RELEASE: Billy McGuigan and the Downliners Join the Omaha Symphony Outdoors

Ernest Richardson leads the Omaha Symphony in this symphonic rock show with local favorites
McGuigan performs hits from The Beatles, Elton John, and The Rolling Stones plus originals

OMAHA, Neb., May 18, 2021 — Rocker and local favorite Billy McGuigan is back at the Holland Center with his band in tow for a collaboration with the Omaha Symphony – this time at the brand new outdoor venue for a weekend of celebratory shows that are sure to bring the party and the hits! McGuigan brings his lineup of heavy-hitting band members to perform symphonic arrangements of hits from The Rolling Stones, Queen, Elton John, The Beatles, and more with original tunes in the mix. The Omaha Symphony adds dramatic color to these crowd favorites, making for an incredible weekend of safe community gathering around the music we all love.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5 at the Holland Center Outdoors.

This will be the third time McGuigan returns to perform with the orchestra – in recent years, he performed the wildly popular “British Invasion” program and its follow up, “America Rocks the ‘60s.”

“This will be our first show at the Holland Center Outdoors this season, and we’re so excited to celebrate with Billy McGuigan,” said Omaha Symphony Resident and Principal Pops Conductor Ernest Richardson. “Billy is someone who brings so much fun and heart to this community, and our collaborations are always energetic and exciting. Orchestral instruments can also hold their own in a rock concert – the symphony adds so much richness, depth, and drama to some of our favorite classic tunes!”

Program Info:

7:30 p.m. Friday, June 4

7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5

Holland Center Outdoors

Ernest Richardson, conductor

Billy McGuigan, guitar, keys, vocals
Matthew McGuigan, bass, vocals
Ryan McGuigan, guitar, percussion, vocals
Max Meyer, lead guitar
Darren Pettit, saxophone, vocals
Tara Vaughan, keys, vocals
Larell Ware, drums

Setlist

Little Metal Shed, Billy McGuigan
Paint it Black, The Rolling Stones
If I Can’t Have You, Yvonne Eliman
Nights in White Satin, The Moody Blues
My Girl, The Temptations
Together, Billy McGuigan
Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Tears for Fears
Downtown, Petula Clark
All You Need is Love, The Beatles
Dancing Queen, ABBA

Killer Queen, Queen
Wait A Bit Longer Now, Billy McGuigan
Saturday Night’s (Alright For Fighting), Elton John
Piece Of My Heart, Janis Joplin
Mr. Blue Sky, Electric Light Orchestra
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, The Beatles

About Billy McGuigan

Billy McGuigan is the creator of several internationally touring shows including “Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience” and “Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience”; he also serves as producer of Tara Vaughan’s “She Rocks: The Women of Rock.” Touring North America since 2003, Billy’s shows have sold out countless performances and have broken box office and attendance records in several theaters across the country. Career highlights include performing with Buddy Holly’s contemporaries Tommy Allsup and Sonny West and headlining Las Vegas with “Yesterday and Today,” considered to be the world’s most innovative and interactive Beatles show.

Billy’s love of music comes directly from his father who introduced him to music at an early age. With an out-of-tune guitar and tattered chord books, Billy, his brothers and their dad spent countless hours at the dining room table learning to play and appreciate the music to which they all grew up listening. Shortly after their father’s untimely death in 1996 after a short battle with leukemia, the McGuigan brothers turned to the music their dad taught them as kids to help deal with the loss. Not only did they find healing in the music, it led to the creation of Rave On! Productions where the mission is to create live concert experiences with the sole purpose of connecting an audience together through memories and music.

Billy has won countless awards for his work including the Spotlight Award for Best Actor in a Musical, an Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award for “Yesterday and Today,” a Midland Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award and the CPACS Alumni Award for Excellence in Public Service awarded by the faculty and staff at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Passionate about providing real life opportunities for students in the community to learn about the arts, Billy started the Bill McGuigan Scholarship providing financial assistance to a graduating student continuing their education in an arts related field. In 2021, he opened the McGuigan Arts Academy which provides year-round classes, camps and lessons dedicated to teaching life skills through the arts. Billy dedicates this show to Cartney and Ciaran McGuigan and thanks them for their love and inspiration.

Public Health Information

Performances at the Holland Center Outdoors feature physically distanced seating. All patrons will be required to complete a health screening questionnaire prior to accessing their mobile tickets via the Ticket Omaha app. Masks are required at the Holland Center Outdoors. The following safety measures and venue rules will be enforced:

  • Masks are required for the entirety of the performance
  • Food and drink must be consumed in your seat
  • · Seating is provided; blankets and chairs will not be permitted
  • · No outside food or drink

Find the most up to date public health information at omahasymphony.org/public-health.

This performance is sponsored by Immanuel Communities and First National Bank of Omaha.

The Omaha Symphony is a non-profit organization that presents more than 100 live orchestral performances from September through June. In addition to Masterworks, Symphony Pops, Symphony Rocks, Movies, Symphony Joslyn, and Family series concerts, the Omaha Symphony’s nationally recognized education and community engagement programs touch the lives of more than 40,000 people each year. For tickets or information regarding the Omaha Symphony, call 402-345-0606 or visit omahasymphony.org. Programs, artists, dates, times, prices, and availability are subject to change.

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