Red Sky Watch: Kid Rock

Kid Rock is the latest artist to be announced as a Red Sky Music Festival headliner. He'll play on Wednesday of the festival, July 20.

Rock's latest, "Born Free," was produced by superproducer Rick Rubin and didn't include many musicians from his Twisted Brown Trucker Band, instead opting to feature friends like Miranda Lambert, T.I., Bob Seger, Sheryl Crow, Zac Brown and Mary J. Blige.

Also, David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are members of his backing band on the record.

While many people hate on Kid Rock, he's a guilty pleasure for me. I'm not saying his music is wonderful or cancer-curing, but it's entertaining. And he puts on a helluva live show.

He'll sell well in Omaha. In fact, his last few concerts here have been huge hits, as I recall.

Rock's new album, probably because of Rubin's keen ear, is the best through and through he's made, focusing a lot more his heartland rock styles than the rap/rock stuff a lot of people know him for.

Get your tickets on Friday at 10 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail outlets, the Qwest Center box office or by phone at 800-745-3000.

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You probably saw this over the weekend, but Blogger was down and I couldn't do a post about it.

Sister Hazel, STS9 and Five For Fighting were added to the Festival Grounds segment of Red Sky.

More '90s radio rock, it appears.

But I certainly am intrigued and impressed with the addition of STS9, a band you'll find on the roster at Wakarusa and Bonnaroo this year.

They're well-known for their festival performances and will probably be a highlight of Red Sky.