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

Picks to get you through the end of August, a ton of news and cool show announcements

Aug 22, 2024

Hello, music lovers.

It’s been quite the ride this summer! As we begin to wind down, and prepare for the Borderland and Music is Art festivals in September, it seems appropriate to offer a double-issue of curated gig recommendations to see you through the next few weeks.

Let’s kick things off with some music news…

Buffalo State College announces Dr. Fernanda Lastra as their 2024-2025 Guest University Philharmonia Director

Auditions will be held on Monday, August 26th at 7:30 pm for community members and Buffalo State string students. To arrange an audition, please contact music@buffalostate.edu. For more schedule and more info, click here.

Call for artists, musicians, vendors for 2nd Annual Old First Ward Arts & Heritage Festival

Saturday, September 28, 11 am to 10 pm, on Republic Street between Tennessee Street and Vandalia Street, Buffalo

From the OFW web site: “Event organizers are calling for artists and musicians to create and execute workshops that will run throughout the festival, for participation by attendees at no cost. Detailed plans including all expenses, time and supplies must be provided, with up to $800 provided for workshop hosts.”

APPLY HERE — Deadline: August 26

Live music will be performed by a number of local bands including Alison Pipitone, Kickstart Rumble, Beard and the Bird, Diyene’, and Grace Strumburg on the main stage, with several acts on the side stage as well. Music runs from 11 am – 10 pm.

Visit www.ofwartfestival.com for details

Steve Baczkowski

The free jazz saxophonist new solo recording, Cheap Fabric, on Relative Pitch Records will be released on September 6th. Limited edition CDs for pre-order and downloads available here:

"This recording of solo improvisations was initiated and realized by my longtime friend and collaborator David Bailey,” says Baczkowski. “We recorded nearly all of these pieces on the evening of a lunar eclipse, after David brought his vintage reel-to-reel tape machine to my old warehouse living room. The process and timing created an energy of focused intensity and stark intimacy, which is apparent in the music. I am grateful for the support, diligence and patience of my friend, whose unending faith in the mystery and wonder of sound resulted in this audio document of a cold November night in Buffalo, NY.”

Matches Laces EP Release Party

Saturday, August 24, 7:30 pm at Duende at Silo City, Buffalo. $10

**Mike Santillo is “Matches Laces”.** Photo by JP Pierre

Mike Santillo, former member of Buffalo indie rock band The Tins, is now creating music as Matches Laces. It’s addictive stuff, blending electro and acoustic sounds in service of some forward-looking indie-pop. Here’s what Mike has to say about the project…

“Hey everyone, I am releasing an 8 song EP on vinyl in 2 weeks, with Admirable Traits Records, and you can buy it right now by following the preorder link below! I am so excited to out this music out into the world, and can't wait to share it with you! Thanks for reading, and thank you for listening!”

Listen on Apple Music here.

Buy Matches Laces EP: https://tinyurl.com/abvwk976

Just announced:

After Dark Presents Bright Eyes

Friday, April 11, 7 pm doors at Buffalo RiverWorks, Downtown Buffalo. Tickets on sale now. $45 + fees

10,000 Maniacs

Saturday, October 19, 8 pm at UB Center for the Arts, Buffalo. Presale tickets on sale now until 10 pm - code UBMANIACS. General Public tickets on sale starting at 12 pm Friday, August 23.

Le Youth

Monday, November 11, 8 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $24-$54

Dizgo w/ Grub & Solar Circuit

Saturday, November 2, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $15/$20

Jonathan Richman + Tommy Larkins LIVE (2 SHOWS!) @ Nietzsche’s.

Get tickets here.

Some must-see shows over the next few weeks…

Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul - Soul Vacation album release party

Friday, August 30th, 9 p.m. at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $20

Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul. Photo by Ginny Rose Stewart.

Music Matters Summer Concert Series: Funktional Flow

Thursday, August 22, 7 pm at Harbor Walk, Buffalo. $10

Music Matters Summer Concert Series: The Strictly Hip

Thursday, August 29, 7 pm at Harbor Walk, Buffalo. $10

Sunday Night Jazz Series: Marcus Lolo and Friends

Presented by The Colored Musicians Club & Jazz Museum

Sunday, August 25, 6 pm at The Buffalo History Museum, Buffalo. $20 members/$25 non-members.

KeyBank Live at Larkin Finale: Grosh Prime ft. Alex McArthur, Harry Graser & Michael DeLano

Wednesday, August 28, 5 pm at Larkin Square, Buffalo. FREE

Rock the Boat Concert Cruise w/ Olmsted Dub System

Thursday, August 22, 6 pm on the Miss Buffalo, Buffalo Harbor Cruises. $34. Get tix here!

Shapes The Band

Saturday, August 24, 9 pm at Nietszche’s, Buffalo. $

The Buffalo debut of this Canadian psych-prog-jam ensemble.

Thursday Night Music: Machine Dream

Thursday, August 22, 5:30 pm at Wilson Town Square, Knox Building, Buffalo AKG Museum, Buffalo. FREE

The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series: Lynn Drury Band wsg/ Randle & The Late Nite Scandals

Friday, August 23, 8 pm at The Cave, Buffalo. $10/$15

Great American Songbook Celebration at the Northwest Jazz Festival

Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, 6 pm at the Main Stage, Lewiston, NY. $25 per night

The Beths w/ Princess Chelsea

Tuesday, September 3, 8 pm in Asbury Hall at Babeville, Buffalo. $25/$30

Perpetual Groove w/Special Guests

Saturday, August 31, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $20/$25

Songbirds: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Thursday, August 22, 5 pm at Larkin Square, Buffalo. FREE

Jazz Buffalo presents the 3rd Annual Buffalo Jazz Festival: Vibrant Strings, Jay Sharptet, My Cousin Toné, Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble, Fredtown Stompers

Sunday, September 1, 12:30 - 7:30 pm at Richardson-Olmsted Campus and The Richardson Hotel Buffalo. FREE

I want my MTV Fest featuring El Scorcho, Smells Like Dave Grohl, and special guest DJ

Saturday, August 31, 7 pm at Riff City, Buffalo. $15 + fees

Thursday Night Music: Sara Elizabeth featuring Alex Cousins and Sally Schaefer

Thursday, August 29, 5:30 pm at Wilson Town Square, Knox Building, Buffalo AKG Museum, Buffalo. FREE

Live The Grove: Little Mountain Band w/ More Heat

Saturday, August 31, 4 pm - More Heat, 6:30 pm - Little Mountain Band (2 sets) at the Hilltop Inn & Grove, Alden, NY. $20

Battle of the Borderland Contest

Thursday, August 22, TBA at Town Ballroom, Buffalo.

Aristotle Jones + Shoot Ya String Band w/ Tyler Bagwell & Sally Schaefer

Saturday, August 31, 9 pm at Nietszche’s, Buffalo. $10

Buffalo Music Coalition presents Saturday Sessions at Flying Bison: The Alison Pipitone Band

Saturday, August 24, 4 pm at Flying Bison Brewing Company, Buffalo. Free.

Someday Maybe Band Celebrates the Life of Dave Ebersole

Friday, August 30, 7 pm at Stockman’s Tavern & Grove, East Amherst, NY.

2nd Annual Elmwood Village ArtFest

Saturday, August 24, 11 am - 8 pm and Sunday, August 25, 11 am - 7 pm, on Bidwell Parkway in Elmwood Village, Buffalo. FREE

Fairport Music Festival

Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, various locations in Fairport, NY. See the Lineup here.

20th Annual Buffalo Funk Fest featuring The Rick James Legacy Band, Will Holton, The Diamond Classic Band, Delivered, and Atlantic Starr

The Buffalo Funk Festival celebrates Rick James's legacy and musical contributions. FREE

Seafood Boil Fundraiser to benefit the Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation

Saturday, August 31, 4 pm. - 7 pm, The Terrace at Delaware Park, Buffalo. $100 donation

Open Bar 4 pm. - 7 pm, Seafood Boil at 5 pm. Acoustic performance by Geno McManus at 4 pm. Get tickets here. OR from the SAMF store or a board member.

We're Not Yet Dead

Saturday, August 24, 8 pm at Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo. $10

The Dreaming Tree (Dave Matthews Tribute Band)

Sunday, September 1, 4 pm at The Cowboy on The Lake, Blasdell, NY. $19.73

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls w/ Bedouin Soundclash & Bridge City Sinners

Sunday, August 25, 6 pm doors at the Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $42.50 + fees

Food Truck Tuesdays: Jony James Band

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

The Motet + Dopapod w/Perpetual Groove

Friday, August 30, 5:30 pm at Lincoln Hill Farms, Canandaigua, NY. $52.88/$94

Saga wsg/Carl Dixon

Saturday, August 24, 7:30 pm at the West Herr Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda, NY. $39

Grosh

Saturday, August 31, 3 pm at Buffalo Olde Brewery, Buffalo.

UltraSound: The Secret Symphony of Plants

Sunday, August 25, 4 pm at the Artpark Mainstage Theater, Lewiston, NY. $12
Featuring music created for Artpark by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Ricardo Romaneiro, Marcus Foster, John Kaefer, Brent Chancellor, and live plant DJs Golden Wheel Records.

JIMKATA

Saturday, August 31, 5 pm at Lincoln Hill Farms, Canandaigua, NY. FREE

Emily Wolfe w/ The Dangerous Method

Saturday, August 24, 8 pm in the 9th Ward at Babeville, Buffalo. $17/$20

Emo Night (Summer 2024 Edition) featuring Off The Wall

Saturday, August 24, 8 pm at Riff City, Buffalo. $19.75-$25.07

Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration: Infinity Song, La Cassandra, Seyblu, Kameron Corvet, Elsie, DJ Ted Smooth + more

Sunday, August 25, 2 pm at Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo. $22 GA, + various passes available

Trae Sheehan wsg/Lauren Clifford

Friday, August 30, 7pm at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo. $10

“Trae Sheehan is a touring folk songwriter, performer, and sound engineer from the Nashville, Tennessee area. He has been writing songs and performing since he was 10 years old and has been touring North America in a minivan since high school. His songwriting is inspired by storytellers like Bob Dylan, the Eagles, and Randy Newman, and he often uses old stories and poems as inspiration for his lyrics. In 2020, he released his third full-length album, Postcards from the Country, on Half Moon Records.” Limited Tickets available.

City of Tonawanda Porchfest

Sunday, August 25, 1 - 6 pm, Various locations in Tonawanda, NY. Free. Info here.

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