Near South

Near South is a walkable, residential-to-commercial neighborhood sitting less than a mile from the Nebraska State Capitol, and seeing live music ranks among the top stated interests of its residents. The anchor of the neighborhood's music life is First-Plymouth Congregational Church at 2000 D Street. The church is a key organizer of the Abendmusik: Lincoln community concert series, and its sanctuary hosts the American Guild of Organists, student recitals, and groups such as the Interfaith Community Gospel Choir. The church's associate minister of music plays a 110-rank Schoenstein organ for services and concerts. Sacred choral works and holiday concerts, including performances of Handel's Messiah, are a regular part of First-Plymouth's community programming. On the informal end of the spectrum, Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso supports the local arts by hosting live music and art shows frequently. Located on South Street, the café draws a mix of regulars for daytime and evening sets in a low-key setting. Pepe's Bistro and Stransky Park round out the neighborhood's four music spots, adding a dining room and an outdoor park stage to a scene that ranges from formal choral concerts to casual coffeehouse shows.

Venues4

Upcoming shows21

Wednesday, September 23 · 1 show

Wednesday, September 30 · 1 show

Sunday, October 4 · 1 show

First Plymouth Congregational Church
4:00pm

VOCES8

The 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is the world’s top-streaming classical vocal group. Touring globally, this season the octet performs over 100 concerts, including this performance to launch the Abendmusik season.

Wednesday, October 7 · 1 show

Wednesday, October 14 · 1 show

Wednesday, October 21 · 1 show

Wednesday, October 28 · 1 show

Wednesday, November 4 · 1 show

Sunday, November 8 · 1 show

First Plymouth Congregational Church
4:00pm

Miami Arts Studio Vocal Ensemble

The award-winning youth from Miami Arts Studio, a performing arts magnet school located in western Miami-Dade County, make their Nebraska debut. The vast majority of the ensemble is made up of Hispanic students who are all first or second generation immigrants from the Caribbean Islands, Central and South America. Their performance at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association was the unanimous blockbuster hit of 2025! Featuring a prelude performance by the Standing Bear Singers from Standing Bear High School.

Wednesday, November 11 · 1 show

Wednesday, November 18 · 1 show

Wednesday, November 25 · 1 show

Sunday, November 29 · 1 show

First Plymouth Congregational Church
4:00pm

Handel's Messiah

Raise your "Hallelujahs" in Abendmusik's annual rendition of Handel's Messiah. This year, strings, trumpets, timpani, and organ will accompany First-Plymouth's Schola cantorum, soloists, and the audience in a living performance of this iconic masterwork.

Wednesday, December 2 · 1 show

Wednesday, December 9 · 1 show

Sunday, December 13 · 1 show

Wednesday, December 16 · 1 show

Thursday, December 31 · 1 show

Sunday, February 21 · 1 show

Monday, February 22 · 1 show

Sunday, April 25 · 1 show

First Plymouth Congregational Church
7:00pm

We Will Rise!

The Nebraska Wesleyan University Choir sings the choral suite from Craig Hella Johnson's poignant and powerful Considering Matthew Shepard, and the Plymouth Choir performs the Nebraska concert premiere of a new, uplifting work, Love's Lantern , recently composed by Abendmusik's own Tom Trenney.

Nearby areas