Summer Music in Lincoln

While the 2013/14 concert season is winding up in Lincoln, the summer concert season has already started. There's lots going on, and quite a bit is free.

The Lincoln Community Foundation Garden Performance Series has been underway for 2 weeks now. A wide variety of individuals and groups will be performing at noon on Wednesdays at the LCF garden, 1415 N St. And its free. This week was guitarist Paul Siebert. Bring your lunch, sit in the garden, and enjoy the music.

Hear Lincoln 2014 starts tomorrow. Fridays at noon, May 16 through July 25, an eclectic group of Nebraska musical acts will take the stage at 13th and O St. Up tomorrow is Churls. Food trucks will be in the vicinity so you can enjoy the free music while getting your lunch. Hear Nebraska is sponsored by Hear Nebraska, the Cooper Foundation and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

On May 30, Friday Nights Live will begin at Southpointe Pavilions in the center courtyard, 6:30-8:30 pm.  The series opens with the ever-popular D*Funk. Goodwill donations for local charities are requested. And don't forget your blanket or lawn chair.

Jazz in June runs Tuesday evenings, 7:00 pm throughout June (June 3-24), in the plaza west of Sheldon on the UNL campus. Visit the marketplace by the Lied Center starting at 5:00 pm for a bite to eat, and other interesting booths -- including a Lincoln City Libraries booth where you can learn about various library services (like the Polley Music Library) and the finalists for 2014 One Book One Lincoln. See you there.

The Stransky Park concert series begins June 5, with Jackie Allen, at 7:00 pm. The Thursday night series runs through August 14. It's sponsored by KZUM and is free. Stransky Park is located at 17th and Harrison.

The Lincoln Municipal Band kicks off their summer season July 6 in the John Shildneck Band Shell at Antelope Park. These Sunday night concerts (starting 7:00 pm) are a long running tradition in Lincoln and great for the whole family. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. The July 6 concert features patriotic music and the 2014 Shildneck Young Artist Winner. The band performs through August 17.

Another summer tradition in Lincoln is ZooFest. This year the festival runs July 7-10 inside the Zoo Bar and outside July 11-12. Blues, country, zydeco, rockabilly, funk, soul and rock & roll will all be represented.

Of course, what's gotten the most publicity are the stunning lineups at Pinewood Bowl and Pinnacle Bank Arena. Pinewood Bowl will be presenting outdoor shows between June 7 (Ben Folds & Blue October) and August 25 (Moody Blues). The community musical at Pinewood Bowl this summer is Shrek, with performances July 10-13, 17-20.

Pinnacle Bank Arena has a full summer schedule. The shows that caught my eye include Zac Brown Band, Cher, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Cirque dy Soleil's Michael Jackson show, Katy Perry, and of course, Paul McCartney.

And don't forget that Pershing Center is officially ending with Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry of August 6.

Add in Uncle Sam Jam and you've got plenty to do this summer here in Lincoln, Nebraska.