Congratulations JoAnn Falletta, Record Store Day is April 12, Lucy Dacus, Ricky Skaggs, Herbie Hancock, and this week’s must-see gigs

(Above: AI Design by Kim Miers)

(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.

Hope you’ve been getting out there and enjoying some musical soul-food, as much as possible. There’s plenty more to come, this week and in the months ahead, so pace yourselves!

Let’s kick things off with some good news – for us here ion Western New York, and in the broader world of our country’s musical culture as well.

Some considerable kudos are in order to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, whose Board of Directors announced this week a three-year contract extension for BPO Music Director Maestro JoAnn Falletta. The extension kicks in when Falletta’s current term concludes at the end of the 2025-26 concert season, and it ensures that that she’ll be here in Buffalo working her magic, and representing our city in the best possible fashion throughout the rest of the country and the world, through the 2028-29 season. It also means that Maestro Falletta will be right here to mark her 30th anniversary at the helm of the BPO in 2029.

JoAnn arrived in Buffalo to assume the Music Director position in 1999, as the first woman to sit at the helm of a major American orchestra. In the time since, she’s greatly elevated the orchestra’s stature and solidified its reputation as one of the leading ensembles in the country.

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director JoAnn Falletta. Photo by Steve J. Sherman.

“JoAnn is a treasure not only of the BPO, but of all of Buffalo – Niagara,” BPO Board Chair Scott Stenclik said in a press release. “Her stewardship since joining the BPO has been stellar, and her continued association positions the orchestra for greater artistic achievement and community impact.”

“It is amazing how one step forward in 1999 developed into a musical journey that is so deeply fascinating, enriching and beautiful,” Falletta says. “My time with the BPO is the most artistically satisfying period of my life, and living in this city and region is a joy. The musicians, the Board, my brilliant colleague Dan Hart and the staff have been a dream team, continuously raising our standard of excellence and celebrating the incredible community we love.”

“The sustaining fabric of our work in Buffalo is the love of the people of this region, and the devotion of the extraordinary musicians who have come from all over the world to join our Buffalo Philharmonic and to work together to share great music for all people, in our city and beyond,” she added. “It is truly an honor and the greatest joy to see the development and growth of an orchestra whose artistic level, imagination and character shine as a beacon of excellence in our country.”

Congratulations, Maestro Falletta, on a job well done. And here’s to our shared bright future!

Speaking of treasured cultural assets…

Jazz Appreciation Month 2025

Welcome to April and Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM).

Locally, JazzBuffalo recommends a number of stellar performances throughout the month including the Charlie Ballantine Trio at PAUSA, ART OF JAZZ: The Jeff Hamilton Trio at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Art Meets Jazz: An Intimate Evening With Jazz Vocalist Carolyn Lansom at the Hunt Art Gallery/Beebe’s at the Gallery, plus many more. Visit the website for full listings and information on JAM.

Record Store Day 2025

(Click the link above for a complete list of limited titles being released on April 12.)
Here are just a few of the events planned around RSD in Buffalo this Saturday…

Porchfests are back!

The Buffalo Porchfest sponsored by the Elmwood Village Association is slated for Saturday, May 17 from 1-6 pm. You can already sign up to be a host or a performer.

You can visit two Porchfests in a row – make a weekend of it! South Buffalo Porchfest is Saturday, June 21st, from Noon-5 pm and registration is now open until 5/10/25.

Kenmore Porchfest is scheduled the next day – Sunday, June 22 – and you can also sign up to host, perform, grab t-shirts or become a sponsor on their site.

Looks like North Tonawanda Porchfest is slotted for Sunday, August 10. Follow along @north.tonawanda.porchfest and find more information on the site here.

Save Sunday, August 24 from 1-6 pm open for the Tonawanda City Porchfest. More details to come…

2025 Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival Music

Music is Art is presenting 2 days (April 26-27) of music during the festival at the Buffalo History Museum and Japanese Gardens, from 11am – 3 pm.

Borderland Band Camp 2025 is open to campers!

Borderland Band Camp, sponsored by Buffalo Music Club, Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation and Borderland Music Festival, is a 6-day summer music program (August 18-20 and August 25-27) for middle-school and high-school teens with a BIG goal—to share the stage with professional musicians for two live performances, culminating in a spot on the Homespun Stage at Borderland Music + Arts Festival.

Last weekend, the Borderland Band Camp fundraiser at The Cave was quite successful. Funds raised will go towards scholarships for kids in need to join the camp!

Some of the camp’s teachers include local musicians and music mentors like Eric Crittenden, David Cloyd, Damone Jackson, Jakob Jay, Alex Overton, Marcus Lolo and myself. Last year’s inaugural camp was an unforgettable experience for all involved, and this year is already shaping up to be bigger and better.

Enrollment is now open with early bird pricing available through April 30. Limited spots available. Scholarships are also available for qualified applicants.

(In other Borderland Festival news, this is your last chance to grab your tickets and passes at a reduced rate. Prices go up Sunday, April 13 @ Midnight. You can grab yours now at Borderlandfestival.com.

New And Noteworthy:

Lucy Dacus wsg/Jay Som

Wednesday, July 30, 8 pm at Artpark Mainstage Theater, Lewiston, NY. $56/$46. Presales begin Tuesday, April 15, noon and Public onsale begins Friday, April 18 at noon.

John Moreland w/Jared Hart

Wednesday, August 20, 8 pm at The 9th Ward in Babeville, Buffalo. $25/$30

Sonny Landreth

Saturday, July 26, 8 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $40.00

Funtime Presents

The Aquabats! w Koffin Kats & Mike V and the Rats

Wednesday, June 25, 6 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo.

Gantzer improv set w/members of Animal Envy, Witty Tarbox

Saturday, May 31, 8 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $10

Buffalo Music Coalition presents:

The Blues Brothers Review

Friday, May 9, 8 pm at Asbury Hall in in Babeville, Buffalo. $25/$30

After Dark & 103.3 The Edge present:

Bad Suns w/Little Image & The Ramona Flowers

Sunday, June 8, 6 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $25

Joseph Arthur

Friday, April 25, 8pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. More info TBA.

103.3 The Edge presents:

The Starting Line w/Oso Oso

Sunday, August 24, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $$

The Strictly Hip

Hockey Songs & Murder Ballads

Friday, May 2, 6:30 pm doors at The Caz, Buffalo. $20-$30

“HIPstory” featuring one song from every album by The Tragically Hip

Saturday, May 3, 6:30 pm doors at The Caz, Buffalo. $20

UB40 w/Inner Circle

Friday, August 29, 7 pm at Artpark Amphitheater, Lewiston, NY. $27/$66/$76. Tickets on sale Friday, April 4 at 10 am.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Sunday, June 8, 4 pm gates/6 pm show at Sportsmens Park, Buffalo. $60

Herbie Hancock

Sunday, November 2, 7 pm at UB Center For the Arts. $49 – $134.

Funtime presents:

The Smiths etc, Murmur, Disintegration

The music of The Smiths, The Cure and R.E.M.

Friday, May 30, 7 pm at Town Ballroom Buffalo. $25

Jacob Jay presents:

Doctor Lonnie Smith 2nd Annual Jazz Festival

Wednesday, April 23, 6 pm kitchen open, 7 pm show at The Caz, Buffalo. $15-$20

Featuring renowned jazz organist Gerry Youngman of the Paradigm Shift Jazz Trio, a close friend and former student of Dr. Smith.

In addition to performances by the high school ensembles from St. Francis, Lackawanna, Global Concepts Charter High School, and Pappy Martin Jazz Legacy Collective’s Love Supreme School of Music, the festival will include a special appearance by the Jay/Sharptet Little Big Band and others.

FTMP Events presents:

Green Jelly

Friday, May 2, 9 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $20/$25

Taj Farrant

Wednesday, July 9, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $30/$35

An Evening with Rosanne Cash w/ John Leventhal

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 7 pm in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo. $86.50

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Wednesday, June 4, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $23/$28

Tugboat Annie w/ Black Jacket, Stress Dolls, Gathering Ground

Saturday, June 28, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo.

New Bomb Turks w/ The Drowns

Monday, July 28, 7 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $20/$25

Dinner and a Show: Kaki King

Sunday, June 8, 6 pm seating, 7 pm dinner, 7:30 show at The Caz, South Buffalo, NY. $89-$99.

Here are some of the many things happening in our scene, this week and beyond…

Alex McArthur Quartet – “A Tribute to Sarah Vaughan”

Thursday April 10, 7 pm at PAUSA art house, Buffalo. $20/$15

Moon Hooch w/ Future Joy

Thursday April 10, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $22/$25

Thursday Night Live: Delvin Payton and The Lyfe Band

Thursday April 10, 5:30 pm at Wilson Town Square, Knox Building, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo. FREE

JazzBuffalo presents:

Charlie Ballantine Trio

Friday, April 11, 7 pm at PAUSA art house, Buffalo. $25/$15

Funtime presents:

Railroad Earth

Friday, April 11, 7 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $42.25

DSP Shows presents:

The Tallest Man on Earth w/ The Still Tide

Friday, April 11, 7 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $35/$40

Ten Cent Howl

Friday, April 11, 9 pm at Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo. $10

mssv – mike baggetta + stephen hodges + mike watt wsg/Omit the Band

Friday, April 11, 7 pm doors at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo. $20/$22

Annie in the Water & Tand

Friday, April 11, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $15/$20

Bright Eyes

Friday, April 11, 8 pm at Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo. $45/$55

Sibelius Symphony No. 1 – BPO w/violinist Nikki Choo

Friday, April 11, 10:30 am and Sunday, April 13, 2:30 pm at Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo. $16.50-$74.50

Marion Meadows, Brian Simpson, and Althea Rene

Friday, April 11, 8 pm in Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State. $40/$45

A Night of O’Day with Vanessa Vacanti

Featuring George Caldwell on piano, Paul La Duca onbass, and John Bacon Jr. on drums.

Saturday, April 12, 7 pm at PAUSA art house, Buffalo. $15/$13

Big Martha Plays the Music of the Allman Brothers Band

Saturday, April 12, 8 pm at Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo. $20

Jimkata w/ Space Junk

Saturday, April 12, 8 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $20/$25

Max Muscato ft/ Halfstride and Billy & Nic

“The Lunatic Tour” benefiting Rock Autism

Saturday, April 12, 6 pm doors at The Caz, Buffalo. $24/$29

The Big Happy w/The Hunks of Funk

Saturday, April 12, 8 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $10

Buffalo Music Coalition presents:

Tail Light Rebellion

Saturday, April 12, 4-7 pm at Flying Bison Brewing Company, Buffalo. FREE

The Rock & Roll Playhouse: Dave Matthews Band For Kids ft/Tim Britt Band

Saturday, April 12, 11 am doors at Electric City, Buffalo. $15/FREE for kids under 1

Goo Grief w/The Urban Acheivers

Saturday, April 12, 8 pm at The Cave, Buffalo. $

Music Is Art Instrument Drive

Saturday, April 12, 10 am-4 pm

LORDS of the HIGHWAY wsg/ LOWER TOWN TRIO

Saturday, April 12, 7 pm doors at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo. $10

ART OF JAZZ: The Jeff Hamilton Trio

Sunday, April 13, 3 pm at the Stanford and Judith Lipsey Auditorium, Knox Building, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo. $45/$40

DSP Shows presents:

Buckethead

Sunday, April 13, 7 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $30/$35.

Ellen Pieroni & The Encyclopedia of Soul

Sunday, April 13, 6 pm at Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo. $10

Twenty6 Productions presents:

Ripe

Tuesday, April 15 at 8 pm at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $29/$33

Martin Barre: A night of Acoustic Delights with the Martin Barre Band

Tuesday, April 15, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $40

Yarn

Wednesday, April 16, 7 pm at Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo. $20

Strings Unbound – An Evening with Alex Cousins

Thursday, April 17, 6 pm doors at The Caz, Buffalo. $18

Thursday Night Live: Jupiter Trolley

Thursday, April 17, 5:30 pm at Wilson Town Square, Knox Building, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo. FREE

Stu and Avery Weissman – Jazz Guitar and more

Thursday, April 17, 7 pm doors at PAUSA art house, Buffalo. $15/$13

Kleinhans Music Hall presents:

Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan

Thursday, April 17, 6:30 doors at Mary Seaton Room in Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo. $61.50-$191.50

A Look Ahead…

Philippe Lemm Trio presents “Echo The Sun” – Upcoming CD release

Friday, April 18, 7 pm at PAUSA art house, Buffalo. $25/$18

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root w/ Dirk Miller

Friday, April 18, 9 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $25

Spin Doctors

Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19, 8 pm at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Bears Den, Niagara Falls, NY. $35/$40

Blaised And Confused w/Diyené 1st Anniversary Show

Saturday, April 19, 10 pm at Jack Rabbit, Buffalo. $10

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad

Saturday, April 19, 6:30 doors at The CAZ, South Buffalo, NY. $29

Workingman’s Dead

Saturday, April 19, 7 doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $15

After Dark presents:

Hawthorne Heights

Wedday, April 23, 7 pm doors at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $33.25

Funtime Presents:

Mercury Rev w/Wild Pink

Friday, April 25, 8 pm doors at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $42.25

Uncle Ben’s Remedy w/ The Tradesmen

Friday, April 25, 6:30 doors at The Caz, Buffalo. $20

Bad Sneakers: A Tribute to Steely Dan performing “Aja”

Saturday, April 26, 6:30 doors at The Caz, Buffalo. $25

Gold Rush (The Ultimate Neil Young Celebration)

Saturday, April 26, 8 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $25

Vieux Farka Touré wsg/The Paul Kozlowski Quintent

Sunday, April 27, at 3 pm in the Mary Seaton Room, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo. $45.50

“World-renowned musician Vieux Farka Touré is often referred to as “the Hendrix of the Sahara,” and has become a cultural ambassador for the people of Mali and the Sahel. His 2022 collaboration with Khruangbin, “Ali,” pays tribute to his father (legendary guitar player Ali Farka Touré), receiving international acclaim. Touré’s live performances are highly energized, dazzling crowds with his charisma and talent.”