GRAMMY NOMINATED DRUMMER CURLY MARTIN NEEDED A PLACE TO STRETCH OUT AND PLAY SOME SERIOUS JAZZ.

HIS GOAL WAS TO REINVIGORATE AN AUDIENCE FOR JAZZ AT THE CLUB LEVEL AND ENSURE THE MUSIC WAS ACCESSIBLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

HE ADDED A STORYTELLING COMPONENT SO WE COULD CAPTURE EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF NORTH OMAHA'S GREATEST MUSICIANS, HIS CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.  

WE LAUNCHED THE CURLY MARTIN JAZZ LAB.  

• JULY 2016 - PRESENT
• MONTHLY RESIDENCY
• FEATURING CALVIN KEYS, STEMSEY HUNTER, CYNTHIA TAYLOR, WALI ALI, HANK REDD, TERRACE MARTIN, OTHERS
• ALL AGES AUDIENCE ACTIVATED, GROWING 
• HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION OF PERFORMANCES, ARTIST HISTORIES
• THIS ONE MAY NEVER END, CURLY HAS A LOT OF TALENTED FRIENDS

DIY VENUE MILK RUN WAS OUR FIRST LAB FUND RECIPIENT.

HI-FI HOUSE PAID THEIR RENT FOR A FULL YEAR SO THEY COULD FOCUS ON PRODUCING GREAT SHOWS AND OFFER THE COMMUNITY A SMALL SPACE FOR EMERGING ARTISTS TO PERFORM.

MILK RUN IS STILL OPERATING AND A BELOVED ADDITION IN THE COMMUNITY.

• OCTOBER 2015 - OCTOBER 2016
• 130+ SHOWS AND EVENTS
• ARTISTS FROM 35 STATES + INTERNATIONAL 
• OVER $30,000 PAID OUT TO ARTISTS
• STILL OPERATING, NOW INDEPENDENTLY