Foreigner Rocks Lincoln with New Voice, Same Fire
By Mitch West
Foreigner lead singer Luis Maldonado performs Aug. 13, 2026, at Pinewood Bowl Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo credit: thatonemitchkid)
LINCOLN, Neb. — For the first time in a little over a decade, legendary rockers Foreigner made their way back to the capital city on Aug. 13, 2026, this time to rock the iconic Pinewood Bowl Theatre as part of their Celebrating 50 Years Tour — and boy, has a lot happened with the group since they last rolled through town in 2015. They've made even more history since: nominated, inducted and forever enshrined into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024; passing the torch to a new lead singer in 2025; debuting their first musical, "Feels Like the First Time," directed by Randy Johnson and Adam Pascal, in 2026; and marking their 50th anniversary with the release of their live album "In the Eye of the Storm," featuring live performances from different eras of the band recorded and filmed at Ellis Island. Phew, ok, now onto the review!
The Sedonas Ryan "The Velvet Hammer" Sise (left) and James Connor Wike (right) perform for the crowd at Pinewood Bowl Theatre on Aug. 13, 2026. (Photo credit: thatonemitchkid)
The Sedonas
Kicking off the night was Knoxville, Tennessee's The Sedonas, a band whose music combines rock and American roots. They're no strangers to the big stage, having opened for countless legendary bands through the years, so it's no surprise they're adding one more legendary band to that impressive list. Last night's performance featured an acoustic set with just James Connor Wike on lead vocals and Ryan "The Velvet Hammer" Sise on guitar. It was a short but sweet set and a strong, intimate performance as Pinewood Bowl filled up. Wike's vocal range was powerful but dialed back just enough to not overpower the stripped-down versions of their music acoustically, and Sise's performance on guitar was just about as buttery smooth as you can get and what this type of performance needed. The way he played that guitar was the perfect balance to Wike’s vocals. Although it was an unplugged set, you could still very much feel the power of their music and the American roots it grew from. They gave us a dose of Tennessee we needed last night. We hope they come back to Nebraska soon, and if you didn’t see them this time, you’ll want to see them next.
Last night's setlist: "O' My High Wire," "Trace of Rain," "Too Tired (For Common Sense)," "Even in My Mind's Eye," "You Know (You Ought to Know)," "A Song for Idling Time," "For Once," "I'm Halfway Old."
Lincoln Southeast High School's Ars Nova choir sings along with Foreigner's Luis Maldonado during a performance of "I Want to Know What Love Is" at Pinewood Bowl Theatre on Aug. 13, 2026. (Photo Credit: thatonemitchkid)
Foreigner
It goes without saying, a Foreigner show is always a damn good time. This was the band's first Nebraska show with lead vocalist Luis Maldonado, who, prior to taking the mic for the group in April 2025, played rhythm guitar and sang backup vocals after joining the band in 2021. Not only were there big shoes to fill following Kelly Hansen's departure from the band, but also the pressure and expectations of Foreigner fans to boot. Quite the challenge and fan base to win over. So did he do it justice? Absolutely. Maldonado owned the stage, commanded the crowd's attention, and nailed the range needed to perform the band's iconic songs — but with a vocal texture all his own, and then some. The night featured all the hits we've come to love through the years, but with new arrangements at times, and sarcastic antics to boot.
One of the many highlights was keyboardist Michael Bluestein and drummer Chris Frazer cranking through their collaborative dueling solos, leading to the famous gong hit that has always signaled the launch into "Jukebox Hero." Maldonado took control of the crowd, leading them into a ping-pong vocal match where they had to match what he sang and how he sang it — a fun interaction that made the night even more special before continuing on to play the rest of the song. That's one of the many great things about a Foreigner set: They don't just play a song start to finish but rather find new ways to extend the songs and make them hit even harder.
Foreigner has always advocated for music education and Shriners Hospital. It's been a longstanding tradition to raise money for Shriners Hospital through the years — during their shows, purchasing a record gets you a ticket into a raffle for an autographed guitar at the end of the show — and to raise awareness for music education programs in schools. As per tradition, the band frequently collaborates with a local high school, bringing their choir onstage to perform "I Want to Know What Love Is" off their 1984 studio album "Agent Provocateur." It's a chance to not only show their support but give students one hell of a unique experience. The band teamed up with my alma mater, Lincoln Southeast High School, for last night's performance, which featured the school's premier advanced vocal choir, Ars Nova. What a moment — one that I'll always be jealous of, and both the crowd and myself, a fellow Knight, could live vicariously through.
Last night's setlist: "Double Vision," "Head Games," "Cold as Ice," "Waiting," "Blue Morning," "Feels Like the First Time," "Urgent," "Jukebox Hero," "Long Way," "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Hot Blooded."
So what's next for the band? More shows. Following last night's stellar performance, the group hops back on the Double Trouble, Double Vision Tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd and special guests Six Gun Sally through the end of August, then plays multiple dates through the end of October. It's also been announced the band will headline the Rock Legends Cruise XIV next year with special guest, Foreigner's original lead vocalist Lou Gramm. Needless to say, if they're coming your way, make sure you go see them. Stay up to date with all things Foreigner HERE, and The Sedonas HERE.
