What to do this weekend - July 10, 2025
Hi,
Welcome to This Week In Lincoln, a newsletter that will never be quite as cool as an underground music zine. But we try!
If you're a new subscriber, here's how this normally works:
- First, I yap about something nominally Lincoln-related that's on my mind. Past installments include my dispatch from our local No Kings protest, a review of an exhibit at the Great Plains Art Museum, and me wondering if I'm doing the Midwest wave wrong. This week, I'm raving about INTERROBANG, a local zine.
- Second, you'll find a list of local stuff — art shows, concerts, films, public meetings, protests — that I think are cool or important. I mostly include events happening this upcoming weekend, but if you believe in planning ahead (can't relate but go off), I've included stuff for next week and in August. My list has a heavy bias toward events that I actually find interesting, and I try my best to curate things that are free or inexpensive. I would also love to expand my coverage of mutual aid, organizing and advocacy events in the city. Send me stuff I should know about!
I love zines. In a world where way too much art functions as an inaccessible investment vehicle for the obscenely rich, I view them as one of the last accessible and practical art forms. Sure, there's probably always gonna be some scalper hawking vintage punk zines on ebay for insane prices, but that completely contradicts the community ethos that makes zine-making cool! If you're trying to get rich, you're doing it wrong. Plus, zines are a way to resist the rising tide of AI-generated slop taking over the internet. It turns out that DIY actually stands for don't use a robot to make your art for you (or something like that).
Anyway, I wanted to give a shout-out to the folks making INTERROBANG, which showcases cool shit about Lincoln's music scene. Their zine is a great fusion of collage art, music reviews, and actually useful information about upcoming shows. I spent part of this week reading through back issues (they've published six so far, all of which are accessible via their website), and I've found a bunch of local bands that I may not have stumbled across otherwise.
Issue #4 is particularly good, and I devoured its detailed history of the now-shuttered underground venue The Swamp (featured in the image above). I moved here after The Swamp closed back in the summer of 2024, so I never had a chance to visit it. But that kind of local history — even extremely recent local history — is super fascinating and worth preserving. Memories of places like The Swamp will fade quickly, and without someone actively documenting the scene, important stories will be lost in time.
You can get a physical copy of INTERROBANG Issue #6 on July 11 at Parrish Studios as part of this month's First Friday. They're also on Instagram!
Got an event you want to see featured in next week's newsletter? Submit it here. You can also send feedback, suggestions, compliments and criticism to tynanstewart@proton.me
~ Ty
P.S. This newsletter is both completely free and reader-supported. I don't think a community events calendar (which is essentially what this is) should be locked behind a paywall. If you have to pay to access something, it isn't much of a community resource! But that does mean I'm gonna ask you to support this project financially. If you have the means, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription: $5 a month or $50 for a year. If you don't have the means, but still want to support the newsletter, then consider sharing this with someone else in Lincoln who might find it valuable. I am bad at advertising, so most of my readers find me through word-of-mouth. (Which is great! Keep talking about This Week In Lincoln!)
Thursday, July 10
Music: Mystee + Lou, Lou, Louie! + KJ Teder
+ When: 8 pm (doors), 9 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $7 | $10 for minors
Colorado indie-pop band Mystee is coming to town and performing alongside some cool local acts. Links to their music/websites/socials:
+ Mystee / insta
+ Lou, Lou, Louie! / insta
+ KJ Teder / insta
Film: Tatami
+ When: 5 pm and 7:15 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 at 5 pm | $12 at 7:15 pm
From the Ross's website: "The first feature film co-directed by Iranian and Israeli filmmakers Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir, TATAMI follows Leila, an Iranian judo athlete who is put in political danger when her government tells her to fake an injury rather than face an Israeli rival."
Last day to catch this at the Ross!
Film: Finding Nemo (Movies in the Park)
+ When: Starts around 8:45 to 9 pm
+ Where: Eden Park (Google Maps)
+ Location if it rains: Calvert Recreation Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
This is part of a movie series sponsored by Lincoln Parks and Recreation and the Lincoln Parks Foundation. Bring a blanket or a chair for this free, family friendly movie.
Meet and Greet: Megan Married Meagan!
+ When: 7 pm
+ Where: DAME (Google Maps)
+ Cost: No cover but there's a one drink minimum. Tip your bartender!!
From DAME's Facebook page: "Known for their hilarious masc4masc content, TikTok stars Megan and Meagan are dropping by DAME for a meet and greet! Come by, have a drink, and get a chance to meet Megan and Meagan!"
DAME's normal Thursday game night is also still happening!
Music: KZUM Stransky Park Concert Series presents Goosehens and Bad Self Portraits
+ When: 7 to 9 pm
+ Where: Stransky Park (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Local indie rock bands! Here are links to their music and socials:
+ Goosehens / insta
+ Bad Self Portraits / insta
Music: patience, ophelia + Ghostlike + Lizzy Skye
+ When: 6:45 pm (doors), 7:30 (show)
+ Where: The Juice Box (DM them on Instagram for the address)
+ Cost: $10 suggested
Here are links to the bands' music and socials:
+ patience, ophelia
+ Ghostlike / insta
+ Lizzy Skye / insta
Poetry: Lincoln Poetry Slam! (presented by the Nebraska Writers Collective)
+ When: 6:30 pm (doors), 7 to 9 pm (event)
+ Where: Larksong Writers Place (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Public Meeting: Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
+ When: 2 pm
+ Where: Council Chambers, County/City Building (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. Here's a link to the agenda.
Public Meeting: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting
+ When: 4 to 5 pm
+ Where: Woods Park Place, Parks and Recreation 3rd floor Large Conference Room (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. No agenda has been posted online.
Social: Weekly Leftist Meetup
+ When: 5:30 to 6:30 pm
+ Where: Meadowlark (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Organized by Lincoln's DSA branch. From their Instagram flyer: "Looking for good conversation, solidarity, or a break from the news cycle? Join us for casual weekly meetups hosted by Lincoln DSA."
Sports: Cornhusker State Games: Opening Night Ceremony
+ When: 7 pm
+ Where: Outside Pinnacle Bank Arena (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
This will kick off the week-and-a-half statewide amateur sports festival. Featuring a torch relay and special guests, including former Husker Volleyball player and current coach Dani Busboom Kelly.
Friday, July 11
Music: Zoo Fest 2025 - Day 1
+ When: 5 pm to 1 am
+ Where: Zoo Bar (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $38.55 (including fees) for a Friday ticket, or $64.30 (including fees) for a weekend pass
Zoo Fest is celebrating 52 years! The festival is outside the bar on 14th Street between O and P Streets. The front gate is on O Street. Here's the Friday lineup:
+ 5pm: Bel Airs
+ 7pm: Carolyn Wonderland
+ 9pm: Blood Brothers feat. Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia
+ 11pm: Kris Lager’s Big Band
Art: First Friday
+ When: 5 to 10 pm
+ Where: Downtown (mostly)
+ Cost: Free!
Because last Friday was July 4, Lincoln's First Friday event is being held this week (technically on the Second Friday but who's counting). Downtown Lincoln has a mostly complete list of the participants on their website.
The LUX Center for the Arts isn't downtown, but they are also hosting a First Friday/Second Friday event.
Art: Unfold: Exploring the Development of Creative Voice Art Exhibit, Opening Reception
+ When: 5 to 8 pm
+ Where: Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2nd Floor, 2021 Transformation Dr. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free but registration is requested.
From the event website: "Unfold highlights UNL’s Teaching with Arts and Emerging Media (Art TEAMs) educators who delve into their own creative practices to inspire deeper, more joyful student learning."
Baseball: Lincoln Saltdogs vs Chicago Dogs
+ When: 7:05 pm
+ Where: Haymarket Park (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Tickets start at $16 for general admission (seating on the grass berm)
Film: Pavements
+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $12
From the Ross's website: "An examination of the iconic 90s indie band, PAVEMENTS appears to be just another music documentary, until it doesn’t. A prismatic, narrative, scripted, documentary, musical, metatextual hybrid, the film intimately shows the band preparing for their sold-out 2022 reunion tour while simultaneously tracking the preparations for a musical based on their songs, a museum devoted to their history and a big-budget Hollywood biopic inspired by their saga as the most important band of a generation."
Other screenings scheduled through July 17.
Film: Sunlight
+ When: 5 pm, 7:05 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 at 5 pm | $12 at 7:05 pm
From the Ross's website: "From comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti, SUNLIGHT is a darkly funny love story between a man and a woman who doesn’t want to come out of a monkey suit until she is truly loved."
Other screenings scheduled through July 24.
Film: Toy Story (Movies in the Park)
+ When: Starts around 8:45 to 9 pm
+ Where: Antelope Park, 1650 Memorial Dr (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
This is part of a movie series sponsored by Lincoln Parks and Recreation and the Lincoln Parks Foundation. Bring a blanket or a chair for this free, family friendly movie.
Music: High Ruler + The Machete Archive
+ When: 9:30 pm
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
FYI, Tickets are listed as $10 on the website, but according to Duffy's Instagram, the headliner Howling Giant cancelled. So there's no cover now!Come support local bands! Links to their music, websites and/or socials:
+ High Ruler / insta
+ The Machete Archive / insta
Music: Kolen McClain + Faro Gee + Za J
+ When: 7 pm (doors), 8 pm (show)
+ Where: Bourbon Theatre (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $17.45 general admission, including fees
Local rappers! Links to their music/website/socials (that I could find):
+ Kolen McClain / insta
+ Faro Gee / insta
Music: Plack Blague + Vempire + Solid Goldberg
+ When: 6 pm (doors), 7 pm (show)
+ Where: Rococo Theatre (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $21 general admission, $23 day of the show
Local bands! Here are links to their music, websites and/or socials:
+ Plack Blague / insta
+ Vempire / insta
+ Solid Goldberg
Rodeo: Double B Barrel Bash
+ When: 6 pm (subject to change)
+ Where: Sandhills Global Event Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
First day of a weekend-long barrel racing competition. Maybe keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates about the start time.
Saturday, July 12
Zines! Monthly Zine Club
+ When: 3:30 to 5:30 pm
+ Where: Meadowlark Coffee (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
From the organizers: "Show up with your ideas and your friendly face and make some art with us!"
Baseball: Lincoln Saltdogs vs Chicago Dogs
+ When: 6:05 pm
+ Where: Haymarket Park (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Tickets start at $14 for general admission (seating on the grass berm)
Books: Visiting Author – Pamela Carter Joern
+ When: 4:30 to 5:30 pm
+ Where: Francie & Finch Bookshop (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Seems to be free
Joern is visiting Francie & Finch Bookshop to celebrate the release of her new book At the Corner of Past & Future: A Collection of Life Stories.
Film: Mirai
+ When: 11 am
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Part of the Family Film Fest, ongoing until July 26.
Via the Ross's website: "From acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children) and Japan’s Studio Chizu comes Mirai, a daringly original story of love passed down through generations."
Market: 2025 East Campus Discovery Days and Farmers Market
+ When: 10 am to 1 pm
+ Where: East Campus Mall (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free, but there will be plenty of vendors to buy from.
From the event page: "The East Campus Discovery Days and Farmers Market at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a fun, family-friendly event for all ages. It’s more than a farmer’s market. It’s more than a science day. Come for the hands-on, science focused fun. Stay to enjoy live music and food trucks."
Market: Historic Haymarket Farmers' Market
+ When: 8 am to noon
+ Where: Haymarket (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free, but there will be plenty of vendors to buy from.
Tonal Anomaly will be performing live.
Market: Second Saturday at Tower Square
+ When: 5 to 8:30 pm
+ Where: P Street District (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free, but there will be plenty of vendors to buy from.
From the event Facebook page: "Join us downtown for a makers market with live music in Tower Square at 1300 P Street. Come out to meet (25) local artists, photographers, makers, woodworkers, stitchers, collectors, and bakers at this special event."
Music: Zoo Fest 2025 - Day 2
+ When: 1 pm to 1 am
+ Where: Zoo Bar (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $38.55 (including fees) for a Saturday ticket, or $64.30 (including fees) for a weekend pass
Zoo Fest is celebrating 52 years! The festival is outside the bar on 14th Street between O and P Streets. The front gate is on O Street. Here's the Saturday lineup:
+ 1pm: Youth Band
+ 3pm: Sailing in Soup
+ 5pm: Church of Blues
+ 7pm: Kelley Hunt and The 5
+ 9pm: Tommy Castro and The Painkillers
+ 11pm: Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal
Outdoors: Butterfly Count
+ When: 9 am to noon
+ Where: 3201 S Coddington Ave (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $6
Organized by Lincoln Parks & Recreation. From the event Facebook page: "Join us for a leisurely walk as we count butterflies and explore the beauty of local pollinators. Expert guides will lead the way, helping you discover and identify the butterflies that call our area home. For more than 17 years, the Nature Center has hosted this annual count, contributing valuable data to the North American Butterfly Association, where it is recorded and archived."
Rodeo: Double B Barrel Bash
+ When: 11 am (subject to change)
+ Where: Sandhills Global Event Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Second day of a weekend-long barrel racing. Maybe keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates about the start time.
Science: Investigate: Science of Color
+ When: 10 am to 1 pm
+ Where: University of Nebraska State Museum - Morrill Hall (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Included with the cost of admission ($13 adults, cheaper for kids)
From the Museum's website: "Join UNSM educators and our education interns to explore how all the beautiful colors we see intersect with the world of science. Hands-on activities are included with museum admission."
Sunday, July 13
Baseball: Lincoln Saltdogs vs Chicago Dogs
+ When: 1:05 pm
+ Where: Haymarket Park (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Tickets start at $14 for general admission (seating on the grass berm)
Crafting: One Book One Lincoln - Design Your Own Book Cover
+ When: 2 to 3:30 pm
+ Where: Bennett Martin Public Library, Auditorium (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
From the library's website: "We are very inspired by the covers and colors of this year's One Book One Lincoln Top Ten Finalists so we want to give you the opportunity to design your own book cover! Whether it is for an imaginary title or re-imagining something already published, you'll learn about cover art trends through the years and create your own design. We will also laminate your cover for extra durability."
Market: Summer Sundays
+ When: 11 am to 3 pm
+ Where: Curio (Google Maps)
+ Cost: It's a market! There will be vendors.
From Curio's website: "Think local favorites, makers, artists, vintage finds, and more. Come hang, connect + support local businesses."
Featured vendors include The Thursday Club, Gups Flower Farm, Olive + Grey Designs, and Katie Nieland Art.
Market: Sunday Farmers' Market at College View
+ When: 10 am to 2 pm
+ Where: 4801 Prescott Ave. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free, but it's a farmer's market, so be prepared to spend money.
Music: Soda Spill + Infielder + Hang The King + In Limbo
+ When: 8 pm (doors), 9 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $7 | $10 for minors
A ton of cool-looking Nebraska bands coming out for this one. Links to their music/websites/socials:
+ Soda Spill / insta
+ Infielder / insta
+ Hang The King / insta
+ In Limbo
Reading Discussion: Malcolm X in His Own Words
+ When: 1 to 3 pm
+ Where: Black Cat House (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
The discussion will focus on Malcolm X's "Statement of basic aims and objectives of the Organization of Afro-American Unity," first published in June 1964.
From the Black Cat House: "Everyone who attends will be given a paper copy of our reading and something to write on it with. We will do a group reading out loud, but your participation is optional if the thought makes you self-conscious ... The reading will take 20-30 minutes, and we will spend the rest of our time discussing what we just read."
Rodeo: Double B Barrel Bash
+ When: 9 am (subject to change)
+ Where: Sandhills Global Event Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Last day of a weekend-long barrel racing competition. Maybe keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates about the start time.
Things to do next week:
Monday, July 14
Public Meeting: Lincoln City Council meeting
+ When: 3 to 5 pm
+ Where: Council Chambers in the County/City Building (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted.
Tuesday, July 15
Outdoors: Third Tuesday Bird Outings
+ When: 8 to 10 am
+ Where: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free but registration is required.
From the Audubon Center's website: "Join an experienced birding guide and fellow birding enthusiasts for an outing along the prairie trails. Learn the birds of the prairie from spring migration to summer breeding and fall migration. Great for beginners and experts alike. Binoculars will be available for use."
Tuesday, July 15
Music: Lazy World + Danilo B. + Amphibiphobia + So It Goes
+ When: 6:45 pm (doors)
+ Where: The Juice Box (DM them on Instagram for the address)
+ Cost: $10 or pay what you can
Wednesday, July 16
Books: B.Y.O.B(ook) Club
+ When: 6:30 to 7:30 pm
+ Where: Bennett Martin Public Library, Auditorium (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
From the library's website: "This is not your traditional book club! Join us with a title or titles from your own reading life that follow the monthly discussion prompt and add to your own 'To Be Read' list with recommendations from the group. We also love to share our current reads when time allows! This month's prompt: a 'Good Book' with a 'Bad Cover.'"
Friday, July 18
Music: Bitchflower + Estrogen Projection + The Breakroom
+ When: 9 pm (doors), 10 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free! No cover!
Fort Collins psych-punk band Bitchflower is the headliner, with support from two rad local bands. Links to music/websites/socials:
+ Bitchflower / insta
+ Estrogen Projection / insta
+ The Breakroom / insta
Friday, July 18
Open Mic: Poems in Protest
+ When: 6 to 8 pm
+ Where: Pepe's Bistro (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $5 to $20 suggested donation to the ACLU of NE
From Pepe's instagram: "We will be hosting an open mic to raise funds for the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union, of Nebraska. Although we are Latine, our call for justice transcends binaries, races, spectrums, and identities. We ask anyone and everyone to join us in our protest and celebrate the work of artists whose Latin heritage they are proud of ... We will have 4 featured poets, followed by an open mic. Sign up drops at 5:30. All are welcome to sign up."
Things to do later this summer:
Tuesday, July 22
Public Meeting: Lincoln Board of Education
+ When: 6 pm
+ Where: Steve Joel District Leadership Center (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted.
Sunday, July 20 - Saturday, August 2
Music: Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival
+ Where: Multiple locations across Lincoln and Omaha
+ Cost: Free!
This year's Nebraska Crossroads is large and diverse, with a ton of interesting artists. I'm thinking of writing a deeper-dive preview of the festival — perhaps in a stand-alone post, apart from the weekly events roundup!
Thursday, July 31 - Saturday, August 9
Fair: Lancaster County Super Fair
+ Where: Sandhills Global Event Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $15 per vehicle gets you a day pass
There's a ton going on: Vendors, exhibits, family activities, a petting zoo, competitions, live music, food, and more.
Friday, August 1
Music: Estrogen Projection + Uh Oh + Joyrager
+ When: 6:30 pm (doors), 7:30 pm (show)
+ Where: Rococo Theatre (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $21 general admission | $23 day of the show
Links to the bands' music or socials:
Friday, August 8
Film: White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
+ When: 7 to 10 pm
+ Where: Black Cat House (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
A 2007 documentary directed by Steven Okazaki, featuring interviews with survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Saturday, August 9
Market: Parking Lot Party - Open Harvest turns 50!
+ When: 10 am to 4 pm
+ Where: Open Harvest Co-op Grocery (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Help celebrate the Co-op's 50th birthday! You can apply to be a vendor at the party here.
Saturday, August 9
Zines! Salt Creek Zine Fest
+ When: noon to 4 pm
+ Where: F Street Community Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
From the organizers: "Zine fests are an opportunity for lovers of indie art to buy and trade zines, a flexible and limitless medium of art that's low-cost and encourages breaking boundaries. It's also an opportunity for artists who make zines to share their work, meet other artists, and build a local community."
Tuesday, August 12
Public Meeting: Board of Health Meeting
+ When: 4 to 5 pm
+ Where: Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, 3131 O Street (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted online.