Zoo Bar

Zoo Bar is a music club in a narrow 1921 building on North 14th Street in downtown Lincoln. The space features regular performances across blues, jazz, rock, and other genres, with a low ceiling and tight corners that create an intimate setting for performances.

Larry Boehmer transformed the building into a music club in 1973 and used his connections to bring blues performers from Chicago to Nebraska. This decision established the venue as a significant hub for blues performances outside the traditional South.

The name reflects what the space once was, while today it serves as a center for blues music in the region. Visitors can observe how musicians and audiences gather closely together in the compact setting, creating a genuine community around this musical tradition.

The club is easy to enter and maintains an open atmosphere for visitors of different ages. It helps to check ahead about which bands are playing, since the schedule varies and some nights draw larger crowds than others.

Blues musician Magic Slim first performed in 1975 and liked the place so much that he later moved his entire family from Chicago to Lincoln. This connection demonstrates how strongly the club attracted artists and the impact it had on their personal lives.