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

Black Sabbath's 'Back to the Beginning' to be live-streamed; New show announcements; This week's picks

Jul 02, 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-freak family. The calendar is stuffed with enticing live music opportunities this week, but first, a little news…

It started with an ominous ‘Devil’s interval’ (aka a tritone) heralding the arrival of something thrillingly new and unbelievably heavy, via the side-one, track-one title song on Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut.

And on Saturday, July 5, over 75 million albums sold and some 55 years later, it will end right where it started, in Birmingham’s Villa Park, when Black Sabbath takes its final bow, capping a day of sets from the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon, with guest appearances from Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), and Zakk Wylde. (Note that Wolfgang Van Halen has announced he will be unable to perform, due to a touring conflict.)

The stadium show sold out pretty much instantly, and there’s also the small matter of Birmingham, UK being 3,466 miles from Buffalo, NY. But fear not, lovers of the mighty riff - for $29.99, you’ll be able to invite Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward right into your living room. The show will be live-streamed, via backtothebeginning.com.

All proceeds from both hard ticket and live-stream sales will benefit the band’s chosen charities - Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

Thanks for the heavy memories, boys.

New And Noteworthy:

Yardcore

Thursday, July 17th, 8pm, at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY. $15/$20. (A buy one-get one deal in honor of International Reggae Day is being offered on July 2, right here.)

Grateful Shred

Tuesday, October 28, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $36.01-71.55

The Motet w/ Michael Wilbur

Tuesday, November 4, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $27/$30

THE SMITHS etc & Disintegration (Tribute to The Cure)

Friday, August 8, 7 pm doors at The Cave, Buffalo. $20/$25

Buffalo Music Club presents

Sounds of Buffalo Free Concert Series: Dead Alliance Buffalo

Friday, July 25, 6-9 pm at Wilkeson Pointe, Buffalo Waterfront. FREE

Funtime presents

The Lemonheads: Love Chant World Tour w/Erin Rae

Saturday, November 29, 7 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $42.25.

After Dark presents

AFI w/TR/ST

Monday, October 6, 8:00 pm at Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo.

Twenty6 Productions presents

Too Many Zooz: Caravan Tour

Saturday, December 13, 8 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $25/$30

After Dark presents

Texas is the Reason

Wednesday, September 17, 7 pm doors at Rec Room, Buffalo. $43.97

DSP Shows presents

Fruit Bats (solo)

Thursday, October 30, 8 pm at The 9th Ward in Babeville, Buffalo. $30/$35.

Tacos & Tequila Festival featuring Fat Joe, Fabolous, Bow Wow, Soulja Boy, Chamillionaire, Petey Pablo, Twista, Mike Jones, DH Ashton Martin.

Saturday, August 23, 2 pm at Outer Harbor Live @ Terminal B. $59/$149/$199.

Weird Phishes: Hybrid Mashups of Radiohead & Phish

Wednesday, August 13, 8 pm at The Caz, South Buffalo. $19

Funtime & Back II Back present

Lords of the Sound Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra: The Music of Hans Zimmer

Saturday, March 7, 7 pm at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. $59.50 - $114.50.

Larry Fleet

Saturday, October 18, 7 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $37.25

The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series presents

Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. wsg/Ten Cent Howl

Thursday September 4, 5pm doors at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $15/$20

This week…

Scott Celani (Tom Petty tribute) and Past Masters (Beatles tribute)

Wednesday, July 2, 6 pm at Gateway Harbor Park, North Tonawanda, NY. FREE

Robin Trower

Wednesday, July 2, 8 pm at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $45/$50 day of

Live at Larkin: Dirty Work (Tribute to Steely Dan)

Wednesday, July 2, 5 pm at Larkin Square, Buffalo. FREE

Murphy’s Law

Wednesday, July 2, 7 pm at Rec Room, Buffalo. $26.75

Todd Rundgren

Thursday, July 3, 8 pm at Artpark Mainstage Theater, Lewiston, NY. $46+

Music Matters Summer Concert Series: GROSH

Thursday, July 3, 7 pm at Sully’s Harbor Bar & Grill at Harbor Walk, Downtown Buffalo. $10. Catch the fireworks from Sahlen Field…Get tickets here!