Joseph Arthur, The New Mastersounds, Todd Rundgren is coming to Artpark, some music news and festival announcements, plus picks for this week and beyond

By: Jeff Miers

(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.

The concert schedule is filling up, and I’m savoring every minute of it. So many great shows are headed our way, even if they aren’t the most obvious ones and, as I routinely hear from many of you, there is the general feeling that Buffalo remains a market that gets skipped over by far too many touring artists. But really, where would we fit more? There are only seven days in a week, after all…

Here’s a show that’s got me fired up:

Joseph Arthur w/ Douglas Joyman

Friday, April 25, 8 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $20 GA adv/$25 Preferred adv OR $25 DOS/$20 Preferred DOS

I’ve been fascinated by the music of Joseph Arthur since I first heard him, following his 1996 signing to Real World Records, and subsequently, a heartfelt recommendation from Peter Gabriel, who fell for Arthur’s beautifully imagistic music after a friend handed him a cassette demo he’d received.

In the time since, Arthur has released a handful of albums I consider masterpieces – Redemption’s Son (2002) and Our Shadows Will Remain (2004) principal among them. He’s remained prolific, releasing some 15 albums under his own name, as well as working with Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison as Fistful Of Mercy, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam as RNDM, and REM’s Peter Buck as Arthur Buck.

What has always attracted me to Arthur’s music – a strain of haunted, gospel-tinged alternative-soul-singer/songwriter-Americana-meets-Velvet Underground vibe – still acts as a through-line in his work. He’s all over the place in the most positive sense of that expression, and man, I’m here for it. That’s why being afforded this opportunity to catch Arthur in the intimate space of Nietzsche’s – a club that has meant an awful lot to me over the past 35 years, as both a musician and a fan – feels like a ray of light sneaking through some serious cloud cover.

I’ll see you there.

Another exciting addition to the summer concert calendar:

Todd Rundgren

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

Some sad news…

Buffalo music scene veteran Leigh Stoner passed away earlier this week. This coming Monday, April 21, Stoner was scheduled to play his regular Monday happy hour set at Nietzsche’s. Many of his longtime friends and bandmates, led by bassist John Weber, are planning to gather and play music in his honor, from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Rest in peace, Leigh…

Oh, and don’t sleep on this gig, because it’s going to be absolutely sick:

The New Mastersounds w/ The Sideways

Sunday, April 20, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. $27/$30

The New Mastersounds. So damn funky that it scares me…

There’s now a bill to ‘require sellers of event tickets to disclose comprehensive information to consumers about ticket prices and related fees, to prohibit speculative ticketing, and for other purposes.’

Perhaps I’m a little jaded, but I’m not convinced we’ll ever see the end of predatory, speculative ticket pricing. But this does sound like a step in the right direction… Here is the bill. Read about it in context on Relix, here.

Watch: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Preview ‘Phantom Island’ with “Deadstick” Music Video

After teasing their next project last week, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have officially announced Phantom Island, their 27th studio album.

The new platter will arrive on June 13, and it sounds like it’s going to be a typically ambitious face-melter, melding the band’s soulful psychedelia with garage rock grit and prog-y flourishes, bolstered by the addition of a full orchestra and ambitious arrangements for strings, brass and woodwinds, courtesy of conductor and arranger Chad Kelly.

Here’s the video for the title tune, to give you a general idea of what these freaks are up to this time around…

You can read more about the new album here, and check out the list of King Gizz’ US summer tour dates below.

Wed. June 4 – Fri. June 6 – Athens, GR @ Lycabettus Theatre City of Athens
Sun. June 8 – Tue. June 10 – Plovdiv, BG @ Ancient Theatre
Fri. June 13 – Sun. June 15 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Mon. July 28 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion At The Mann (w/ Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia)
Wed. July 30 – New Haven, CT @ Westville Music Bowl (w/ Orchestra of St. Luke’s)
Fri. August 1 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium (w/ Orchestra of St. Luke’s)
Sat. August 2 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium (Rock ‘n Roll Show)
Mon. August 4 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (w/ National Symphony Orchestra)
Wed. August 6 – Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Festival (w/ Chicago Philharmonic)
Fri. August 8 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Ford Amphitheater (w/ Colorado Symphony)
Sun. August 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl (w/ Hollywood Bowl Orchestra)
Mon. August 11 – San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (w/ San Diego Symphony Orchestra)

Watch: Neil Young, Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers Perform “Rockin’ in the Free World” in LA

On Saturday, April 12, artists aligned in support of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s multi-city tour, Fight the Oligarchy, at Los Angeles’ Gloria Molina Grand Park. The event’s musical component brought a range of talent, including Neil Young, Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, and more, who, in addition to their hosts, drew a crowd of 36,000.

Some enticing shows in the Chautauqua Institute summer lineup…

Smokey Robinson – Thursday, Jun 19, 7 pm
Counting Crows – Saturday, Jun 21, 8:15 pm
The Wood Brothers – Monday, June 23, 8:15 pm
Diana Krall – Friday, June 27, 8:15 pm
Roy Wood Jr. – Thursday, July 7, 8:15 pm
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Friday, July 11, 8:15 pm
Afro-Andean Funk – Monday, July 14, 8:15 pm
Guster & The Mountain Goats – Friday, July 25, 7:30 pm
The Avett Brothers – Friday, August 1, 8:15 pm
Laufey: A Night at the Symphony with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra – Saturday, August 2, 8:15 pm
Laufey: A Night at the Symphony with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra – Sunday, August 3, 7:30 pm
Mary Chapin Carpenter + Brandy Clark – Friday, August 08, 7:30 pm
Los Lobos – Friday, August 15, 8:15 pm
The Band Perry – Thursday, August 21, 8:15 pm
O.A.R. – Friday, August 22, 7:30 pm
Sweet Honey in the Rock® “Celebrating 50 Years”– Saturday, August 23, 8:15 pm
Bonnie Raitt w/special guest Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band – Friday, September 5, 7:00 pm

“Dead On The Hilltop” Concert Series 2025

Various dates and times at The Hilltop Inn & Grove, Alden, NY.

And they’re looking for vendors for the Hilltop:

Great Blue Heron Festival lineup announced

July 3 through July 6 in Sherman NY. You can still apply to be an artist, vendor or exhibitor until this Friday, April 18. Volunteers can apply until July 8. Get tickets and camping here.

Jazz Appreciation Month 2025 continues…

Some cool shows over the next week include Doctor Lonnie Smith 2nd Annual Jazz Festival at The Caz; Stu and Avery Weissman – Jazz Guitar and more, Philippe Lemm Trio, and Brazil 716 featuring Brazilian Guitar Master Rogério Souza at PAUSA art house; and BPD TRIO (Steve Baczkowski, Ravi Padmanabha and Brian DeJesus) at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery.

JazzBuffalo lists a number of performances through the end of the month. Visit the website for full listings and information on JAM.

Time is running out to join Borderland Band Camp!

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.

Sign up through April 30. Limited spots available. Scholarships are also available for qualified applicants.

New And Noteworthy:

Blink-182

Thursday, September 11, 7 pm at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY. $67.20+

Mumford & Sons

Thursday, October 16, 7:30 pm at KeyBank Center, Buffalo. $48+

Breaking Benjamin & Three Days Grace

Wednesday, September 17, 7 pm at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY. $36.25+

Kesha and Scissor Sisters

Thursday, July 31, 7 pm at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY. $35+

The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

Saturday, June 7, 7 pm doors at The 9th Ward in Babeville, NY. $20/$22

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

Here Come the Mummies w/ Lachy Doley & Platinum Moon

Thursday, October 2, 6 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, NY. $38/$48. Pre-sale tickets on sale with pw: MUMMFEST. Public on sale Friday, April 18.

2025 Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival ft/Smilo & the Ghost, Olmsted Dub System, JGB Shibuki, Tsavo Highway, Benjamin Perrello and Patricia Griffis

Sunday, August 17, noon – 6 pm at Griffis Sculpture Park, East Otto, NY. $25/Kids 12 and under FREE

Lucero: Celebrating 20 Years of “Nobody’s Darlings” w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield

Saturday, September 27, 6 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, NY. $35/$45

Cinco De Mayo Party ft/Sqwerv w/ Loaded and Gorgeous

Monday, May 5, 7 pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $$

Buffalo Dead All-Stars ft/members of Sonic Garden, Workingmans Dead, Maniacs and Sunshine & Company

Wednesday, May 14, 7 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $10

Carl Verheyen (of Supertramp, Stewart Copeland’s PDO)

Friday, May 9, 8 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $20 GA adv/$25 Preferred adv OR $25 DOS/$20 Preferred DOS

Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes

Sunday, July 20, 2 pm doors, 4 pm show at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $30

After Dark presents

The Spill Canvas / Mae – 20th Anniversary Tour wsg/Ace Enders

Tuesday, October 21, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. Tickets on sale Friday, April 18.

Lucy Dacus wsg/Jay Som

Wednesday, July 30, 8 pm at Artpark Mainstage Theater, Lewiston, NY. $56/$46. Presales on now, 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. $32.50

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

103.3 The Edge presents:

The Starting Line w/Oso Oso

Sunday, August 24, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $39.50 to $118.00

This week and beyond…

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

Waiting on Mongo w/Flow Bros

Thursday, April 17, 7 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $10/$15

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

GROSH wsg/Truss

Friday, April 18, 10 pm at Jack Rabbit, Buffalo. $5

Joe Bellanti’s Best Day Ever – Volume 3

Friday, April 18, 6:30 pm doors at The 9th Ward, Buffalo. $15

R&B Invitation Tour ft/ Eric Benét, JOE, Musiq Soulchild

Friday, April 18, 8 pm at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo. $74-$143

“The Band” Happy Hour at Nietzsche’s

Croft, Whitford, & Keyes plays The Band

Friday, April 18, 5 – 6:30 pm. FREE

Shaky Stage Plays The Band

Jim Yeomans Band

Friday, April 18, 8 pm at Molly Maguires, South Buffalo.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad

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

Workingman’s Dead

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

Blaised And Confused w/Diyené 1st Anniversary Show

Saturday, April 19, 10 pm at Jack Rabbit, Buffalo. $5

Pre-Dyngus Day Accordion Jam w/The Polkamaniacs, Captain Tom and the Hooligans, and Cathy Carfagna and Dave Meinzer

Saturday, April 19, 9 pm at Milkie’s, Buffalo. $10

What? The Band w/Lady Bird

Friday, April 18, 9 pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $10

BPD TRIO (Steve Baczkowski, Ravi Padmanabha, Brian DeJesus)

Saturday, April 19, 7 pm doors at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo. $10

Slip Madigan

Saturday, April 19, 8 pm at Molly Maguires, South Buffalo.

420 Week Tent Party ft/ Miller & the Other Sinners

Saturday, April 19, noon at Star Buds, Kenmore, NY.

4/20 Celebration ft/Strictly Hip

Sunday, April 20, 7 pm show at 82-J Dispensary, Buffalo.

In-store acoustic show, live DJ, food trucks, caricature drawings, exclusive vendor pop-ups, and more!

Buffalo Dead All Stars Grateful Easter Brunch

Sunday, April 20, 1- 4 pm at Jack Rabbit, Buffalo.

Townies, Amateur Hockey Club, Previous Love, We Were Blank

Monday, April 21, 6 pm at Milkie’s, Buffalo. $10

Dyngus Day 2025 ft/Parkside Avenue Brass and Those Idiots Polka Band

Monday, April 21, 2 pm at Adam Mickiewicz Library, Buffalo. $10/$15

Tyler Westcott w/Gary Miexner & Chris Stevens

Tuesday, April 22, noon – 2:30 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. FREE

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.

Brit Floyd

Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 pm at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo. $59-$215

Carbon Leaf

Wednesday, April 23, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $30/$35

After Dark presents:

Hawthorne Heights

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

Ryze Hendricks

Wednesday, April 23, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $26.74+

Thursday Night Live: Curtis Lovell

Thursday, April 24, 5:30 pm at Wilson Town Square, Knox Building, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo. FREE

Fistful of Rage (Rage Against the Machine tribute) wsg/Brittle Minds, Space Cowboys

Thursday, April 24, 8 pm at Milkie’s, Buffalo. $10

A Look Ahead…

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

Dellwood and the Nightshades

Saturday, April 26, 7 pm doors at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo. $10

Gold Rush (The Ultimate Neil Young Celebration)

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

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

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

Classic Rock by The River 3.0

Saturday, April 26, 4 pm doors at Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo. $20/$25

Sugarhill Gang w/Raydio and Peaches & Herb

Saturday, April 26, 7 pm at The Riviera Theater, North Tonawanda, NY. $59

Music is Art is presents:

2025 Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival Music

Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, April 27, 11am – 3 pm at the Buffalo History Museum and Japanese Gardens.

Buffalo Flow Jam Fundraiser

Sunday, April 27, at 5:30 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $20/$25

“…a night of music, community, and celebration to raise funds to keep the Free Weekly Flow Jam alive and thriving at Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park! This beloved summer tradition returns Memorial Day weekend, and we need your help to ensure it remains free and open to all. Enjoy live music, exciting raffles featuring local artists and vendors, a 50/50 drawing, and more!”

The Neon Trees

Sunday, April 27, at 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo. $32.92 +

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.”