Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame!

Matt Cox to be honored in 2024

The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association Announces 2024 Iowa Rock Hall of Fame Inductees

The Class of 2024 will be inducted Labor Day Weekend in Arnolds Park.

(Arnolds Park, IA) - The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association is pleased to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 that will be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Spectacular on Labor Day weekend, August 30-September 1.

Ralph Kluseman, President of the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Association stated, “This Class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees honors the talent in Iowa and the talent of inductees from around the world that provide the joy of music in our lives. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Arnolds Park during the induction celebration planned for Labor Day weekend.”

There will be a Rock The Roof concert on Thursday, August 29 and an Okoboji Rocks Concert Series event on Friday, August 30 to kick off the induction weekend celebration. The Opening Ceremony, Iowa Rocks Talent Contest and Inductee Meet & Greet will all be on Saturday, August 31. The weekend culminates with the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Induction Ceremony, Autograph Party and Concert on Sunday, September 1.

2024 Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Inductees:

Band Category: Lake Patrol, Johnny Trash, The Ozone Ramblers, Jason Reed & Kerosene, Ghostship, Labyrinth,
311, Cornfed, Sage

Border Band Category: Cartwright Brothers

Out of State Band Category: Badfinger

Inventor Category: Wade Goedke, Owner of Chandler Limited

Individual Category: Dave Rowley, Lynn Wee, Jon Purdy, John Stefaniak, Matt Cox, Richard Kleinberg, Phil Kelly, Dave Ducharme-Jones, Tina Mock, Dawn Sedlacek

DJ Category: Tony Coloff, Rick Galusha

Music Store: North Star Music Supply

Support Person Category: Phil Maas, Tim Fox

Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award: Jon Douglas “Doug” Dixon

Matousek Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary Heady, Sr.

2024 Special Achievement Awards:

Spirit Awards: Jeff Poulter/Capitol Theater, Bryan Farland, Wendy Hull

John Senn Legacy Award: Diane Sanders
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Media Contact: Ralph Kluseman, President
ralphkluseman@iowarocknroll.com

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The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association annually inducts musicians, bands, DJs, ballrooms and others who have significantly contributed to rock and roll music in the State of Iowa. Since incorporation in 1997, more than 500 entities and over 1,900 individuals have had the honor of being inducted or awarded. Inductees must have a minimum of 25 years of experience in the music industry.

The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association welcomes nominations through the website www.iowarocknroll.com. Nominations that have been brought forward on or before September 2024 will be considered for the Induction Class of 2025
.

Details on the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame Induction Spectacular Weekend schedule and ticket information will be forthcoming at www.iowarocknroll.com

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The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association exists to preserve the legacy of rock and roll music in Iowa by honoring achievements, educating youth, and inspiring artists. Established in 1997, as a 501(c)(3) non- profit statewide organization.

16th Annual OEAA Winners Announced

February 21, 2022

The Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards (OEAA) is pleased to announce our 16th annual award winners. Thank you for joining us virtually, for the second year in a row, to recognize and celebrate local Omaha visual artists, performing artists, and musicians. Video of the live stream is available on YouTube and Facebook.

Trophies will be available for pickup at BFF Gallery (59th and Maple St. in Benson) during the week of February 28 leading up to March 4. The BFF Gallery will be open 2-6 p.m. Then, on Friday, March 4, the gallery will host a First Friday event from 5-9 p.m., with red carpet photography for all winners, nominees, and the general public. Photography by Heather Hooton is sponsored by the Fashion Guild and Fashion Arts Collective.

Music

Outstanding Rock: Gallivant
Outstanding Hard Rock: Arson City
Outstanding Alternative/Indie: Those Far Out Arrows
Outstanding Metal: Devil In The Details
Outstanding DJ: Crabrangucci
Outstanding Americana/Folk: Matt Cox
Outstanding Country: Pony Creek
Outstanding R&B: Enjoli & Timeless
Outstanding Soul: Big Wade & Black Swan Theory
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap: Marcey Yates
Outstanding Blues: The Rex Granite Band featuring Sarah Benck
Outstanding Jazz: David Hawkins
Outstanding Pop: The Rare Candies
Outstanding Progressive Rock/Experimental/EDM: Plack Blague
Outstanding Punk: No Thanks
Outstanding World: Edem Soul Music
Outstanding Cover Band: Tara Vaughan, “She Rocks”
Album of the Year: Marcey Yates & Xoboi, “Culxr House:Freedom Summer”
Artist of the Year: Hector Anchondo
Outstanding New Artist: Midwest Coast
Outstanding Recording Studio: Make Believe Studios
Outstanding Live Music Sound Engineer: Ian Aeillo

17th Annual OEAA Winners Announced

January 29, 2023

The Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards is pleased to announced trophy winners for the 17th Annual OEAAs. The event on Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center in Council Bluffs was the nonprofit organization’s first in-person awards program since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Congrats to all of the nominees, and thanks for joining us! Video of the live stream is available on YouTube and Facebook.

 

Music

Outstanding New Artist: Bel Canto Duo
Outstanding Rock: Names Without Numbers
Outstanding Hard Rock: Arson City
Outstanding Punk: BIB
Outstanding Metal: The Tale Untold
Outstanding Pop: Mad Darling
Outstanding Alternative/Indie: Oquoa
Outstanding DJ: Crabrangucci
Outstanding Americana/Folk: Matt Cox
Outstanding Country: Sack of Lions
Outstanding R&B: Enjoli & Timeless
Outstanding Soul: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal
Outstanding Hip-Hop: Marcey Yates
Outstanding Blues: Rex Granite Band ft. Sarah Benck
Outstanding Jazz: Mitch Towne
Outstanding Progressive Rock/Experimental/EDM: Plack Blague
Outstanding World: Edem
Outstanding Cover Band: Them Uke Boys
Outstanding Recording Studio: Make Believe Studios
Outstanding Sound Engineer: Ian Aeillo
Album of the Year: Hector Anchondo, “Let Loose Those Chains”
Artist of the Year: King ISO

OEAA Nominees Announced!

November 15, 2021

Omaha, Nebraska — The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruption to Omaha’s creative communities. So, it is with great honor that we recognize and celebrate the performing artists, visual artists, and musicians who have accomplished so much in these difficult times.

The Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards announced nominees for the 16th annual OEA-Awards on Friday, Nov. 5, in a series of Facebook Live streams cohosted with BFF in Benson outside of The Sydney, Ted & Wally’s, and Petshop. Presenters included John-Paul Gurnett (with BFF) and OEAA board members Aly Peeler, Tim Guthrie, and Trac Schacht. Greg Brown of the OEAA board recorded the videos.

Live recordings of the announcement videos can be found on the Facebook event page for the 16th Annual OEAA Nominee Reveal: https://fb.me/e/1hLDwffY3

Nominees for the 16th Annual Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards

Outstanding Americana/Folk

  • Aly Peeler
  • Andre Vander Velde
  • Charlie & Lucy
  • Corey & Carrie Ann
  • Jeremy Mercy and the Rapture Orphans
  • Matt Cox
  • Over The River
  • The Bedrock
  • The Wildwoods

Album of the Year

  • Andrea von Kampen, That Spell
  • Bach Mai, What You’ve Given
  • Dereck Higgins, Future Still
  • Evandale, All Or Nothing
  • Jay Influential, The Wolf We Feed
  • Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Natural Born Hustler
  • Marcey Yates & Xoboi, Culxr House:Freedom Summer
  • Matt Cox, Let the Pigs Fly
  • The Fey, Palm Tree Shade
  • Those Far Out Arrows, Fill Yer Cup

Matt Cox makes his return to Lincoln with release of new album

July 9, 2021

This spring, Matt Cox and his bandmates drove to Fuse Recording to make a record with producer Charlie Johnson.

Friday afternoon, Cox and his band will be back in Lincoln to showcase songs from “Let The Pigs Fly,” their first show at the Zoo Bar since the album was released last month.

The album is a stellar slice of Americana, bringing to mind traces of The Band, the Sir Douglas Quintet, a bit of Bob Dylan, BeauSoleil and the honky-tonk side of Merle Haggard.

The record, filled with everything from ukulele and banjo to accordion and Hammond B3 organ, sounds terrific, and Cox is, quite simply, one of the best singers around.

“Let The Pigs Fly” is framed by a pair of bluesy numbers, opening with the insistent stomp of “Dark Matter” and closing with the slippery, blues-riffing rock ‘n’ roll of “It Must Be Devil.”

In between, Cox gets Tex-Mex right with “Don’t Say,” tells a country story in “Daddy Fell Off the Wagon," gets on the sawdust covered floors of the honky-tonk with the slow piano and steel shuffle “Here We Go Again,” sings the country-tinged blues on the title, and, get this, turns “Polly Wolly Doodle” -- yes, the kid’s song -- into an irresistible Cajun dance tune.

“Let The Pigs Fly” is out on streaming services, so you can sample it there. Then you’ll want to head down to the Zoo to hear the songs live and buy a copy of what’s likely to be the best roots/Americana album to come out of Nebraska this year.

-L. KENT WOLGAMOTT

Tree With Roots

June 8, 2021

"Matt Cox is one of the region’s most authentic and gifted voices, which he has proven again on his new album. It showcases his respect for — and command of — roots music in its many iterations. The songs exude the wit, tenderness, humor and sharpness that have made Cox such a resonant writer and performer not to be missed." 

Tree With Roots interview with Ryan Evans on 89.3 KZUM in support of _Let The Pigs Fly_.

The Dispatch (Omaha, NE) | June 10, 2021

Pacific Street Blues

June 6, 2021

Pacific Street Blues interview with Rick Galusha on 89.7 The River in support of _Let The Pigs Fly_.

OEA Winner to Warm Stage Singer-songwriter Matt Cox to play at 'Mile Zero'       Americana roots-rocker Matt Cox and his band will perform at the Celebrate at Mile Zero festival on Saturday (July 13) at Bayliss Park. The Omaha Arts & Entertainment Award-winner will help warm the stage for headliner Jay Allen, who follows Cox's 12:30 p.m. set.     Cox is one of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area's most respected and most adored songwriters. He's played almost every venue in the area at one point or another, and he's always delivered a winning score of county-tinged folk-rock and that carries his original, Midwestern stamp on it.     Get primed to hear Matt sing by listening to his audio video to "Ungodly Creatures." Click on the play button at left to hear it.” - Jim Minge

The Dispatch