Chad Stoner Band to close Music at Miller Park on Aug. 8

The Chad Stoner Band will make its Music at Miller Park debut on Aug. 8 in Omaha, closing out the free summer concert series at Miller Park Pavilion. For bandleader Chad Stoner, the show is both a return to North Omaha and a chance to bring the kind of personal, soul-driven performance that helped him rebuild his own life.

Why it matters: - The final Music at Miller Park concert brings a free, community-sponsored outdoor event to North Omaha residents on Aug. 8. - The appearance connects Chad Stoner’s music with the neighborhood that supported him personally and professionally. - The concert adds a local, accessible cultural event at Miller Park Pavilion for families and neighbors.

What happened: - The Chad Stoner Band will debut at Music at Miller Park on Saturday, Aug. 8. - The show closes out the annual concert series at Miller Park Pavilion, 2707 Redick Ave., in Omaha. - Omaha Performing Arts presents the series in partnership with Nelson Mandela Elementary School and the Minne Lusa and Miller Park Neighborhood Associations. - Music at Miller Park is free and open to the public. - More information is available at the event page.

The details: - Chad Stoner is the bandleader and saxophonist. - Stoner cites Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway, Anita Baker and D’Angelo among his influences. - Stoner describes the band’s sound as built around connection, whether through R&B favorites or instrumental arrangements. - Stoner first picked up the saxophone in sixth grade. - After high school, Stoner played football for the Huskers. - During college, Stoner stepped away from music while dealing with substance use and mental health challenges. - After a suicide attempt, Stoner left college, moved back in with his parents and recovered there. - During that time, Stoner bought a bass from a pawn shop and began playing along to U2 songs in his parents’ basement. - Stoner later returned to the saxophone after friends invited him to join a garage band. - Stoner spent 20 years as a pastor. - Stoner now works in the in-school suspension program at Papillion La Vista South High School. - Stoner also performs professionally at venues across the area.

Between the lines: - Stoner’s comments frame the concert as more than a performance; he sees live music as a way to make listeners feel seen and personally reached. - His life story gives that message weight. Music was a stabilizing force during a period of crisis, and that experience appears to shape how he performs now. - North Omaha’s support remains central to Stoner’s identity and career trajectory.

What's next: - Stoner said he plans to use the Aug. 8 concert to create a personal, uplifting experience for the crowd. - Music at Miller Park will continue to position itself as a free summer gathering point for the neighborhood. - If the show lands the way Stoner hopes, the concert could reinforce the series’ role as both entertainment and community connection.

The bottom line: - Chad Stoner’s Miller Park debut is set up as a homecoming, a free concert and a personal mission to leave the audience feeling lifted.