McCartney gets his Wings, Borderland 2026 lineup announced, Ziggy Marley, Blackberry Smoke, Sue Foley, James McMurtry shows announced, and this week’s picks

(Above: AI Art by Aidan Muffoletto)

(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.

I just watched the great Rick Beato dissecting the chords and melodies that make Paul McCartney’s “My Love” one of the greatest ballads ever, and was reminded once again (for the who-knows-how-many-thousandth time) the absolute mastery of the man’s songwriting.

It’s fitting that Beato chose a post-Beatles song from McCartney’s incredible oeuvre. The Lennon-McCartney songbook is rightly venerated as, at the very least, among the greatest of the 20th century. But McCartney’s work with Wings and as a solo artist has often been overlooked or viewed as lesser when contrasted with his Beatles output. I get it, but still … it’s always struck me as a bit unfair. After all, any songwriter’s work pales when pitted against Lennon-McCartney.

However, wth the arrival of Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, a new Morgan Neville-directed documentary chronicling the Wings era, streaming on Prime Video beginning February 27 (after a single-night February 19 premier in theaters), and the announcement of a Wings installation at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame opening on May 15, it seems that post-Beatles McCartney will be getting the attention he deserves.

I’m here for it.

Over the past few days, our summer concert season began to take shape, with several big announcements dropping … Here’s a look at those, as well as some picks for this week and beyond. Let’s kick it off with an absolutely killer Borderland lineup:

New and Noteworthy

Borderland Festival 2026

Friday, September 18 – Sunday, September 20, Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora, NY.

Ziggy Marley: The Brightside Tour 2026 , with guest J. Boog

Saturday, July 11, 7 p.m. at Artpark Outdoor Amphitheatre, Lewiston, NY.

Tickets on sale Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m.

Blackberry Smoke: Rattle, Ramble and Roll Tour 2026, w/ Special Guest TBA

Wednesday, July 15, 6:30 p.m. at Artpark Outdoor Ampitheatre.

Tickets on sale Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m.

Chantal Kreviazuk

Thursday, May 14, 8 p.m. at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. Tickets on sale Friday 2/27 at 10 a.m. General Admission Seated $35/$40

Sue Foley

Saturday, April 11, 8 p.m. at The Sportsmens Tavern. $30 GA/$80 VIP w/ Meet & Greet.

VIP ticket includes pre-show meet & greet with Sue Foley, official merch bundle, early admission to venue.

James McMurtry & The Martial Law Review

Friday, June 26, 7 p.m. at Sportsmens Park, Buffalo, NY. $30.

Samantha Fish

Sunday, May 31, 7 p.m. at Asbury Hall in Babeville, Buffalo, NY. Tickets on sale Friday 2/27 at 10 a.m. $47/$57/Limited Reserved Gold Circle Seating $67

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Announce 2026 American Tour – Tom Morello of RATM added!

Get 2026 LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS AMERICAN TOUR DATES here.

Lloyd Cole

Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $42.20/$47.90 seated/$52.90 first 3 rows.

John Gallagher Jr., with guest Hannah Winkler

Sunday, April 26, 7 p.m. at the Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY. $20ad/$25door

Jonathan Butler

Thursday, April 2, 8 p.m. at Buffalo State Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY. $48.75-$54.75

Die Spitz

Tuesday, November 10, 7 p.m. at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $32.40

Rockin’ at the AKG: DEVO wgs/Soul Coughing and Shilpa Ray

Saturday, June 6, 6 p.m. gates at Buffalo AKG Art Museum Great Lawn, Buffalo, NY. Buffalo AKG Members presale now. General public on sale Friday, February 27 at 12 p.m. ET.

This week…

Margo Price

Thursday, February 26, 7 p.m. doors at Electric City, Buffalo, NY. $39.36+

The Wood Brothers w/Elizabeth Moen

Thursday, February 26, 7 p.m. at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $48.55

Johnny Cash Birthday Bash w/The Band in Black

Thursday, February 26, 7 p.m. at The Caz, South Buffalo, NY. $20-$30

Big Shrimp

Friday, February 27, 8 p.m. at Molly Maguires, Buffalo, NY. FREE

“In Spring and Summer 2025, Big Shrimp embarked on tour, supporting acts like Spafford, Eggy, and Big Something, while also making festival appearances at Northlands Festival in New Hampshire alongside The String Cheese Incident, Corey Wong, moe., and Umphrey’s McGee.”

The Music of Pink Floyd with The Machine and BPO

Friday, February 27, 7:30 p.m. at Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY. $31+

Dead.Phish.Funk wsg/10 Seconds Til Midnight

Friday, February 27, 7 p.m. at Penny Lane, Clarence, NY. $10

Neftali presents Sessions At Revolver Records: Neftali & Labrina, The Dominic Missana Band, Vinyl Set by Knew’d

Friday, February 27, 7 p.m. doors at Revolver Records on Elmwood, Buffalo, NY. $15/$20

Saxsquatch

Friday, February 27, 7 p.m. at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY. $27.80/107.90 Meet & Greet add-on

The Strictly Hip

Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28, 8 p.m. at the Bears Den, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Niagara Falls, NY. $25+ (Looks close to SOLD OUT)

Blues For Greeny – The Music of Peter Green

Friday, February 27, 8 p.m. at Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY. $20

Bellanti – Petrie – Ziolkowski

Saturday, February 28, 12-3 p.m. at Terrapin Station, Buffalo, NY. FREE

Bands for Black Rock presented by Not Normal: The Living Braindead, One Foot Up, Not Normal, MYQ, Jade Marciniak, The Travesties, Philip Stephen, Too Skinny, JT Nicholson, Guallah Boys

“All money raised will be split between:
Black Rock Riverside Alliance: Supporting ongoing community projects and betterment of community in Black Rock & Riverside.
Music is Art: Helping provide gear for local musicians through donations and Allentown Music.”

Saturday, February 28, 5 p.m. at Hot Mama’s Canteen, Buffalo, NY. $10/PWYC