Nobody likes the idea of competition when it comes to art and music. And yet… whenever Omaha invades Lincoln or Lincoln invades Omaha, it begs the question as to which scene has the strongest roster of bands — maybe only to me and a few other a-holes, but the question does come up. And it’s becoming harder and harder to defend Omaha, especially when you look over the line-up of bands playing the second annual Lincoln Invasion July 9 in Benson.

The line-up: The Amalgamators, Amy Schmidt, Diamond Kazzoo, Dirty Talker, Ember Schrag, Husbands, Kris Lager Band, Machete Archive, Manny Coon, Masses, Mercy Rule, No One Conquered, Wyoming; Once A Pawn, Orion Walsh, Pharmacy Spirits, The Power, The Renfields, Ron Wax, Shaun Sparks and the Wounded Animals, Shipbuilding Co., Smith’s Cloud, South Of Lincoln, Tie These Hands, and The Vingins.

It’s a very solid line-up. The only bands missing (that come to mind) are High Art (Darren Keen’s latest), For Against, UUVVWWZ, Son of 76 and The Watchmen and Ideal Cleaners. High Art is playing the night before at TWR, and the rest, I’m told, were unavailable.

The venues involved in the one-day festival: The Barley Street Tavern, Burke’s Pub, Benson Grind, Louis, The Sydney and The Waiting Room. “We were hoping for eight venues but had to settle for six, as The Foundry and PS Collective were not available for the date we had to work with,” said event organizer Jeremy Buckley. “I think we were able to balance a lineup of established acts with a good number of newer bands that have made waves in Lincoln, but haven’t had much exposure in Omaha yet.”

The cover charge will be $8 to get into all six venues all night, or $5 gets you into any one venue for the evening. The band/venue schedule has yet to be posted on the event’s Facebook page. According to a press release, the the fest is being “supported” by an organization lamely called “Lincoln Is A Music City” — I have no idea what that is supposed to be, other than a Facebook page and a website.  According to both: “Lincoln Is A Music City is a collection of people who are interested in promoting and growing the local music scene in Lincoln, NE.” Buckley said it is “a loose collective of Lincoln music minded people who try to brainstorm ways to make the local scene as vibrant and visible as possible.” He also said Son of 76 frontman Josh Hoyer came up with the name. The title alone is bold. Most people consider Lincoln to be a “Football City” or the state capital or a great place to get drunk, but “A Music City”? It begs the question: What is Omaha? Is Omaha “A Music City”? If Lincoln is “a music city,” then maybe Omaha is “Thee Music City.” Which city deserves the title? And here we go again… Actually, I think Nashville is “a music city.” Maybe Memphis. But not Omaha, and certainly Lincoln, but I guess to the handful of bands that are behind the effort, Lincoln can be anything they want it to be.

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Tonight at The Barley Street Tavern, it’s Minneapolis self-proclaimed post punk/gothic/shoegaze band The Funeral And The Twilight, with Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship, and Bazooka Shootout. $5, 9 p.m.