Everyday Objects, Extraordinary Rhythm: Omaha Street Percussion at the Fox

McCOOK, Neb. — The Fox Theatre came alive this morning as area students filled the seats for a special matinee by Omaha Street Percussion (OSP), a high-energy percussion ensemble that turns everyday objects into instruments. The group is in McCook as part of the Lied Center’s Arts Across Nebraska program, and tonight, the community will get their chance to experience the rhythm.

What makes OSP stand out isn’t just their unconventional instruments — buckets, paint cans, garbage can lids, even bar stools — but the story of how the group came together. More than twelve years ago, percussionist Jeff Babcock and his wife were in the process of adopting a son from South Korea. Friends gathered to perform in Omaha’s Old Market district to raise money for the adoption, drumming on whatever they could find. The response was overwhelming, and the group decided to keep going. That spark of community generosity grew into Omaha Street Percussion.

Since then, OSP has become a fixture across the region. They’ve performed everywhere from festivals and ballparks to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, and even an audition on America’s Got Talent. Their performances are as much about connection as they are about sound — designed to show that music can come from anywhere, and that rhythm can be accessible to anyone.

“Our mission is to bring percussion to the public in a way that’s tangible, exciting, and educational,” the group shares. OSP regularly works with schools, offering workshops and programs that focus on mentorship as much as performance. Each member comes with years of experience in marching bands, church ministries, Drum Corps International, and music education. But what truly holds them together is friendship — many of the members have known each other since high school and college, and that bond shows on stage.

LTonight’s concert at the Fox Theatre is free and open to the public — no tickets required. Seating is first come, first served, and begins at 7:00 PM.

This one-night-only event is presented locally by the McCook Arts Council and the McCook Creative District, in partnership with the Lied Center’s Arts Across Nebraska program, which brings professional artists to communities across the state.

For a town like McCook, the chance to see a nationally recognized performance group in the historic Fox Theatre is something special — proof that the arts can thrive in small communities just as much as in big cities.