Ani DiFranco returns to Buffalo, Northwest and Rochester Jazz Festivals feature big talent, a slew of concert announcements and tons of must-see shows over the next month!

(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.)

A little music news to kick off our weekend…

Northwest Jazz Festival 2025

Friday, August 22, 5 pm – 10:30 pm and Saturday, August 23, Noon – 10:30 pm in Lewiston, NY. Get info and tickets here!

Friday

Main Stage
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Hot Club of Buffalo
8:45 pm – 10:15 pm – Dan Wilson Organ Trio featuring Pat Bianchi, Jeff “Tain” Watts

Frontier House Stage
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Fredtown Stompers

Peace Garden Stage
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Laura Howse and Jennifer May Duo

DiCamillo Courtyard
6:45 pm – 8:00 pm – Jim Gardner and Nate Kalnitz Duo

Center Street Stage
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Matt’s Music Vocal Performance Team
8:15 pm – 9:45 pm – My Cousin Toné

Jumaane Smith: Celebrating Louis Armstrong and the Spirit of Swing!

Saturday

Main Stage
1:00 pm – 1:45 – UB Zodiaque Dance Company “Dances to the Music of Jazz”
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm – Vibrant Strings
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Paradigm Shift
6:15 pm – 7:45 pm – Tony Monaco’s House Party
8:45 – 10:15 pm – Jumaane Smith: Celebrating Louis Armstrong and the Spirit of Swing!

Frontier House Stage
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Ian Liedke Quartet
3:15 pm – 4:45 pm – Jay/Sharptet
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Quentet
7:45 pm – 9:15 pm – Kevin Hall Band

Peace Garden Stage
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm – April Mazzone and Jack Civiletto Duo
4:45 pm – 6:00 pm – Lance Tanner Duo
7:15 pm – 8:45 pm – Elliot Sneider’s Merciful TRVLR.

DiCamillo Courtyard
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Tim Dyet Jazz Accordion
5:15 pm – 6:15 pm – Mara Sebastian
7:30 – 9:00 pm – Donny Frauenhofer

Center Street Stage
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Dr. M Jazz Combo
3:45 pm – 5:15 pm – Carolyn Lansom Quintet
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – DeeAnn DiMeo Quintet
8:15 pm – 9:45 pm – Mary Ramsey and Friends

Rochester International Jazz Festival 2025

Friday, June 20-Saturday, June 28 in Rochester, NY

HEADLINER SERIES (Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre):

Smokey Robinson, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, The Wood Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, Thundercat

CLUB PASS SERIES: 171 shows at 10 venues ove 9 days

FREE HEADLINER SHOWS: (Wegmans Stage @ Parcel 5 unless other specified) – No Tickets Required

Jesus Molina w/Sonidos Unidos, Los Lonely Boys w/Bruce Katz Band, Lettuce w/Sam Greenfield Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. w/Helium Bubble, Chris Lane w/ Alyssa Trahan Band (at East and Alexander)

Get tickets/passes and all the info you need HERE!

Some cool Toronto Budweiser Stage shows (not coming to Buff…)

Billy Idol and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – Friday, May 23

Metric w/Bloc Party – Friday, June 6

Halsey – Tuesday, June 10

Simple Minds: Alive & Kicking Tour – Wednesday, June 18

James Taylor and his All-Star Band – Friday, June 27

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts – Sunday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 19

Tedeschi Trucks Band & Gov’t Mule – Wednesday, September 3

Alabama Shakes – Saturday, September 6

The Doobie Brothers – Thursday, September 18

Been wondering what’s going on with the Showplace?

There’s a DAVE EAST show slated for Saturday, June 7. And then this…

WBFO The Bridge Music Meeting

Tuesday, April 8, 6 pm at Mr. Goodbar, Buffalo. FREE. RSVP to attend!

Enjoy free pizza & wings — and your first drink of choice on WBFO
Vote on new releases you wish to hear on WBFO The Bridge
Rediscover old favorites
Share your top songs
Be entered for a chance to win exciting prizes

New And Noteworthy:

+LIVE+, Collective Soul, and Our Lady Peace

Saturday, July 26 at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY. $35+

J-Rod Sullivan & The 4 Korners SuperGroup

Friday, June 27, 7 pm at Destiny International Church, Buffalo, NY.

Ani DiFranco w/Hurry for the Riff Raff

Sunday, August 31, 6:30 pm doors at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo. $$ Presale starts Tuesday, April 1 at 10 am (use password: THEKNOWING). Public on sale is Friday, April 4 10 am.

Glass Animals: Tour Of Earth

Saturday, August 2 at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY. $67.20+

DSP Shows presents:

Graham Nash

Wednesday, August 6, 6:30 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $86/$61. Tickets on sale Friday, March 28 @ 10 am.

bob. an interpretation of the music of Bob Dylan

Featuring Al Shmier & Vinnie Amico (of moe.), Brian Lauri, Zach Fleitz, Charley Orlando

Thursday, May 8, 7 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $25 Adv/$30 DoS

Buffalo Riverworks & 2Twenty2 Entertainment present:

The 4th Annual Buffalo Blues & Roots Festival

Featuring Kelley Hunt & The 5, Bruce Wojick & The Struggle, Tommy Z, Rod Nickson, Dave Thurman & Grace Lougen, and Eric Weinholtz Band

Sunday, May 4, 2 pm – 10 pm at Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo. $30

J.WAIL Live Band ft/Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), David Murphy (formerly of STS9), and members from Mihali Band, Hive Mind, and more

Friday, May 23, 8 pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $28.42-$33.85

Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge

Thursday, September 18, 6:30 pm at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo. Presale tickets use password: SENECA25, or GHOST. Public onsale Friday, March 28. $127/$101.50/$61.50

Ethel Cain w/9Million

Saturday, September 13, 6:30 pm at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo. $$ Presale tickets use password: WILLOUGHBY. Public on sale is Friday, March 28 at 10 am.

Greensky Bluegrass

Thursday, July 3, 6:30 pm at Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B, Buffalo. $$

The Killers

August 2, 6:30 doors at CMAC, Canandaigua, NY. SOLD OUT

The Black Keys w/ Gary Clark Jr.

Sat, August 30, 7 pm at CMAC, Canandaigua, NY.

DSP Shows presents:

Steve Earle: Fifty Years of Songs and Stories

Sunday, June 15, 7 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $45/$55.

Bad Sneakers: A Tribute to Steely Dan

Performing the Aja album and other favorites

Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8 pm at The Caz, South Buffalo, NY. $25

DEFTONES wsg/Phantogram and The Barbarians Of California

Monday, September 1, 7 pm at KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. $74+.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root w/ Dirk Miller

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

Vitamin String Quartet: The Music of Taylor Swift, Bridgerton, and Beyond

Oct. 7, 7:30 pm at the Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre, University at Buffalo. $25, $39, $49

EXTC: XTC’s Terry Chambers & Friends

Friday, June 6, 6 pm doors & kitchen open at The Caz, South Buffalo. $30-$40

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

Tommy Z

Thursday, March 27, 6 pm doors, 7:30 pm show at The Caz, South Buffalo. $29-$25

Buffalo Music Coalition presents:

The Hot Club of Buffalo

Thursday, March 27, 7 pm doors at The 9th Ward in Babeville, Buffalo. $15/$20

Tim Barry w/Sammy Kay & Pour La Nuit

Thursday, March 27, 9 pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $20

Sue Kincaid & Grace Lougen

Thursday, March 27, 6 pm at Duende at Silo City, Buffalo.

Elena Izquierdo and The Stu Weissman Trio

Thursday, March 27, 7 pm PAUSA art house, Buffalo. $15/$13

Adam Bronstein & AB Trio

Spring jaunt includes Friday, March 28 gig at Black Dots and Friday, May 30 at Nietzsche’s in Buffalo, NY.

Buffalo String Works Soiree ft/Comienzos, Love Supreme School of Music Faculty Ensemble, and the Buffalo String Works Quartet

Friday, March 28, 6 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $125/$175 per couple

Little Mountain Band

Friday, March 28, 8 pm at Molly Maguires, South Buffalo. FREE

FARROW

Friday, March 28, 7 pm doors at The Caz, South Buffalo. $15

This show marks the end of a chapter for the popular Buffalo band, and will serve as a fond farewell to longtime bassist and producer, André Pilette.

WBFO The Bridge and WNED PBS present:

WE WANT THE FUNK! Film screening from Indie Lens Pop-Up

Friday, March 28, 5:30 pm at Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo. FREE

Family Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams

Friday, March 28, 7 pm doors at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery, South Buffalo. $10

Guy Snowdown, Cobraz, Skitzo, & Red Button Dilemma

Friday, March 28, 9 pm at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $10

The Cloves w/ Wilcox Mansion

Friday, March 28, 8 pm at The Cave, Buffalo. $10

Righteous Villians

Friday, March 28, 6 pm at Duende at Silo City, Buffalo.

The Urban Achievers w/ The Barksdales & The Clockers

Saturday, March 29, 7 pm doors at Area 54 (aka Amy’s Place / Main St Caffe Aroma), Buffalo. $10

Funtime presents:

Bayside – 25th Anniversary w/Sincere Engineer

Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30, 7 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $39.25

TRIMANIA_REBOOT

Saturday, March 29, 7 pm at Tri-Main Center, Buffalo. $45/$50/$100 VIP

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performs Buffalo-born composer Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road

Saturday, March 29, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, March 30, 2:30 pm, Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY. $16.50 – $116.50.

The Amazing All My Children Band wsg/ Wein

Saturday, March 29, 8 pm at The Cave, Buffalo. $10

Buffalo Music Coalition presents:

Saturday Sessions: The Pat & Owen Duo

Saturday, March 29, 4 pm at Flying Bison Brewing Company, Buffalo. FREE

Buffalo Dead All Stars

Jamie Sunshine, Aaron Ziolkowski, Rob Enderle, Brad Robbins, Judd Sunshine and Mark Hitchcock

Saturday, March 29, 8 pm at Molly Maguires, South Buffalo. FREE

Tom Stahl and the Dangerfields

Saturday, March 29, 6 pm at Duende at Silo City, Buffalo.

The Colored Musicians Club Sunday Night Jazz Session: Guabaza

Sunday, March 30, 6 pm at The Buffalo History Museum, Buffalo. $25 members/$30 non-members

The Garage Doors – LA Woman and more

Sunday, March 30, 3 pm at The Cave, Buffalo. $10/$12

Grateful Brunch III

Sunday, March 30, 1 pm at Jack Rabbit, Buffalo. $

A Tribute to Blaze Foley

Sunday, March 30, 4 pm doors at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $10/$12

José González

Sunday, March 30, 7 pm doors at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo. $49.50/$59.50, $114.50/$209.50 VIP

Melvin Seals & JGB

Tuesday April 1, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $40/$48

GBYO & BPO Side by Side

Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 pm at Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo. FREE

HOLTON AND POWELL ENTERTAINMENT present:

The Mid-Week Vibe – Part XXXI – “Welcome The Soulful Spring!”

Wednesday, April 2, 8 pm at the 9th Ward, Buffalo. $30

Featuring: DJ P Nasty, acoustic performance by Olivia Amorian, and featured artist Vitamin D.

Buffalo Music Coalition presents:

Aaron Ziolkowski

Wednesday, April 2, 6:30 pm at Flying Bison Brewing Company, Buffalo. FREE

Walter Kemp 3 ft/International Bassist Silvia Bolognesi

Thursday April 3, 7 pm at PAUSA art house, Buffalo. $17/$15

McCarthyizm

Thursday April 3, 7 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo.

A Look Ahead…

Funtime Presents:

Big Wreck

Friday ,April 4, 7 pm doors at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $44.25

Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage w/Grasping Straws, and Welks Mice

Friday, April 4, 9 pm doors at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo. $15/$20

Funtime Presents:

Dwayne Gretzky

Saturday, April 5, 7 pm at Town Ballroom, Buffalo. $26.50

Junior Jerry Jam presents:

Dogs in a Pile

Saturday April 5, 2:30 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $24/$27

Proceeds to benefit the Buffalo Animal Shelter and to further the Junior Jerry Jam mission of creating safe and fun spaces for kids to enjoy live music.

Disco Funk & Motown ft/Universal Phunk

Sunday, April 6, 4:30 pm doors, 6 pm show at The CAZ, South Buffalo, NY. $24-$29

David M Miller on lead vocals, Vinnie DeRosa on lead vocals, Lisa Denise on lead vocals, Chuck Brown on bass, Oscar Woodrich on guitar, Steve Davis on keys, Armani Works on keys, John Aaron Troy on saxophone, and Deshawn D Ray Jackson on drums

Pink Talking Fish – Wish You Were Here Aniversary Tour

Sunday April 6, 7 pm doors at Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo. $20/$25

Buffalo Jazz Collective:

Jazz Sunday: “Duke Ellington Celebration”

Sunday April 6, 2 pm at the main floor Ring of Knowledge, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Downtown Buffalo. FREE

Featuring Mark Filsionger (trumpet), John Hasselback, Jr. (trombone), George Caldwell (piano), Sabu Adeyola (bass), and John Bacon (drums).

Classic Vinyl Live: PHISH “A LIVE ONE” ft/The Scales

Monday, April 7, 7 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $15 – Tickets now on sale.

Buffalo Dead All Stars

Joey Lewis, Sonny Baker, Jamie Sunshine, Joe Bellanti, Tony Petrocelli, and Mark Hitchcock

Wednesday, April 9, 7 pm at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo. $

Funtime Presents

Thank you for reading Miers on Music. This post is public so feel free to share it.

Miers on Music is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Ani DiFranco returns to Buffalo, Northwest and Rochester Jazz Festivals feature big talent, a slew of concert announcements and tons of must-see shows over the next month!

Friday

Saturday

HEADLINER SERIES (Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre):

CLUB PASS SERIES: 171 shows at 10 venues ove 9 days

FREE HEADLINER SHOWS: (Wegmans Stage @ Parcel 5 unless other specified) – No Tickets Required

Some cool Toronto Budweiser Stage shows (not coming to Buff…)

Been wondering what’s going on with the Showplace?

New And Noteworthy:

+LIVE+, Collective Soul, and Our Lady Peace

J-Rod Sullivan & The 4 Korners SuperGroup

Performing the Aja album and other favorites

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

Buffalo Dead All Stars

The Garage Doors – LA Woman and more

A Look Ahead…

Buffalo Dead All Stars

Gold Rush (The Ultimate Neil Young Celebration)

Share this:

Like this:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Related Posts