BLOG
Interview with Guest Curator Kinan Azmeh
In this heartfelt conversation, guest curator Kinan Azmeh shares how friendship, cultural connection, and musical curiosity shape the 2025 Crossroads Festival.
Hasan’s Story, Part 1
Hasan Khalil’s journey from an Iraqi refugee camp to beloved Lincoln barber, musician, and community voice takes center stage in the new documentary “Cultures in the Crossfade.” The film—and the post-screening jam with hardcore drummer Tye—shows how two unlikely friends use music to shrink cultural divides and offer Lincoln as a model for the nation.
2025 Official Festival Playlist
Get a sneak peek into the sounds of the 2025 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival with our official playlist—featuring Dawn of Midi, Layale Chaker, Kinan Azmeh, and more. Available now on Spotify and Apple Music.
The NEA Just Terminated Our Funding: A Personal Reflection on Censorship, Art, and Resilience
When our NEA grant was abruptly terminated, we were stunned—not just by the loss of funding, but by the language used to justify it. In this personal reflection, Executive Director Olga Smola draws on her Soviet upbringing to examine the chilling echoes of censorship, the importance of artistic freedom, and what’s at stake when politics invades the arts. Read how Nebraska Crossroads is responding—with resilience, music, and an unshakable belief in the power of creative expression.
2025 Season Announcement!
The 2025 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival is here! From Arabic jazz to Nordic-folk, slam poetry to immersive soundscapes, this summer’s free, statewide festival features groundbreaking performances and a brand-new festival orchestra. Curated by Kinan Azmeh and rooted in community, creativity, and cultural exchange—explore what’s in store across Lincoln and Omaha.
Three albums you should listen to this month – March
From Jon Batiste’s playful jazz take on Beethoven to BITOI’s mesmerizing fusion of bass and birdsong, and Matt B.’s orchestral tribute to African heritage, these albums are defy simple classification. We’re sure you’ll relish this multi-course sonic smorgasbord as much as we have.