The 25th season of Jazz in June at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln concludes June 28 with a performance by Tim Doherty’s 9plus1.
Jazz in June concerts are at 7 p.m. each Tuesday in June in the sculpture garden immediately west of UNL’s Sheldon Museum of Art. The series is free, but attendees are encouraged to make a donation to help ensure its continuation.
Along with the performance, the concert series also features a marketplace with 19 vendors offering food, drinks and artisan crafts; VIP seating; basic yoga lessons; campus garden tours; and free bicycle parking by UNL’s Bike Valet service.
Launched in 1991 as a way to bring a younger audience to Sheldon Museum of Art, the series has grown to draw thousands to each concert. This year, Jazz in June has become an independent campus entity, with oversight provided by UNL and the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
Started by saxophonist Tim Doherty, 9plus1 was established in 2008 and features Kansas City’s top professional jazz musicians performing the best in “little big band” music. The group covers a wide range of jazz styles, including early swing era of the late 1920s, the cool jazz period of the 1940s and early 1950s, the hard bop jazz of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and even contemporary compositions from today’s most heralded jazz composers.
In addition to ongoing local club dates, recent performances include the Junction City Opera House, Topeka Jazz Workshop Concert Series, and the JCCC Jazz Interlude. For more information on Tim Doherty’s 9plus1, click here.
Concertgoers are allowed to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Pets are not allowed.
VIP tickets available
VIP tickets, available for Jazz in June concerts, offer a guaranteed seat in a section in front of the stage; free food from a marketplace vendor; a meet and greet with the featured performer; and half price series T-shirts. The tickets are available for purchase through the Lied Center. Learn more here.
Free basic yoga
UNL Campus Recreation will offer basic yoga lessons from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. before each concert in the greenspace north of UNL’s Woods Art Building. Participants are encouraged to bring a towel or mat.
Marketplace
Located at 12th and R streets, the Jazz in June Market features a variety of vendors with food, drinks and artisan-made crafts. The marketplace opens at 5 p.m. each week. A full list of vendors is available here.
Bike parking service
UNL Bike Valet offers free, secure parking for bicycles from 5 p.m. until one hour after each concert. The service is available on the east end of the marketplace. For more information, click here or contact the UNL Outdoor Adventures Center at 402-472-4777.
Garden tours
Walking tours of UNL’s botanical gardens and arboretum will again be offered prior to Jazz in June concerts. The tours begin at 6 p.m. near the Sheldon’s east entrance. The June 28 tour, “Evolution of Love Garden,” will examine the 70-year history of the garden space immediately south of Love Library South. Led by Ann Powers, a landscape assistant with UNL’s Landscape Services, and Mark Canney, a park planner with Lincoln Parks and Recreation, the tour will include information about the first design of the garden, new plants in the space and recommendations on favorite plants.
Inclement weather
In the event of bad weather, Jazz in June performances will shift to the Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St.
For more information about the annual concert series, click here.
