Buffalo Music: The music scene for Halloween, some music news and concert announcements

(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-loving friends. Thanks for being here.

I’ll kick off this Halloween edition of the column with a link to a piece I penned for Buffalo Spree Magazine on some changes in our ever-evolving regional music scene. Those changes are coming at us quickly – so quickly, in fact, that Mohawk Place, one of the venues I discuss in the Spree piece, has now officially reopened. That’s good news for Buffalo.

You can read the piece below, free of charge.

Venue changes amp up live music scene

Newly reopened The Strand Theatre in North Tonawanda. Photo by John Raczynski.

Exciting reopenings, returns, and reconfigurations in Clubland have potential to invigorate the live music scene this fall…thoughts on The Caz, Penny Lane, Mohawk Place, and The Strand Theater.

Read my full article from Buffalo Spree here.

Last chance at $10,000 WIN-WIN Raffle!

A limited amount of 300 tickets will be sold – and portions of the proceeds benefit the Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation (SAMF), which aids in music education and equipment for kids in need—among other things. Get your tickets at The Cave, The Sportsmens Tavern and the SAMF store (second floor of the Sportsmens.) The lucky winner will be drawn Tuesday, November 4, 7:30 pm at Sportsmens—on Foundation night with the Twang Gang!

Jazz at Kleinhans

Tony Zambito from JazzBuffalo and Jess Basil from Kleinhans Music Hall joined host Lauren Hall to share details about the brand-new Jazz at Kleinhans program. The conversation offered a preview of four concerts that will launch this new chapter, beginning in 2025-2026.

Road Trip anyone? SONIC TEMPLE Arts & Music Festival lineup Announced!

May 14 – May 17, 2026 at Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH. Full concert lineup with bios here. And, Get info and passes here!

New and Noteworthy

An evening with Cake

Friday, May 29, 2026, 8 pm at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo, NY. Presale tickets Thursday, Oct. 30 at 10 am-10 pm – code: SENECA26. Public on sale Friday, Oct. 31.

The Wood Brothers

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7 pm doors at The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $39.50 plus fees

Donna The Buffalo

Friday, January 30, 2026, 7 pm doors at The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $29 plus fees

The Empty Pockets Holiday Tour 2025

Thursday, December 11, 7 pm at The Cave, Buffalo, NY. $20/$25

Peter Case

Saturday, April 25, 2026, 8 pm live in The 9th Ward in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. GA seated $30/$35

Atmosphere w/Sage Francis, R.A. The Rugged Man, Kool Keith, Mr Dibbs

Monday, January 26, 2026, 7 pm doors at The Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $39.50 plus fees

Andrew Bird w/the BPO

Tue April 7, 2026 8 pm at Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY. $57.50 – $117.50

Mo Lowda & the Humble

Friday, May 1, 2026, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. $25/$30

Armchair Boogie

Thursday, December 4, 5pm Doors at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY. $15

A Swingin’ Christmas with Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses

Friday, December 5, 7:30 pm at The Mary Seaton Room, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY. $205.20

Joyce Manor w/Militarie Gun, Teen Mortgage, Combat

Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 7 pm at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. $35/$40

BEATrio: Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez Trio

Friday, April 24, 2026, 8 pm at The Mary Seaton Room, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY.

Umphrey’s McGee – The Sky’s the Limit Tour

Sunday, February 1, 2026, 7 pm at the Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $45 plus fees.

Diana Krall

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 8 pm at the Mainstage Theatre at Univeristy at Buffalo Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY. $69+.

This week…

Fruit Bats (Solo)

Thursday, October 30, 8 pm at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. $30/$35

The Music Matters Concert Series presents:

The Damone Jackson Outcome & Tiger Chung Lee – Halloween Funk Fest

Thursday, October 30, 7 pm at The Terrace (heated tent), Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY. $10.

In The Shop Sessions w/ David Michael Miller: Guest Alison Pipitone

Thursday, October 30, 7 pm at Penny Lane, Clarence, NY. FREE

Shagadelic Bash ft/The Funk Nights & U-Lock

Thursday, October 30, 7:30 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. $20/$25

Art in the Open at UB: Lazlo Hollyfeld

Thursday, October 30, 5 pm doors and studios open, 7 pm show in the Atrium at the UB Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY. FREE and open to the public

Enjoy live music and dance performances, explore exhibitions, tour studios, view films and more!

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

Nietzsche’s Halloween 2025: Soul Butchers, The Irving Klaws, Well Worn Boot, Captain Tom & The Hooligans, Jungle Steve

Friday, October 31, 8 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY. $15/$20

Monsters Ball Halloween Night ft/Stone Flower, The Funk Knights, Eternity, and Tiger Chung Lee

Friday, October 31, 8 pm at Sportsmens Tavern and The Cave, Buffalo, NY. $20

Blizzard Of Ozz – A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath / Randy Rhoads

Friday, October 31, 6:30 pm doors at The CAZ, South Buffalo, NY. $20-$30

WNY Dead

Friday, October 31, 8 pm at Penny Lane, Clarence, NY. $5

Funk(y) Halloween with Kulpability

Friday, October 31, 7 pm at PAUSA art house, Buffalo, NY. $15/$13

Songbirds: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Friday, October 31, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. $15/$20

Bands, Babes & Boos: The Spit Sisters, Kill Uncle, The Heathens, DJ Boobie Riot

Friday, October 31, 8 pm at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. $15/$20

Buffalo Dead All Stars

Ft/ Joey Lewis, Judd Sunshine, Aaron Ziolkowski, Nate Kalnitz, Jamie Sunshine & Mark Hitchcock

Friday, October 31, 8 pm at Molly Maguires, South Buffalo, NY.

A Tribute to Joni Mitchell: Lauren & The Good Souls w/Special Guests

Saturday, November 1, 7 pm at The Cave, Buffalo, NY. $20/$25

The Second Annual Deviled Eggstravaganza: Critt’s Juke Joint ft/BEÜ w/DJ Sike and Griffin Brady

Saturday, November 1, 5 pm at Electric City, Buffalo, NY. $32.92/$63.05/$87.51

The Brokes & THE SMITHS ETC…

Saturday, November 1, 7 pm doors at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $25 plus fees

Buffalo Music Coalition presents

Saturday Sessions: The Isotopes

Saturday, November 1, 4-7 pm at Flying Bison Brewing Company, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Halloween Party w/Little Mountain Band

Saturday, November 1, 8 pm at Third Space Cafe and Entertainment, Buffalo, NY. $10

The Gathering Gloom – The Cure Tribute

Saturday, November 1, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. $20/$25

Harvest & Rust “A Neil Young Experience”

Saturday, November 1, 8 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY. $20/$25

Day of the Grateful Dead ft/Eric Carlin’s Half Dead

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

Strawberry Girls w/ Moondough, Post NC, March Lions, & Derek Gregoire

Strawberry Girls ft/guitarist Zachary Garren – ex Dance Gavin Dance, drummer Ben Rosett – ex Eternity Forever, and bassist Ian Jennings

Saturday, November 1, 6 pm doors at Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY. $10

MASTI – World Music Ensemble

Saturday, November 1, 7 pm doors at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo, NY. $10

Pocketship

Saturday, November 1, 8 pm doors at The Lounge at Molly Maguires, South Buffalo, NY.

Hot Mulligan w/Drug Church, Arm’s Length, Anxious

Saturday, November 1, 7 pm at Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo, NY. SOLD OUT

Herbie Hancock: 2025 North American Fall Tour

Sunday, November 2, 7 pm at UB Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY. $49/$79/$99/$134

Greater Buffalo Youth String Orchestra Fall Concert

Sunday, November 2, 4 pm at Nichols School, Buffalo, NY. FREE

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult w/Die Sexual, Devora

Sunday, November 2, 7 pm at Electric City, Buffalo, NY. $38.07-$111.20

Trey Wellington Band

Monday, November 3, 5 pm doors at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY. $20/$25

Bachman-Turner Overdrive: Roll On Down The Highway 2025 Tour

Monday, November 3, 7:30 pm at Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda, NY. $93-$143

Jazz Jam w/Becky Davis & The Gypsy Parlor Jazz Jam Band

Monday, November 3, 7 pm at the Gypsy Parlor, Buffalo, NY. Reservations recommended.

UB Music at Hallwalls: George Caldwell

Monday, November 3, 7:30 pm at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo, NY. FREE ($10 suggested donation to support Hallwalls)

The Motet w/ Michael Wilbur

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

I’m With Her w/Ye Vagabonds

Tuesday, November 4, 7:30 pm at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. GA seated $61.50/$51.50

Will Holton & Ken Whitman present: The Horn Hang

Celebrating World Saxophone Day

Thursday, November 6, 6:30 pm at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. FREE

“The Annual Horn Hang offers a vibrant space for saxophonists to meet, share stories, exchange knowledge, and build community…The evening will also feature a historic musical moment: the largest recorded regional performance of Cannonball Adderley’s timeless classic, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” This unprecedented collaboration will unite saxophonists across generations and genres in one powerful performance.”

The Isaiah Timothy Quintet – A night of free Jazz, Neo soul and the boom bam bop

Thursday, November 6, 7 pm at PAUSA art house, Buffalo, NY. $13/$15

Mary Ramsey & Friends

With Stu Weissman, Avery Weissman & Marc Rosen

Thursday, November 6, 7 pm at The Cave, Buffalo, NY. $10

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