Where the Bands Are: This Week in Live Music and Concert News

Northwest Jazz Festival this weekend, music news, announcements, and gig picks through the rest of the month!

Aug 20, 2025

(Have a cool concert or interesting event you know about? Email all the info and links to jeffmiersmusic@gmail.com to be considered for inclusion in Where the Bands Are.)

Hey there, music-loving friends. Thanks for being here.

I recently read a book that I thought might be of interest to many of you - both the musicians among us, and the live music supporters who support those musicians.

Band People: The Art of Making Music came out in 2024, and it offers one of the most disarmingly honest and realistic portraits I’ve ever come across of a musician’s life in today’ gig economy. Band People was written by Franz Nicolay, a former member of indie icons The Hold Steady, and it features interviews with a bounty of working musicians the author conducted over more than a decade. Most of these folks are supporting musicians - meaning, they help make the music, but in most cases, don’t make the big money, and settle for being ‘star-adjacent,’ rather than achieving stardom.

There’s a nice review of the book in The New Yorker that’s worth a read. The story’s subhead offers a glimpse of the book’s central thesis: “You used to be able to make a living playing in a band. A new book, Band People, charts how that changed.” Note that the book’s not necessarily a downer. It offers useful information for anyone considering a life in music, already living one, or curious about the daily lives of the musicians they see on the stages of concert halls and clubs. Check it out.

Now for some music news…

Creative Power & the Business of Black Music

Saturday, August 30, 5 pm, Shea’s Smith Theater, 658 Main Street, Buffalo. FREE.

The event will celebrate the artistry, entrepreneurship, and cultural impact of Black music, and is inspired by the story behind the musical DreamGirls. Featuring panelists Naila Ansari Catilo, Yayi Dia, Shantelle Patton, Yuki Numata Resnick, Karen Saxon, and Ron Walker. Doors open at 5 pm. Pre-panel discussion activities include informational tables and a cash bar. The panel discussion begins at 6 pm.

2025 Northwest Jazz Festival

The 2025 Northwest Jazz Festival is this week in Lewiston, NY on Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23. Here’s the lineup:

Friday

Main Stage
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Hot Club of Buffalo
8:45 pm – 10:15 pm – Dan Wilson Organ Trio featuring Pat Bianchi, Jeff “Tain” Watts

Frontier House Stage
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Fredtown Stompers

Peace Garden Stage
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Laura Howse and Jennifer May Duo

DiCamillo Courtyard
6:45 pm – 8:00 pm – Jim Gardner and Nate Kalnitz Duo

Center Street Stage
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Matt’s Music Vocal Performance Team
8:15 pm – 9:45 pm – My Cousin Toné

Saturday

Main Stage
1:00 pm – 1:45 – UB Zodiaque Dance Company “Dances to the Music of Jazz”
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm – Vibrant Strings
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Paradigm Shift
6:15 pm – 7:45 pm – Tony Monaco’s House Party
8:45 – 10:15 pm – Jumaane Smith: Celebrating Louis Armstrong and the Spirit of Swing!

Frontier House Stage
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Ian Liedke Quartet
3:15 pm – 4:45 pm – Jay/Sharptet
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Quentet
7:45 pm – 9:15 pm – Kevin Hall Band

Peace Garden Stage
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm – April Mazzone and Jack Civiletto Duo
4:45 pm – 6:00 pm – Lance Tanner Duo
7:15 pm – 8:45 pm – Elliot Sneider’s Merciful TRVLR.

DiCamillo Courtyard
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Tim Dyet Jazz Accordion
5:15 pm – 6:15 pm – Mara Sebastian
7:30 – 9:00 pm – Donny Frauenhofer

Center Street Stage
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Dr. M Jazz Combo
3:45 pm – 5:15 pm – Carolyn Lansom Quintet
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – DeeAnn DiMeo Quintet
8:15 pm – 9:45 pm – Mary Ramsey and Friends

UB Center for the Arts announces 2025/26 schedule

Here are some of the music performances at UBCFA (with more to come):

Country 106.5 WYRK and Transitowne presents The Stars with Guitars Acoustic Concert w/Lee Brice, Josh Ross, Runaway June, and Dillon Carmichael - Wednesday, September 17, 7:30 pm

Joss Stone - Wednesday, October 1

Vitamin String Quartet: The music of Taylor Swift, Bridgerton, and beyond - Tuesday, October 7

Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert - Wednesday, October 8

Art in the Open (music act TBA) - Thursday, October 30

Herbie Hancock - Sunday, November 2

Twilight in Concert - Friday, November 14

Rescheduled Date Announcement: Lee Ritenour

Buffalo State Performing Arts Center announced the show is rescheduled due to artist scheduling conflict.

NEW DATE: Friday, April 24, 2026 at 8 pm. $45 / $40

All tickets purchased for the previous date will be honored on the new date.

New and Noteworthy

Day of the Grateful Dead w/Eric Carlen’s Half Dead

Saturday, November 1, 8 pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $15/$20

Future Joy

Friday, August 29, 9 pm at Jack Rabbit, Buffalo, NY.

I highly recommend this dynamic duo, so adept at blurring the lines between electronic music, funk, and live improvisation.

Funtime Presents

Matisyahu w/Aaron Dugan

Saturday, October 11, 7 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $42.55/$83.90

The Infamous Stringdusters

Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $42.42-$117.38

Sarah Borges

Friday, September 19, 8pm at The Cave, Buffalo. $15/$20

Bob Mould

Friday, September 12, 7 pm at the Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $39.40 GA seated.

Kiss the Tiger

Saturday, September 20, 8 pm at Milkie's Elmwood Lounge, Buffalo.

Pink Talking Fish & Steely Dead

Sunday, January 4, 2026, 6 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $27.83

Paul Oakenfold and The Crystal Method

Saturday, October 11, 7 pm doors at Electric City, Buffalo. $49.52-$128.71

Magic Beans w/ Mike Gantzer Trio

Friday, September 26, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $22/$25

DSP Shows & Twenty6 Productions presents

The Crane Wives w/Spencer LaJoye

Friday, November 7, 7 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $27/$30.

Funtime presents

Continental Reunion ft/Nullstadt, Olmsted Dub System does The Clash, Perilous (Featuring Pauline!), Iron Fist does The Ramones, The Clockers plus more…

DJs to include original Continental DJs David Hall, Ken Wolf, and DJ Bud, plus special guest DJs!

Saturday, October 25, 7 pm at the Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $26.80 early bird tickets

This week…

Live at Larkin: Record Store Night w/ Damone Jackson Outcome & special guests

Wednesday, August 20, 5 pm at Larkin Square, Buffalo. FREE

Eberwine & Friends

Thursday, August 21, 8 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $10

Music Matters Summer Concert Series: The Garage Doors playing music of The Doors

Thursday, August 21, 7 pm at Sully’s at Harbor Walk, Buffalo. $10. Get tickets here.

Music is Art presents

August Alliance Open Mic w/guest host Pat Brown, ft/Snow Cricket

Thursday, August 21, 7 pm Snow Cricket, 7:45 open mic, at Buffalo Distilling, Buffalo. Sign up starts at 6:30 pm.

Scarlet Begonias

Friday, August 22, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $15/$20

SUBLIME w/THE INTERRUPTERS and The Bouncing Souls

Friday, August 22, 7 pm at CMAC, Canandaigua, NY. $

97Rock Friday Night Bike Night w/High Horse

Friday, August 22, 6 pm at The Hilltop Inn and Grove, Alden, NY.

The Funk Knights

Friday, August 22, 9 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $10

Tom Stahl

Friday, August 22, 6 pm at The Blueberry Treehouse Farm, West Falls, NY.

Sweet Honey in the Rock

Saturday, August 23, 8 pm at Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY. $55

WNY Women of Rock and Blues Festival

Saturday, August 23, 5 pm at Diamond Hawk Golf Course and Pub, Cheektowaga, NY.

Buffalo Music Coalition presents

Saturday Sessions: Two of Us: The Beatles Tribute Duo ft/ Gregg Sansone and Jake Barker

Saturday, August 23, 4-7 pm at Flying Bison Brewing Company, Buffalo. FREE

BONNIE RAITT wsg/Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band

Saturday, August 23, 6 pm doors at CMAC, Canandaigua, NY. $

Lancaster Live Concert Series: Mr. Brightside

Saturday, August 23, 6 pm at Broadway/Central Avenue/West Main Street, Lancaster, NY. FREE

BUR FEST ft/Letter to Elise, Off the Wall, and Mookie

Saturday, August 23, 3 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $15

BTPM Classical Live on Stage #30: Entering Music with Stratton and Richie

Saturday, August 23, 2 pm at 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo. FREE but need reserved tickets.

KISS THIS!

Saturday, August 23, 7 pm at The Cowboy on The Lake, Buffalo. $17.85

Hot Stuff wsg/Spud

Saturday, August 23, 8 pm at Milkie’s, Buffalo. $10

Big Martha Celebrates The Allman Brothers

Sunday, August 24, 2 pm doors/4 pm show at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $20

City of Tonawanda Porchfest

Sunday, August 24, 1 - 6 pm on various porches, Tonawanda, NY. FREE. Get map and schedule on site.

Superchief and Burnt Toast

Sunday, August 24, 2 - 5 pm at 192 Highland Ave., Tonawanda, NY. FREE.

Gregory Alan Isakov w/Ocie Elliott

Sunday, August 24, 7 pm at Artpark Mainstage Theater, Lewiston, NY. $41.50/$51.50

9th Annual Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration: Durand Bernarr ft/ Avery Wilson, Bryan Michael Cox, Makenzie, DJ Quiksilva & more

Sunday, August 24, 3 pm - 9 pm at the Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo. Single Tickets $20 / HERD PACK (Buy 3, Get 1 Free) $60

10th Anniversary of JazzMondays at Tappo w/My Cousin Toné

Monday, August 25, 6:30 pm at Tappo Restaurant Rooftop Patio, Buffalo. FREE

Food Truck Tuesday: Jony James Band

Tuesday, August 26, 5 pm at Larkin Square, Buffalo. FREE

The Australian Pink Floyd Show: Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary Tour

Wednesday, August 27 at 7 pm at Artpark Amphitheater, Lewiston, NY. $22.50/$46/$56

GoldFord

Wednesday, August 27, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $35

Jamie Holka & Friends

Wednesday, August 27, 6 pm at Sportmens Tavern, Buffalo. $10

Live at Larkin: Grosh ft/Alex McArthur, Harry Graser & Zak Ward

Wednesday, August 27, 5 pm at Larkin Square, Buffalo. FREE

Coming up…

Music Matters Summer Concert Series: The Damone Jackson Outcome/Tiger Chung Lee

Thursday, August 28, 7 pm at Sully’s at Harbor Walk, Buffalo. $10. Get tickets here.

Darksoft w/Elemantra & Precious Love

Thursday, August 28, 8 pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $10

Last Night Songs, A Potters Field

Friday, August 29, 8 pm at Sportmens Tavern, Buffalo. $10

Dellwood and the Night Shades

Friday, August 29, 7 pm doors at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo. $10

Gavin Petrie Band

Friday, August 29, 8 pm at The Cave, Buffalo. $

Dead on the Farm: Dead Alliance Buffalo

Friday, August 29, 8 pm at Becker Farms, Gasport, NY. $10. Presale tickets here.

Heart wsg/Todd Rundgren

Friday, August 29, 6:30 pm doors at CMAC, Canandaigua, NY. $

Sportsmens Celebrating 40 Years

Music on all 3 stages - Sportsmens, Sportsmens Park and The Cave

Saturday, August 30, at 3 pm at Sportsmens sites, Buffalo. FREE, but sign up for tickets as your RSVP.

THE BLACK KEYS wsg/Gary Clark Jr

Saturday, August 30, 5:30 pm doors at CMAC, Canandaigua, NY. $

Ani DiFranco w/ Hurray for the Riff Raff

Sunday, August 31, 6:30 pm at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo. $35

4th Annual Buffalo Jazz Festival ft/Paul Hage & Mirage, Vanessa Vacanti Quartet, My Cousin Toné, and Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble

Sunday, August 31 at 12:30 pm - 7:30 pm on Ellicott Street in front of Tappo Restaurant, Buffalo. FREE

Music Matters Summer Concert Series: The Black Rock Beatles

Thursday, September 4, 7 pm at Sully’s at Harbor Walk, Buffalo. $10. Get tickets here.

The Great North American Rush Off: Analog Kids w/Sue Kincaid and Grace Lougen, Stavo, Deb and The Knight Crew, Wilcox Mansion

Saturday, September 6, 3 pm gates, 4 pm show at Sportsmens, Sportsmens Park and The Cave, Buffalo. $21.12/$50 VIP

Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country

Saturday, September 6, 5 pm gates at Perinton Center Park, Rochester, NY. $40/$45/$85

AEG & Outer Harbor Concerts presents

Ethel Cain w/9million

Saturday, September 13, at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo. $69.74 (Premium SOLD OUT)

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