A Seminar on Balancing Art & Commerce; A Tip of the Hat to Organ Fairchild; More (and more) concert announcements, plus picks for this week and beyond.

(Above: Ever wonder how to turn your art into a sustainable living? A free seminar at The Cave this week will help you answer that very question. (See below). 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, fellow music-lovers. A few PSAs first:

The Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation teams up with the UB School of Music to explore ‘The Business Side of Music & the Arts’

Free masterclass with UB professors Melissa White and Dr. Marshall Lindsey will take place at The Cave in Buffalo on May 3 at 1 p.m.

As a musician and artist, do you ever wonder why it can be so difficult to assess your worth, to say nothing of ASKING for what you’re worth? Do you find it tough to navigate the finer details of a present-day music career, when simply showing up and playing your gig is no longer enough? Do you find it tricky trying to wear your artist hat and your entrepreneur hat simultaneously?

You’re not alone.

The Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation (SAMF), a 501(c)(3)non-profit dedicated to fostering, promoting and expanding community appreciation for Americana music in Buffalo and Western New York through live performances, broadcast events, workshops and educational programs, has announced a new partnership with the UB School of Music and professors Melissa White and Dr. Marshall Lindsey.

Beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, SAMF will team with White and Lindsey to present an open-to-the-public guest speaker series, featuring music industry professionals joining in seminars aimed at applying fundamental business and entrepreneurial concepts to careers in music and the arts.

On Sunday, May 3, SAMF is hosting a free sneak-peek into this fresh partnership at The Cave (71 Military Rd. in Buffalo), beginning at 1 p.m. White — a Grammy winning violinist and member of the renowned Harlem Quartet — and Lindsey will present a public version of their UB class, offering educated guidance on turning artistic pursuit into a sustainable career. This event is offered as a public service to the Buffalo music and arts community, music and arts students, and arts and music educators.

BTPM The Bridge Music Meeting

NEW DATE! (Due to Sabres playoff schedule!) Wednesday, April 29, 6 p.m. at Mr. Goodbar, Buffalo, NY. $10

“Listen to new releases, rediscover old favorites and vote on the music you want to hear on The Bridge!”

Pizza, wings and one free drink
The opportunity to share your top playlist suggestions with The Bridge
Plenty of chances to win prizes, both at the door and throughout the evening

Every ticket purchase directly supports your local public media station, BTPM.

Get your tickets here.

CFNY: The Spirit of Radio documentary screening with Q&A and video road show

Friday, May 19, 7 p.m. at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $25+

From the website: “Step inside the legendary “Little Yellow House” and relive the golden age of alternative radio with an exclusive, 90-minute extended screening of CFNY 102.1: The Spirit of Radio. Featuring exclusive interviews with artists like Geddy Lee (Rush), Peter Hook (New Order), Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) and the announcers and personalities that made it happen, David Marsden, Ivar Hamilton, Alan Cross, Liz Janik, Scot Turner and many more. This documentary chronicles the meteoric rise of the Brampton station that dared to play punk, new wave, and indie music when no one else would. It is a powerful, behind-the-scenes journey into the lawsuits, protests, and, most importantly, the passion that turned a tiny signal into a cultural movement that defined a generation.”

Tickets available here.

KeyBank Live at Larkin lineup announced

Wednesdays, June 3 – August 26, 5 to 8 p.m. at Larkin Square on Seneca Street, Buffalo. FREE

6/3 Twang Gang ft/Dee Adams, Sue Kincaid, Elton Lammie & more

6/10 Drea d’Nur

6/17 Bonerama w/Buffalo Bully Brass presented by Big Easy in Buffalo

6/24 Songbirds: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

7/1 Letter to Elise does Goo Goo Dolls 7/4/04

7/8 Dirty Work: A Tribute to Steely Dan

7/15 Talking Dead Heads

7/22 The Beū Revue ft/Critt, Cutler, Lynntresa Atkinson & more

7/29 Ticketed Event, TBA

8/5 DeLano does Zeppelin

8/12 Handsome Jack does CCR

8/19 Uncle Ben’s Remedy

8/26 Grosh Prime ft. Alexandra McArthur, Harry Graser & Zak Wark

Lipsey Summer Jazz at the AKG Announced

Sundays in July and August. FREE Concerts take place on the Lincoln Stairs overlooking Hoyt Lake, Buffalo, NY.

Janice Mitchell Quartet

Sunday, July 12, 2 to 4 p.m.

George Caldwell with Tim Clark

A Musical Tribute to Pianist/Composer Donald Brown

Sunday, July 19, 2 to 4 p.m.

Joe Gransden’s “The Good Life”

A Musical Tribute to Tony Bennett

Sunday, July 26, 2 to 4 p.m.

The Buffalo Jazz Collective

A Musical Tribute to Duke Ellington

Sunday, August 2, 2 to 4 p.m.

Jay Bianchi Collective with David Kane

Sunday, August 9, 2 to 4 p.m.

Congrats to WNY’s own Organ Fairchild!

Man, it’s with a full and happy heart that I offer a tip of the cap to the guys in Organ Fairchild for reaching this lofty height. The 716 couldn’t be represented by a cooler and kinder collective of humans!

ROAD TRIPS:

Rock Hall Live 2026

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland announced their summer lineup:

Featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Spoon, The Church, the Mountain Goats, and Old 97’s

Weekly performances from local bands fill up the schedule. Get more details and tickets here.

Beck: Ride Lonesome Tour

Closeset venue to Buffalo: Wednesday, October 14, and Thursday, October 15 at Massey Hall, Toronto, ONT, CA. Get the whole tour info here.

New and Noteworthy

The Psychedelic Furs and Violent Femmes

Friday, August 14, 6:30 p.m. show at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo, NY. VIP packages and presales through Thursday, 4/23. General public onsale on Friday, April 24 at 10 a.m.

Vincen Garcìa

Wednesday, June 10, 7 p.m. at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. Tickets on sale Thursday, April 23 at 10 a.m.

This dude is fire!

PJ Morton

Tuesday, August 18, 7 p.m. doors at Electric City, Buffalo, NY. Tickets on sale Thursday 4/23.

FAILURE wsg/quannnic

Friday, October 16, 7 p.m. at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY.

Eliot Lewis (of Hall & Oates + Average White Band, “Live from Daryl’s House”)

Thursday, April 30, 7 p.m. doors at Nieztsche’s, Buffalo, NY. $10 adv

Scott Levi Jones w/ The Moon Owls, Acoustic Distortion Disorder, Tommmy, & Vacation Bryce

Thursday, June 4, 7 p.m. doors at Nieztsche’s, Buffalo, NY. $15

SOMBR wsgs/Dove Cameron, and Hannah Jadagu

Saturday, November 14, 7 p.m. at KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. Artist presale tickets on sale now. General tickets on sale Friday, April 17 at 10 a.m.

Dale Watson & His Lone Stars

Tuesday, September 29, 5 p.m. doors at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY. $35

Coheed and Cambria

Thursday, June 11, 6 p.m. doors at Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo, NY. $53+

Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves Celebrate The Ballads of John Coltrane

Thursday, April 22, 2027, 7 p.m. in the Main Hall, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY. $71.50+. Tickets on sale now.

Mariah The Scientist wsg/ Laila

Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo, NY.

The Bouncing Souls w/The Suicide Machines, Strike Anywhere, Human ISsue

Thursday, September 17, 6 p.m. doors at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $43.94. Tickets on sale now.

Bruce Springsteen: We Shall Overcome, The Seeger Sessions ft/Captain Tom and The Hooligans

Opening will be 5th grader Avery Handley, age 11.

Friday, June 12, 7 p.m. at West Falls Center for the Arts, West Falls, NY. $33.24-$147.12. Get tickets here.

Hed PE, Primer 55, The Impurity, Cobraz

Wednesday, May 13, 7 p.m. at Rec Room, Buffalo, NY. $36.76

Sam Barber

Tuesday, September 15 at 7 p.m. at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo, NY.

SHAQ’S BASS ALL STARS: DJ Diesel (Shaq)

GETTER b2b SPACE LACES, INFEKT, and Green Matter

Saturday, July 25, 7 p.m. at Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo, NY. $39.50+

Peter Mulvey & Jenna Nicholls present Floyd Mercantile

Thursday, June 18, 6 p.m. doors at Hallwalls Cinema, Buffalo, NY. $25/$30. Get tickets here.

This week…

Snarky Puppy

Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. doors at Electric City, Buffalo, NY. $61.76

John Legend: An Evening of Songs & Stories

Wednesday, April 22, 8 p.m. at Shea’s Perfroming Arts Center, Buffalo, NY. $97+

King Falcon w/ Little Liar & Blissen

Wednesday, April 22, 8 p.m. at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. $20/$25

Mark Hummel w/ Anson Funderburgh

Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. at The CAZ, South Buffalo, NY. $25-$35

Little Mountain Band Acoustic Duo wsg/ Brian Senefelder on Pedal Steel

Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. at Penny Lane, Clarence, NY. $5

Only Humen 40th Annivesary Concert

Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. at The CAZ, South Buffalo, NY. $25-$30

Lloyd Cole

Thursday, April 23, 7 .p.m at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. Seated $48.50/GA-Standing room only $42.93

Lee Ritenour

Friday, April 24, 8 p.m. at Buffalo State Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY. $45.75-$50.75

CASH LIVE: The Music Of Johnny Cash

Frank Nicastro, Jeremy Hoyle, and Alan Sliwinski of The Strictly Hip, Erik Eimiller of El Scorcho, Rick Ruhmel of Workingman’s Dead and Erin Hoyle on vocals of June Carter Cash.

Friday, April 24, 5:30 p.m. doors at The CAZ, South Buffalo, NY. $20-$30

Walter Trout wsg/Tommy Z

Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. $38/$48/$54 reserved seats

Trae Sheehan

Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. at Revolver Records (Elmwood), Buffalo, NY. $15

The Jay/Sharptet

Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. at PAUSA art house, Buffalo, NY. $16 bar/$18 stage

The Concert for Jenn IV

Featuring Johnny Hart & The Mess, Kevin Sampson & The Night Shift, Danielle A. deb., Alex McArthur with Grace Logan. Proceeds benefiting Recovery Options Made Easy’s Kirsten Vincent Respite and Recovery Center in the East Side of Buffalo.

Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY. $30

BEATrio: Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez

Friday, April 24, 8 p.m. at Mary Seaton Room in Kleinhans, Buffalo, NY. SOLD OUT

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Friday, April 24 with Kendall Street Company, and Saturday, April 25 with Gantzer Super Jam ft/members of Aqueous, 6 p.m. doors at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $41.92/118.36 VIP

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong after-show: Night Zero

Super group featuring members of Dopapod, Twiddle, Kung Fu, and special guests

Saturday, April 25, 11 p.m. at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY. $10

The Thurman Brothers Trio

Saturday April 25, 4 to 7 p.m. at Buffalo Distilling Company, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Presented by the Buffalo Music Coalition.

A Celebration of Roy Orbison “Black & White Night”

Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY. $30. Tickets on sale now.

Buffalo Dead All Stars

Kevin Barry, Katie Missert, Judd Sunshine, Brad Robbins, Tony Petrocelli and Mark Hitchcock

Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. at Molly Maguires, South Buffalo, NY.

Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel w/ Wilson & Walsh

Saturday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre at UB Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY. $40+

A Night of Harmony w/Grace Logan, Grace Stumberg, Megan Brown and Alex McArthur

Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. at The Cave, Buffalo, NY. $15

The Vincent James Explosion

Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. at Penny Lane, Clarence, NY. $10

An Evening with The Scales: 35th Anniversary of Phish’s legendary 1991 Nietzsche’s show

Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY. $10/$15. Get presale tickets here.

Buffalo Jazz Collective presents The Mark Filsinger Chamber Big Band wsg/Tom Bacigalupi

Elliot Scozzaro, Matt Incontro, and Ben Renzoni (reeds); Charlie Carr, Mark Filsinger, and Corey Talford (trumpets); John Hasselback, Jr. and Rick Fleming (trombones); Harry Graser (piano), Paul LaDuca (bass), and John Bacon (drums)

Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m. at West Falls Center for the Arts, West Falls, NY. $24.73+