On a comfortably cool early fall evening at Selmo Park in Warrensburg, Missouri, the University of Central Missouri hosted an outdoor concert as part of its 2025 Family Weekend festivities on September 27, 2025. The free show featured a highly anticipated performance by Plain White T’s.
Photographed for the University of Central Missouri (UCM)
The atmosphere was laid-back and welcoming, exactly what you’d expect for a family-friendly campus event. Students, parents and local community members spread blankets on the grass, set up lawn chairs and chatted as music filled the air well before the band took the stage. The university provided seating but many opted to bring their own gear, giving the event a picnic-like feel.
The Plain White T’s delivered a set that struck a great balance between their classic hits and crowd-pleasing energy. Fans of their early-2000s pop-rock era were especially thrilled as recognizable favorites like “Hey There Delilah,” “1, 2, 3, 4,”and “Rhythm of Love” floated across the park, eliciting sing-alongs from both long-time listeners and younger concertgoers.
Lead vocalist Tom Higgenson and the band carried themselves with a relaxed professionalism that fit the outdoor, community concert setting. While the performance wasn’t a massive arena spectacle, it was heartfelt and engaging, intimate in a way that encouraged interaction between the band and the audience. Moments of banter, familiar riffs, and shared memories through music helped bridge generations in the crowd. Local attendees later described seeing friends, families and students tapping feet and swaying together under the trees.
The crowd reaction was uniformly warm. Rather than frenetic moshing or high-intensity rock concert energy, this show felt more like a communal celebration, with families and campus groups enjoying a shared evening. Younger students cheered the band’s timeless melodies, while parents and alumni seemed to appreciate the nostalgia and laid-back energy. People commented afterward on social platforms about the “pop-rock vibes” the band brought to Selmo Park, noting how the event served as a great addition to the weekend’s festivities.
All photos © Andrew Mather |University of Central Missouri
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