Saddle Creek

Saddle Creek grew out of a college entrepreneurship project in Omaha, Nebraska, where Mike Mogis and Justin Oberst founded the label in 1993 under the name Lumberjack Records. Mogis soon handed his role in the company to Robb Nansel. The Saddle Creek name first appeared on a show flyer inviting listeners to “Spend an evening with Saddle Creek,” a phrase later used for the label’s documentary.

Named for Saddle Creek Road in midtown Omaha, the label became closely associated with the city’s indie-rock community and the sound often called “The Omaha Sound,” which carries a slight country twang. Its roster has included artists such as Neva Dinova, Land of Talk, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Young Jesus, SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, Indigo De Souza, Ada Lea and Dean Johnson, connecting Omaha roots with a wider range of independent songwriting and guitar-based music.

Saddle Creek’s extended family includes Team Love, a sister label begun in 2004 by Conor Oberst, Justin Oberst’s brother. From its beginnings as a student project and local show-flyer name, Saddle Creek has remained rooted in Omaha while releasing records by artists from well beyond Nebraska.