Where the Bands Are: Summer Music Series Guide

Great music all summer long in Western New York

Photos and art by Kim Miers

To add these dates to your calendar, click here!

Missing a series on here? Email info and links to jeffmiersmusic@gmail.com.

Hey fellow music lovers! It’s Kim Miers here…

I don’t know about you, but with all the great live music series starting up, in addition to abundant summer concert one-offs, I’m having a hard time keeping up! There’s great acts to see almost every night of the week, and many offer free admission (or close to it.) So, to make things easier on myself (and you), I’ve composed this guide. Hope you find it handy through the season!

Academy Park Concert Series

Various dates, Academy Park, Lewiston, NY.

Saturday, June 13, 5 pm - The Strictly Hip wsg/Tonemah. VIP $15/GA Free. Get tickets here.

Saturday, August 1, 6 pm - The Floyd Concept. VIP $10/GA Free. Get tickets here.

Sunday, August 16, 4:30 pm - Devon Allman Project wsg/GA-20. Get tickets here.

Bidwell Parkway Concert Series

Tuesdays, June-August, 7-9 pm at Bidwell Parkway (at Elmwood), Buffalo, NY. FREE

6/16 – Uncle Ben’s Remedy

6/23 – Black Rock Beatles

6/30 – The George Caldwell Quintet

7/7 – Letter to Elise

7/14 – Grosh

7/21 – Invisible Touch

7/28 – Too Yacht to Handle

8/4 – Songbirds: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

8/11 – Nineties by Nature

Blue Thursdays

Thursdays, June-August, 6-8 pm in the State Street Park Pavilion, Medina, NY.

Buffalo FlowJam

Mondays, 7 pm at Hoyt Lake, Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Buffalo River Grove Summer Series

Various dates at Buffalo River Grove, West Seneca, NY. FREE

Friday, June 5, 6 pm - 5’s are Wild

Monday, June 8, 5 pm - Patti Parks Duo

Monday, June 15, 5 pm - JC Thompson Solo

Monday, June 22, 5 pm - Roadtrip Duo

Friday, June 26, 6 pm - After Affect

Monday, June 29, 5 pm - Full Moon Acoustic

Monday, July 6, 5 pm - Two Man Krew

Monday, July 13, 5 pm - Jess Bennett Duo

Sunday, July 19, 3 pm - Steel Horse

Monday, July 20, 5 pm - Zach Gerken & Alex Schadt

Friday, July 24, 6 pm - F.O.M.R. Band

Monday, July 27, 5 pm - Slim Chance Trio

Buffalo River Fest Park Wednesday Night Concerts

Wednesday, June-September, 6:30-10 pm at Buffalo River Fest Park on the shore of the Buffalo River, Buffalo, NY. FREE

6/10 - Major Thirds

6/17 - After Affect

6/24 - Breakaway

7/8 - Back to the Bars

7/15 - 5’s Are Wild

7/22 - Party of None - South Park Nite

7/29 - Breakaway

8/5 - Flipside

8/12 - After Affect

8/29 - AllyKat

8/26 - South City Band

9/2 - Hit ‘n Run

Buffalo RiverWorks Summer Concert Series

Various evenings and times on the RiverBarge Stage, Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Thursday, July 2, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Blood Money

Friday, July 3, 5-8 pm - Two Of Us Beatles Tribute Show

Saturday, July 4, 5-8 pm - Ray & Jeff of Two Hills

Thursday, July 9, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Wasted Whiskey

Friday, July 10, 5-8 pm - Leslie Zagotti of Boogie Monsters

Friday, July 17, 5-8 pm - B-Squared

Thursday, July 23, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Zach Gerken Band

Friday, July 24, 5-8 pm - Stephen Babcock

Thursday, July 30, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Wasted Whiskey

Friday, July 31, 5-8 pm - Michael Hund

Thursday, August 13, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Wasted Whiskey

Friday, August 14, 5-8 pm - Tim Britt

Saturday, August 15, 5-8 pm - Michael Hund

Thursday, August 20, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Dark Horse Run

Friday, August 21, 5-8 pm - Jess Bennett Duo

Saturday, August 22, 5-8 pm - Gregg Sansone

Thursday, August 27, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Blood Money

Saturday, August 29, 5-8 pm - Maui Jim

Thursday, September 3, 6-9:30 pm - River Roundup Country Music Night: Wasted Whiskey

Friday, September 4, 5-8 pm - B Squared

Dead on the Hilltop Concert Series

Various Saturdays at The Hilltop Inn & Grove, Alden, NY.

6/27: 4 pm - Waildogs, 6:30 pm - Jimmy D Band

7/11: 4 pm - Cold Shot Trio, 6:30 pm - Workingman’s Dead

8/1: DABFEST: 4 pm - Daze Ago, 6:30 pm - Dead Alliance Buffalo

9/12: 4pm - The Feast, 6:30pm - Little Mountain Band

Elmwood Commons Tuesday Music Series

Tuesdays, 6 pm on the front lawn of the Ken-Ton Elmwood Commons, Tonawanda, NY. FREE. Click here to see schedule on Facebook.

Free Blues Sundays

Sundays, May 24-August 30, 3-6 pm at The Hilltop Inn & Grove, Alden, NY. FREE

May 24 - The FEAST

May 31 - Rusty Fisher

June 7 - Jony James

June 14 - Nickel City Blues Band

June 21 - Son Henry

June 28 - Growlers Blues Band

July 5 - Rusty Fisher

July 12 - Nickel City Blues Band

July 19 - Speedy Parker

July 26 - The FEAST

August 2 - Jony James

August 9 - Nickel City Blues Band

August 16 - Speedy Parker

August 23 - Growlers Blues Band

August 30 - Cold Shot

Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square

Tuesdays, 5-8 pm in Larkins Square, Buffalo, NY. FREE

June 9 - A.I. the Anomaly presented by Get Fokus’d Productions

June 16 - McCarthyizm

June 23 - Dead Alliance Buffalo

June 30 - Brothers Band

July 7 - Blaised & Confused

July 14 - Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul

July 21 - Cami & the Fringe

July 28 - Bitter Nasties

August 4 - Harmonia Vocal Jazz Ensemble

August 11 - Cover Me

August 18 - “Record Store Night” with Dominic Missana & Friends

August 25 - Will Holton

Food Truck Thursdays at Gateway Harbor

Thursdays, Jun 4 - September 17, 5-8 pm at Tonawanda Pavilion on Canal Street in Tonawanda, NY. FREE

Gateway Harbor Canal Concert Series

Wednesdays, 6 pm at Gateway Harbor, Tonawanda, NY. FREE

6/17- 6 pm: Patti Parks, 8 pm: The Funkensteins

6/24 - 6 pm: Black Root, 8 pm: Hair Nation

7/1 - 6 pm: Mo Porter, 8 pm: Chicago Authority

7/8 - 6 pm: 45 RPM British Invasion Band, 8 pm: Yacht Fathers

7/15 - 6 pm: Eaglez, 8 pm: Michael Hund All-Star Band

7/29 - 6 pm: XOXO, 8 pm: Nerds Gone Wild​

8/5 - 6 pm: Silent Legacy, 8 pm: Allykat

8/12 - 6 pm: Supercharger, 8 pm: That 80’s Hairband

8/19 - 6 pm: .22 Calibre Band, 8 pm: Diver Down

8/26 - 6 pm: Boogie Monsters, 8 pm: Hit N Run

KeyBank Live at Larkin

Wednesdays, June 3 - August 26, 5- 8 pm at Larkin Square on Seneca Street, Buffalo. FREE

6/3 Twang Gang ft/Dee Adams, Sue Kincaid, Elton Lammie & more

6/10 Drea d’Nur

6/17 Bonerama w/Buffalo Bully Brass presented by Big Easy in Buffalo

6/24 Songbirds: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

7/1 Letter to Elise does Goo Goo Dolls 7/4/04

7/8 Dirty Work: A Tribute to Steely Dan

7/15 Talking Dead Heads

7/22 The Beū Revue ft/Critt, Cutler, Lynntresa Atkinson & more

7/29 The Black Rock Beatles (ticketed event)

8/5 DeLano does Zeppelin

8/12 Handsome Jack does CCR

8/19 Uncle Ben’s Remedy

8/26 Grosh Prime ft. Alexandra McArthur, Harry Graser & Zak Ward

KVIS 2026 Summer Children’s Concert Series

Tuesday evenings, 6:15 - 7:15 pm on the lawn of Kenmore Junior Senior High School, Kenmore, NY. FREE

7/14: The Skiffel Minstrels

7/21: Erie County Wind Ensemble

7/28: Buffalo Tango Orkestra

8/4: American Legion Band of the Tonawandas

Levitt VIBE Buffalo Music Series

Mondays in July and August, 5:30 pm in Ralph Wilson Park (near Centennial Pool and splash pad and the Buffalo Skate Plaza, at 5 DAR Drive), Buffalo, NY. FREE

7/6: Organ Fairchild & The Brass Machine

7/13: The Unity Band

7/20: Wendell Rivera

7/27: D’Mott

8/3: Lynn Drury & Jony James Blues Band

8/10: Will Holton and Drea d’Nur

8/17: La Krema

Lipsey Summer Jazz at the AKG

Sundays in July and August, on the Lincoln Stairs overlooking Hoyt Lake, Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Sunday, July 12, 2–4 pm: Janice Mitchell Quartet

Sunday, July 19, 2–4 pm: George Caldwell with Tim Clark - A Musical Tribute to Pianist/Composer Donald Brown

Sunday, July 26, 2–4 pm: Joe Gransden’s “The Good Life”- A Musical Tribute to Tony Bennett

Sunday, August 2, 2–4 pm: The Buffalo Jazz Collective - A Musical Tribute to Duke Ellington

Sunday, August 9, 2–4 pm: Jay Bianchi Collective with David Kane

Lockport Free Summer Concert Series

Wednesdays, 6 pm from June 10 through August 26 - 6/10, 7/1, and 8/26 in the parking lot behind Big Ditch, all other dates in the 1 East Ave. driveway next to Big Ditch patio. FREE

6/10 - XOXO Pop Band - Parking Lot

6/17 - Flannel Mafia - Driveway

6/24 - Stephen Babcock - Driveway

7/1 - Nickel City Blues Band - Parking Lot

7/8 - Generous Pour Trio - Driveway

7/15 - Bills Elvis and the Tailgater’s - Driveway

7/22 - Blue Collar Shores - Driveway

7/29 - Joe and Matt Acoustic Duo - Driveway

8/5 - Welcome Distraction - Driveway

8/12 - Roy G Biv - Driveway

8/19 - 90 PROOF - Driveway

8/26 - Ken Ryan and the Professionals - Parking Lot

Johnson Landing’s Summer Concert Series

Various dates/times, Johnson’s Landing, Hamburg, NY. $. Get tickets here.

Music in Bloom Free Concert Series

East Lawn at Frank Lloyd Wright Martin House, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Friday, June 12 - The George Scott Big Band

Thursday, July 16 - The Strictly Hip

Thursday, August 20 - Songbirds: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band

Music in the Gardens

Fridays in July and August, 7 pm outdoors at the Kenan Center, Lockport, NY. FREE

Music in the Mist

Thursdays. 1 pm-4 pm at the Ralph C Wilson Welcome Center, Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls, NY. FREE

Music in the Park 2026

Thursdays in June, 5-9:30 pm in Cazenovia Park, South Buffalo, NY. FREE

Music Mania Mondays Concert Series

Mondays (unless otherwise noted), 6 pm at Veteran's Memorial Community Park in the Town of Niagara, Niagara Falls, NY. FREE

6/29: 6 pm Hit and Run, 7:30 pm Hotel California (Eagles Tribute Band)

Sunday 7/5: Independence Day Celebration
2 pm - Impact
4 pm - Past Masters (Beatles Tribute)
6 pm - Thurman Bros Band
8 pm - JJ Swing

7/13: 6 pm Everyday People, 7:30 pm Journey ESC4P3

7/20: 6 pm The A-List Band, 7:30 pm Nerds Gone Wild

7/27: 6 pm Voyager, 7:30 pm JB Aaron

7/3: 6 pm Applejack, 7:30 pm Night Fever (BeeGees Tribute)

7/10: 6 pm Seventh Sign, 7:30 pm Gypsy Queen (Heart/Fleet Mac)

7/17: 6 pm Flipside, 7:30 pm ABBAmania (Abba tribute)

Music Matters Summer Concert Series

Thursdays, June 12 - September 3, 7 pm-10 pm+ at Sully’s Harbor Bar & Grill, Erie Basin Marina, Downtown Buffalo, NY. $10. ** Plus, 4 special shows as noted. This year you can get your tickets for any or all shows in advance HERE> $10 Pre-sale includes voucher for a free Red Stripe Lager!

6/11 *NEW* Why Rush Matters Podcast Launch Party! An Evening with Analog Kids: A Tribute to Rush

6/18 Stoneflower plays the music of David Bowie POSTPONED to 7/14

6/26 Captain Trips plays the Grateful Dead

7/2 EUROPA! celebrates the Music of Santana

7/9 RELICS plays the music of Pink Floyd

7/14 Special Tuesday: Stoneflower plays the music of David Bowie

7/16 Gavin Petrie Band and Tiger Chung Lee

7/22 SPECIAL WEDNESDAY SHOW: Talking Dead Heads on the USS Little Rock. $25

7/23 The Damone Jackson Outcome

7/24 SPECIAL FRIDAY SHOW: Talking Dead Heads at Sully’s Bar & Grill. $20

7/29 SPECIAL WEDNESDAY SHOW: Brownman Electryc Trio. FREE

7/30 Organ Fairchild

8/2 SPECIAL SUNDAY SHOW: Omega Men (Brownman with DJ Cutler). FREE

8/6 The Strictly Hip

8/13 The Garage Doors play the music of The Doors

8/20 REGGAE DANCE PARTY: Olmsted Dub System plays the Clash and Critt’s Juke Joint ft/BEÜ

8/27 Eberwine and the Little Mountain Band

9/3 The Black Rock Beatles

Music on Main

Thursdays, June, July and August, 6 pm in the village of Williamsville, NY. FREE. Follow on facebook for lineup.

Old Falls Street Friday Night Concerts

Fridays, June, July and August, Opening acts 5-7 pm, Headlining acts 7-10 pm, Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls, NY. FREE

6/19 - Boys of Summer Band, Nerds Gone Wild

6/26 - The Committed, Cold Beer Creek

7/10 - Rusty Nickel, Vinny and The Mudflaps

7/17 - 45 RPM – British Invasion Band, Back to the Bars

7/24 - The A-List Band, IOT

7/31 - The Vandals, The Strictly Hip

8/7 - The Bomb, Hit N Run

8/14 - Kaley Lynch, Make Me Smile – Chicago Tribute Band

8/21 - The Honk Committee, That 80s Hair Band

8/28 - Nuthin’ But Time, Face Value – A Tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis

Poplar Hill Summer Concert Series

Various dates, 1 pm doors at Poplar Hill Wedding Venue, 1216 Quaker Road, East Aurora, NY. $25

7/5 - Jive Alive Orchestra performing a Brian Setzer and Stray Cats tribute

8/2 - Vitamin D, Evan Anstey and The Old Ways opening

9/6 - Carl Dixon Wild North Rock Show

Rock the Boat Concert Series

Thursday nights, July 9-September 3, 6-8 pm on Buffalo Harbor Cruises, Dock at Erie Basin Marina, 329 Erie Street, Buffalo, NY. $41/$69 716 celebration

7/09 – Olmsted Dub System (Reggae – Roots – Dub)

7/16 – NINETIES BY NATURE! (90s Tribute – Pop – Rock – R&B) $69 with a free koozie. BUFF-A-LOVE CELEBRATION!

7/23 – PocketShip (Funk – Disco – Dance)

7/30 – Critt’s Juke Joint (Funk – Rock – Psychedelic – Soul)

8/06 – BEÜ w/ Gaines (Funk – Hip Hop)

8/13 – Prestige Worldwide (90/2000’s)

8/20 – South City (Classic Rock)

8/27 – Buffalo Dead All-Stars (Grateful Dead)

9/03 – Gimme Gimme (Cover Band of the Greatest Cover Band)

Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino Patio Happy Hour

Every Friday from 7-9 pm through the end of August, at the WD Bar & Grill patio, Buffalo, NY.

6/19 - Son Borikua Duo

6/26 - Elaina Alston

7/3 - Cami Clune

7/10 - Erika & Jesse

7/17 - RNSM Duo

7/24 - Elaina Alston

7/31 - Son Borikua Duo

8/7 - RNSM Duo

8/14 - Cami Clune

8/21 and 8/28 - Ade Adu

Sounds of Buffalo Music Concert Series

Presented by Buffalo Music Club

7-9 pm at the Buffalo’s Outer Harbor Wilkeson Pointe, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Saturday, June 20 - Buffalo SoulJah: A Funk and Reggae Summer Celebration with Eric ‘Critt’ Crittenden and The Olmsted Dub System

Saturday, July 18 - Will Holton

Friday, July 31 - Linda Appleby presents Generational Vibrations 2 (Featuring: Curtis Lovell, Lindsay Niccs & Danielle A.)

Friday, August 21 - Pocketship (Future-Funk, Disco)

Stone Jug Summer Sunday Series

Sundays, June-August, 4-7 pm at The Ontario House aka Stone Jug, Youngstown, NY. FREE

6/14 - Cold Shot Trio

6/21 - Eridc Weinholtz Band

6/28 - Creative Spirt & Open Mic All Stars

7/5 - Major Dudes

7/12 - The Twang Gang

7/18 - Rock Angel

7/26 - Tiger Chung Lee

8/2 - Chicago Blues Connection

8/9 - Yank The Cover

8/16 - McCarthyizm

8/23 - Sean Thruma

8/30 - Junkyard Dogs

9/6 - Caddy Jones

Summer of Jazz 2026

Sundays, July - August, 4-7 pm on Ellicott Street, Tappo Restaurant, Buffalo, NY. FREE

7/12 - Big Band Dance
Featuring the Anderson Big Band

7/ 26 - A Taste of Paris
Featuring Hot Club of Buffalo

8/9 - Latin Rhythms
Featuring the Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble

8/16 - Voci d’Amore
Inspired by the Music of Andrea Bocelli

8/23 - A Taste of New Orleans
Featuring the Fredtown Stompers

Sunday, September 6 - 12:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Brazil Comes to Buffalo
The 5th Annual Buffalo Jazz Festival
Headlined by Tres Mais featuring five-time Grammy nominee Karrin Allyson

Summer Sundays

Sundays, June - August, 12 pm-3 pm at Johnson’s Landing, Hamburg, NY.

Sunset at the Stables

Fridays in July, 5 pm gates at Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora, NY. $20/$25. Get info and tickets here.

Friday, July 10 - Ten Cent Howl

Friday, July 17 - AJ & The Woods

Friday, July 24 -Leroy Townes Band

Friday, July 31 - Slip Madigan

The Quaker Arts Pavilion Summer Concert Series

Various dates in July, 7 pm at the Quaker Arts Pavilion behind the Orchard Park Middle School, Orchard Park, NY. FREE

Sunday, July 5 - Great Wide Open (Tom Petty Tribute)

Tuesday, July 7 - American Legion Band of the Tonawandas

Thursday, July 9 - Orchard Park Community Band

Sunday, July 12 - Cami Clune

Tuesday, July 14 - J.J. Swing

Thursday, July 16 - Gypsy Queen (Heart & Fleetwood Mac Tribute)

Saturday, July 18 - 4-9 pm - 3rd Annual OP Jazz Festival

Sunday, July 19 - Fully Clothed Gents (Barenaked Ladies Tribute )

Tuesday, July 21 - Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra

Thursday, July 23 - Nickel City Pimp Choir

Friday, July 24 - 6 pm - Village Ice Cream Social - Live Music & Fireworks

Sunday, July 26 - The Boys of Summer

Tuesday, July 28 - Queen City Queen Tribute Band

Thursday, July 30 - Tequila Sunrise Eagles Tribute Band

Thursday & Main

Thursdays, June 4 - July 30, 5-8 pm at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Buffalo, NY. FREE

6/4: Handsome Jack and The Burkharts

6/11: The Strictly Hip with Erin Hoyle

6/18: The Big Easy in Buffalo presents:​ The Soul Rebels with Honey Island Swamp Band

6/25: The Black Rock Beatles with​ The Shakermakers

7/9: Lazlo Hollyfeld with One Foot Up

7/16: Hollerado with Amateur Hockey Club

7/23: An evening with The Dave Matthews Tribute Band

7/30: Robert Randolph with​ Damone Jackson Outcome

Thursdays on the Water 2026

Thursdays, 5pm gates, 6 pm Opening Band, 7:30 pm Headliner in Gratwick Park, North Tonawanda, NY. FREE

July 9 – Hippie Night: Workingman’s Dead (Grateful Dead Tribute), The Thurman Brothers (Allman Brothers Tribute)
July 16 – Summer St. Patrick’s Day Bash: The Irish Wake Band, Desire (U2 Tribute)
July 30 – Thursday on the Water Featured Night: AppleJack, The Strictly Hip
August 6 – Bills Mafia Night: Sliver, Hurricane (Scorpions Tribute)
August 13 – Outlaw Music Nigh: Cold Beer Creek, Edge of Sundown
August 20 – Award-Winning 80’s & 90’s Party: Sector 7G, Nerds Gone Wild
August 27 – Classic Rock Night: The Floyd Concept - Two full sets