOUNDATION AND MUSIC HOUSE
• Started the non-profit Catalyst Foundation to guarantee that his Blues legacy in Omaha will live on past his own life.
• Purchased The Music House and provided rent-free living and creative space for five artists since its inception in 2020.
• Began a series of Music House Concerts hosted by current artist-in-residence Jeni Grouws.

Jeff Davis- A Blues Biography

Jeff Davis says that the first artist whose music he loved was Roy Orbison. "After Roy Orbison, you can go two ways, country or blues, and I went towards the blues," he told me. Omaha blues fans are very happy he made that choice.

For decades, he was a dedicated live music fan, regularly at Lincoln's Zoo Bar and Omaha's Howard Street Tavern, where he said, "I saw Luther Allison so many times we became friends." At the same time, he was building and managing his successful business, Davis Erection Company, changing Omaha's landscape, as well as, other cities in the region. His achievements as a business manager gave him the ability to retire and sparked an idea to combine his loves. He would bring some of the best blues musicians in the world to Omaha and create and build a free festival in his hometown.

In 2004, Davis's first Playing with Fire Festival featured this lineup-- Bernard Allison, Joe Bonamassa, Savoy Brown, Walter Trout, and Coco Montoya. Since then, he has continued to recruit and hire the finest artists from around the world, such as When Rivers Meet, King King, and Cardinal Black, as well as nationally acclaimed musicians like Sharon Jones and the Dap Tones, Tab Benoit, and Curtis Salgado. He also has given plenty of Omaha talent, including young players in the Omaha BluesEd program, an opportunity to play. Hector Anchondo and Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal are two local bands who played at PwF and went on to success at the International Blues Festival in Memphis.

It is not only Davis's eye for selecting talent, often assisted by his partner and PwF associate producer Vanessa Marie, that makes him an important Blues leader deserving of recognition; but also the compassion, empathy, and straightforward, caring treatment he gives everyone who works with him, from the artists to the managers to the countless volunteers in Omaha needed to run the PwF Festival for over 20 years. So many artists testify to Jeff Davis giving them their first big break, aiding them in getting to the United States, or providing them with vital help when they faced health or financial difficulties. He is a man of integrity who keeps his word, works hard, and gives all of us lucky enough to see the fruits of his labor the gift of live music played for a community's joy.

Recently, Jeff talked about a scare-- he was hospitalized after accidentally walking in front of a car-- and realized "I'm not going to live forever." To make sure his life's cause of bringing music to Omaha would continue, he founded the Catalyst Foundation, which will support The  Music House in Omaha and its artist-in-residence program (which Davis began in 2020), providing help to musicians to develop their art in perpetuity. Jeff Davis is a man of great skill, vision, and compassion, and he deserves recognition for Keeping the Blues Alive.

Fred Robertson

Board of Directors - Blues Society of Omaha - 2025 to Present

Editor/Head Writer-Blues Notes (BSO Monthly Newsletter) -2023 to Present

Media Nominations

Rick Galusha, Ph D,  Host, Pacific St. Blues & American radio program, since 1991; Keeping the Blues Alive recipient, 2010

"The Omaha, Nebraska area has made significant contributions to American music - including Art Tatum, The Everly Brothers, Glenn Miller, Eugene 'Gene' McDaniel, Anna Mae Winburn, Wynonie Harris, Sparkle Moore, Shaun Murphy, Buddy Miles, Janiva Magness, Lalomie Washburn, Curly Martin, Preston Love Jr., and Paul Williams - along with residencies featuring and nurturing Charlie Christian, Count Basie, and Nat Cole at the original Jewel Night Club. I am joining the chorus of others in nominating Omaha native Jeff Davis for a Keeping the Blues Alive recognition for the two-decade old Playing with Fire concert series. Jeff Davis demonstrates a genuine appreciation for the great American musical art form known as the blues and is well deserving of formal recognition by the Blues Foundation and blues fans everywhere."

Pete Francis,  Blues Rock Review

"Jeff Davis is a selfless champion of the blues. Jeff puts together a world-class lineup each year, and what makes Playing with Fire unique is the fact that Jeff brings blues acts from all over the world to the United States that normally wouldn't be able to come, helping them to get work visas, which is financially very difficult for artists to do. Not only does he bring a world-class lineup to Omaha but the festival is also FREE. You can't see a free lineup with the level of talent Jeff brings to Playing with Fire anywhere else. Thousands of people from all over the country and the world come to Omaha to see this festival and that is truly keeping the blues alive."

Omaha Community Organization Nominations

Kevin Burns,  Omaha BluesEd Co-Director, Treasurer

"Jeff Davis has been a fantastic supporter of BluesEd for more than 20 years. BluesEd bands have been invited to play in almost every annual Playing with Fire free summer festival since Mr. Davis created that event in 2004. Mr. Davis has arranged workshops during PwF for our young musicians to interact with and learn from blues musicians. In 2024, Chris Buck and Tom Hollister from Cardinal Black, and Aynsley Lister spent a morning with our students. Mr. Davis has also financially supported our program, with 2025 our eighth year as PwF1s charitable partner. Not only do we receive free-will donations given by fans at the shows, but BluesEd has also been presented, two years in a row, with a handmade guitar made by a Seattle luthier who learned about our program while attending the festival. The guitar raffle proceeds we had helped our BluesEd chapter send a youth band to Memphis each year. In our years with BluesEd, we have not met anyone who has done more to Keep the Blues Alive than Jeff Davis."

Ellie Archer,  Director of Omaha Tourism Bureau 1978 - 1983; Executive Director of the Omaha Women's Fund 2000 - 2012

"As the founding Director of the Omaha Tourism Bureau, I can attest to the fact that few, if any, volunteer-led events have had the enduring impact on the local entertainment and tourism industry that PwF has had. The contribution that Jeff has made in bringing world-class blues talent to the city for the enjoyment of people in the region - all free of charge - is simply unmatched. And in turn, the number of people who have been exposed to extraordinary talent in the blues genre is likewise unparalleled. I also served as the Executive Director of the Omaha Women's Fund for 12 years. In that role, I had the privilege of working firsthand with our community's leading philanthropists. Jeff is a standout among them in his unflagging passion for the mission of his organization. It would be hard to imagine anyone more deserving of this honor."

Artist/Artist Management Nominations

Paul Deslauriers & Annika Chambers,  Artists

"Over the last two decades, we've had the privilege of working closely with Jeff, performing at several Playing with Fire and Music for the City events, and every experience with him has been remarkable. His professionalism, dedication, and unwavering passion for the blues set him apart as a true leader in the industry. However, Jeff's contributions extend far beyond organizing shows. He has been a friend and generous benefactor to blues musicians in need. During the pandemic, as we faced severe personal challenges related to the closure of the Canada-USA border and Paul's subsequent emergency, Jeff stepped in with compassion and generosity that we will never forget. He ensured that we had a place to stay and the support we needed during an incredibly difficult time. His selflessness during this period, when so many were struggling, speaks volumes about his character and commitment to those around him."

Dawn Tyler Watson,  Artist

"Jeff and his organization do a number of events for the city. I've played at the homeless shelter and a Women's Crisis Center. I've done school events for the BluesEd program he helps support. I toured the rape crisis center at a local hospital when I was down for a fundraiser he had arranged for them. In 2020, after the George Floyd murder, Jeff called me and wanted my input on programming more people of color; he was acutely aware of his role to help raise awareness and one of the first to be proactive in reaching out to me with deep understanding. I am lucky enough to have been invited down to Omaha several times. The last time we played, a young lady was on stage before us one of the kids I had coached in 2007 at one of Jeff's school events. She was all grown up, with her own Blues career, doing original music. She said she had never forgotten that experience and that it changed her life. I got all misty, gave her big hug, and told her to shine on and to keep making music. Thank God for people like Jeff and his efforts in the schools and in the community so that the future of the Blues is little bit brighter."

Cedric Perrier LLB (HONS) ,  Artist Manager/Producer, Impressarius Limited

"Jeff Davis brings a selfless determination to seeing that artists he likes - who may be overlooked by mainstream promoters - get a fair crack at playing in his beloved Omaha. It's equally important to him that these artists - like Cardinal Black, Bywater Call and so many others - enjoy playing in Omaha as much as the local community enjoys their performances. Most notably, he doesn't wait for these artists to find them; instead, he personally pitches them to join him in Omaha, then follows up with a formal offer that often includes contributions to assist them with crippling visa and travel costs. This is how we keep the blues alive. He's one of the best friends music can have."

Jeni Grouws,  The Music House Artist-in-Residence

"My residency at The Music House has helped me make incredible connections with other Omaha musicians at open mics, concerts, and songwriting sessions. I was honored to have a handful of those musicians on stage with me in May at The Jewell on Capitol for my show Songs from The Music House, my love letter to Omaha. In the coming months, I will be going to Nashville to record my debut solo album, made up entirely of songs I've written during my residency. Jeff Davis and the Catalyst Foundation provided me with this opportunity and have now extended my residency through May 2026. My next project is sharing a series of five intimate house concerts, already off to a successful start with the Reyes Brothers from Kansas City, with Hadden Sayers up next. In addition, I will be creating a website for The Music House so that other musicians will be able to learn more about the magic this place holds. At a time when it feels harder than ever to be a musician and a songwriter, The Music House and Jeff Davis have gifted me time and space to create, and for those gifts I will be forever grateful."

Curtis Salgado,  Artist

'As the founder and producer of the Playing with Fire Festival, Jeff has been instrumental in providing an opportunity to share blues music with and for the community of Omaha. I've experienced this outstanding experience twice at my own performances over the years. In addition, Jeff and the PwF Festival provide important financial support for future generations of blues music via the BluesEd non-profit youth talent development program sponsored by the Blues Society of Omaha. There is no better way to help keep the blues alive than by producing events like Jeff Davis1s Playing with Fire Festival, where blues musicians are employed and new fans are born."

Walter Trout, Artist

"Jeff Davis is a man on a mission. He is a true, deeply committed blues music lover, and he does his utmost to share the music he loves with the city he loves. For over 20 years now, he has put on one of the finest blues festivals in the United States in Omaha, Nebraska. He funds it himself and it is always free to the people of the city. He travels the world and finds up-and-coming artists. It doesn't matter if they are world-famous or just beginning their careers, Jeff always treats them with utmost respect and exemplary hospitality. This is his mission, and he pursues it with passion and resolve. He does all this with an incredibly deep humility, which is very rare in this business. He doesn't seek the spotlight, and he doesn't seek publicity for himself- he does this strictly for the joy he feels by sharing the music, creating community, and doing some good in this world. This award is called Keeping the Blues Alive. In my 55 years as a blues musician, I have never known anyone more deserving of that title and that award!"

Marie Trout PhD,  Artist Manager – Author – Speaker

‘Come to Omaha. You can stay at my condo as long as you want. I have a car for you to drive, I have friends at the hospital, and we've already talked about how we can support Walter's situation.'  Such were the words from Jeff to me on the phone, when Walter, deathly ill from liver failure, was unable to be helped in Los Angeles due to a regional shortage of organ donation. We flew to Omaha, and the ready-made community and housing afforded to us by Jeff in a very real way saved Walter's life and my sanity. I stayed in Jeff's condo for four months, and for the six months we remained in Omaha, Jeff let me use his car to get around. For our family, our gratitude runs deep-and it's personal. Without Jeff, my husband might not have survived. Walter has since been nominated and won several blues awards, so, in a literal sense, for us and for Walter's fans, Jeff has kept the music alive. We are not alone. Jeff's insightful and compassionate work for the blues and for blues people reaches far and wide."

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The Blues Foundation will present the 2026 Keeping The Blues Alive Awards at a recognition brunch on Friday, January 16, during the International Blues Challenge (IBC), held January 13–17. 

 Learn more about each organization and consider becoming a member:

 The Blues Foundation

The Blues Foundation Mission: To preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form

What is the Keeping the Blues Alive Award 

 Meet all the 2026 Keeping the Blues Alive Award Recipients

 Blues Society of Omaha

The Blues Society of Omaha (BSO) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed in 1998. We are an all-volunteer organization dedicated to promoting Blues music in the greater Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska metropolitan areas.

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