Chad Stoner Band to close Music at Miller Park with free August 8 concert

The Chad Stoner Band will debut at Omaha Performing Arts’ Music at Miller Park series on Aug. 8, bringing a community-focused set to the final concert of the summer run at Miller Park Pavilion in Omaha. Stoner says the show reflects both his personal recovery through music and his long connection to North Omaha.

Why it matters: - The final Music at Miller Park concert gives North Omaha residents a free outdoor show and brings Chad Stoner Band into a series built around community access. - Stoner’s performance ties together music, recovery and local roots, making the concert more than a standard summer booking.

What happened: - The Chad Stoner Band will make its Music at Miller Park debut on Saturday, Aug. 8. - The concert is the final event in the 2026 Music at Miller Park series. - 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 a free, community-sponsored outdoor summer concert series held at Miller Park Pavilion, 2707 Redick Ave., in Omaha.

The details: - Chad Stoner is a bandleader and saxophonist whose influences include Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway, Anita Baker and D’Angelo. - Stoner describes the band’s sound as personal and connection-driven, aiming to pull audiences into the music. - He first picked up the saxophone in sixth grade. - After high school, Stoner played football for the Huskers. - He later stepped away from music during college while dealing with substance use and mental health challenges. - After a suicide attempt, Stoner left college and returned home to recover with his parents. - During that period, he bought a bass from a pawn shop and played along to U2 songs in his parents’ basement. - Stoner later returned to saxophone after friends invited him to join a garage band. - Stoner spent 20 years as a pastor. - He now works in the in-school suspension program at Papillion La Vista South High School. - Stoner also performs professionally at venues across the area. - Stoner said North Omaha has provided major relational, musical and professional support throughout his career. - The concert is free and open to the public. - More information is available at the event page.

Between the lines: - Stoner’s comments frame music as a recovery tool and a way to reach people emotionally, not just entertain them. - His history in ministry and education suggests the show will likely lean on warmth, direct audience engagement and uplift. - The North Omaha connection adds local resonance to a series that already depends on neighborhood support.

What's next: - Music at Miller Park concludes with the Aug. 8 performance. - Audience members can attend without a ticket or admission fee. - Stoner says he wants people to leave the concert feeling lifted and hopeful.

The bottom line: - The Aug. 8 show is both a free community concert and a personal full-circle moment for a musician shaped by North Omaha and by music’s role in his own recovery.