Notes & Events for Social Connection & Beloved Community

• Next Buffalodown coming September 26th at The Cave!
• Musings on Music – Borderland bringing big names and bigger vibes to EA
• Featured Events – 35 this week, most eclectic mix yet?
• Submissions welcome!
• Listening Links – Should I also list all the Bills podcasts I listened to?!
• Reading Rundown – Byron Brown is booking town

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Welcome to the Reconnecter Roundup!

This free weekly email connects people, places, and causes by featuring events, news, and notes.

Happy Monday, y’all! Check out this sharp poster by Jeff Schaller for our next Buffalodown, and please join us on Thursday, September 26th, at The Cave!

Buffalodown: Only Human will uplift humanity amidst the rise of AI, led by the band Grosh and inspired by Only Human author and technology professional Frank Gullo.

Join us at The Cave for social connection, conversations, and a Grosh show like no other featuring their originals along with select covers and special guests – and stay tuned for more info!

Reconnecter paying members get first dibs on tickets – current members can expect a personal email invitation this week, everyone else can become a member here!

Remaining tickets will be available soon online through The Cave and pending capacity at the door.

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Become a supporting member of Reconnecter and receive event tickets!

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Musings on Music

Borderland Bringing Big Names and Bigger Vibes to EA:   The annual Borderland Music & Arts Festival, returning this weekend with a three-day spectacle in the splendor of Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, has been bigtime from the get-go, beyond the big names in the lineup – from its first year it was clearly a labor of both love and experience, with an easy-flowing, family-friendly and community-minded layout in presenting internationally renowned acts along with up-and-comers and local artisans.

While of course the lineup gets the headlines – led this year by The Black Crowes with dozens more as shown below – also worth noting is the lovely layout of the “artisan alley” in the Knox family’s old horse stables, thoughtfully centered on the festival grounds in between the main and “homespun” stages, the latter in a line of food trucks. That’s the easy flow of Borderland, where it feels like everyone’s part of the action, more than some afterthoughts thrown into an abundance of space.

As for the bands – earthy, gritty, soulful sounds, true artists heavy on substance over style, that’s the Borderland brand. The kind of festival that one can go into with blind faith that they’ll see and hear some familiar sounds while being introduced to someone new if they’re open to it. Before Borderland, we had nothing even close to this level of festival in Western New York.

In short, just go! In the words of Lockport-based, internationally-touring Borderland band Handsome Jack, “we got a good thing goin’…”…and if you’re going for any artist in particular, let me know so I’ll be sure to catch ’em with you!

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Become a paying member to help us present and promote Buffalo music!

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Events in the Week AheadThanks to all submitting their events – click on each image for more info! Welcoming event submissions with a flyer and link to seamus@reconnecter.org.

(Originally published Sept. 9, so some of the events have passed already)

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Listening Links

As we prepare to launch the Reconnecter podcast and a section for podcasts on our website, adding weekly listening links that align with the intentions of Reconnecter.

• Sally Schaefer & Tyler Bagwell Interview & Performance – Arts on Fire – Regular contributors to Reconnecter, “Buffalo duo Sally Schaefer and Tyler Bagwell stopped by the WRFA studios before their Mayville Bluegrass Festival appearance to talk with AOF host Anthony Merchant for an interview along with an in-studio performance.”
• The Push to Ban Phones in School – The Daily by The New York Times – “As students around the United States head back to school, many are encountering a new reality: bans on their use of cellphones.”
• You Belong Here – Organizing White People for a Multi-Racial Democracy, with Erin Heaney – The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast – “As executive director of the largest white anti-racist organization in the US [and a Buffalonian], Erin shares the sometimes messy work of organizing in white communities that have been fed lies by authoritarians. How are race and gender weaponized to divide us, and how do we make the case that a multi-racial democracy means prosperity for everyone?”
• What’s Next? | Reconnecting to Prevent Social Unrest – WBFO – Leaving this link up for a while, as I’m honored to have been invited onto this profound program – this went real deep from the jump, please listen! Here’s how they described it: “Seamus Gallivan’s latest endeavor is Reconnecter, a ‘social connection space’ that aims to bring people together in person and online ‘by illuminating the ties that bind us.’ That means music showcases, variety shows, and media elements — all to help provide a need that he believes can help prevent social unrest. Gallivan sits down with Thomas O’Neil-White to speak about the power of reconnection and his plans for the new project.”

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Reading Rundown

With intent to connect, inform, and inspire action, every Reconnecter Roundup closes with links to other sources and stories that deserve more attention. Always welcoming links to read and share at seamus@reconnecter.org.

• Newsflash, kind of – Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is booking town, finally, for a higher-paying state job as he’s been not-so-secretly seeking for years. In pursuing and receiving an offer to lead the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corp. – our state-sanctioned and blatantly shady gambling operation – he’s proving after all to be obviously more concerned with himself than our city, congrats to his arrogance and all who “bet” on him.  Props to Investigative Post for being all over this OTB story since February; below is ongoing coverage of the latest local elected official to leave office before fulfilling his commitment to the people, leaving us wondering, is anyone in Buffalo politics sincerely committed to public service over self-interest?
• Byron Brown is leaving City Hall. What happens now?– Investigative Post – “Common Council President Chris Scanlon ascending to acting mayor, part of a game of musical chairs that will play out in the coming year.”
• So much for reform – Investigative Post – “OTB officials cited Brown’s experience as mayor as a plus. I dunno, running the city into the ground financially and ignoring problems ranging from lead poisoning to police brutality don’t strike me as selling points.”
• OTB selects Mayor Byron Brown for President, CEO position – WGRZ – “2 On Your Side’s Nate Benson followed up and asked whether it was a concern that Mayor Brown could potentially leave office with the city facing a $50 million to $60 million budget deficit. “‘Not really,’ Winter responded after a long pause. “‘You just said what a great job he did running a large corporation, what does that say?’ McKinley asked.”‘‘Actually, I have no other comment at this time,’ Winter said.”

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Thank YOU for reading this far and being part of it all – extra thanks to everyone supporting this work with a membership at www.reconnecter.org!

Please share with friends to sign up for next Monday’s Reconnecter Roundup, and reach out with any feedback, all ideas welcome – we’re just getting started!