Matt Whipkey & Cyrille Aimee to Perform at Holland Performing Arts Center in March

There are two nights of great live music at the 1200 Club inside the Holland Performing Arts Center in March: Omaha musician Matt Whipkey will play his celebrated concept album, Penny Park: Omaha, NE: 1989, in its entirety with special guest Rothsteen on Friday, March 4. The following night, March 5, mesmerizing French vocalist Cyrille Aimee will perform a mix of American standards and gypsy jazz, with touches of Brazilian and French pop. Both concerts start at 8:00 p.m. in the Scott Recital Hall of the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.

General admission tickets to Whipkey's concert are $15; general admission tickets to Aimee's concert are $25. Tickets are available through Ticket Omaha* at 402.345.0606, TicketOmaha.com or the Ticket Omaha office inside the Holland Performing Arts Center at 12th and Douglas streets. Both concerts are part of the Omaha Performing Arts' 2015/16 1200 Club Series, which is sponsored by Mutual of Omaha.

Whipkey's concert on March 4 will be a night of nostalgia, bringing listeners back to the summer of 1989. The Omaha musician will play his celebrated concept album, Penny Park: Omaha, NE: 1989, in its entirety at an intimate 1200 Club performance. Designed to be heard from start to finish, Whipkey's Penny Park album tells a story about a guy, the girl he likes, and the now-defunct amusement park, Peony Park. The album was described as "nostalgic, but fresh" by the Lincoln Journal Star reviewer, who wrote: "The music is perfectly crafted Heartland rock, rockers and ballads that consistently fit the story, right down to the instrumental 'High Heel and the Sneakers,' a tribute of sorts to the Peony Park regulars." The album named Album of the Year at the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards in 2013, and earned Whipkey the honor of Artist of the Year.

Aime?e was primarily raised in France by a French father and Dominican mother. As a child, she fell in love with the music played at gypsy encampments, and was captivated to the point that later, she traveled throughout Europe playing and singing music on street corners with her musician

friends. This tour eventually led her to the Montreux Jazz Festival, where she won first prize in their vocal competition. She now tours the world with her band as well as in a duo setting with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo. In 2013, she was cast by Stephen Sondheim in his Encores! Special Event at New York City's City Center. Aime?e's major label debut was released in 2014 on Mack Avenue Records.

The 1200 Club transforms the Holland Performing Arts Center's Suzanne and Walter Scott Recital Hall into a relaxed nightclub setting where patrons can experience performances by nationally and internationally known artists in jazz, blues and comedy. While enjoying the evening's entertainment, audience members may enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails served right to their candle-lit table. The remaining performances at the 1200 Club are Ester Rada, April 22; James Torme? Celebrates The Greats, May 6; and Kevin Eubanks, May 20.

To post a comment, you must register and login.