Western New York -- Too many concerts -- not enough time....

Why Call WNY Home - Western New York Summer Concerts

By Colleen Kulikowski

Living in Western New York you may not be aware of the sheer volume of concert opportunities that you have here. Having moved away 22 years ago and returning at the end of last year I am constantly amazed at concert opportunities we have in this region. Summer is a great time to enjoy some of those opportunities.

Here is a list of Summer Concerts in Western New York:

Thursday at the Square

(Lafayette Square, downtown Buffalo). Free outdoor concerts every Thursday June 5- Sep 4, 5-9pm.

• June 5: The Disco Biscuits
• June 12: Yonder Mountain String Band
• June 19: The David Sanborn Group
• June 26: Martin Sexton
• July 3: Jakob Dylan & The Gold
• July 10; Jimmie Vaughan
• July 17: Mickey Hart Band
• July 24: Gin Blossoms
• July 31: Spirit of the West
• Aug 7: Zappa Plays Zappa
• Aug 14: Mike Gordon
• Aug 21: Saliva
• Aug 28: Candlebox
• Sep 4: Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Albright-Knox Summer Jazz Series

(1285 Elmwood Ave.) Free concerts held every Sunday at 2pm on the gallery lawn, weather permitting

Amherst Recreation Concert Series

(Basset Park, 359 Klein Rd, Amherst). Free outdoor concerts every Tuesday and Thursday July 8- Aug 21, 7:30pm.

• July 8: American Legion Band of the Tonawandas
• July 10: Live & Kickin'-party dance band at 6pm, Island Park, Williamsville
• July 15: Buffalo Concertina All Stars
• July 17: Tommy Z-Blues
• July 22: The Lance Diamond Show
• July 24: West of the Mark
• July 29: Big Wheelie & The Hubcaps, Kiwanis Picnic
• July 31: Sentimental Journey
• Aug 7: The Dady Brothers
• Aug 12: The Pine Dogs
• Aug 14: The Pointless Brothers
• Aug 19: McCarthyizm
• Aug 21: Steam Donkeys.

In case of rain, concerts will be held at Transit Middle School, except July 4 and 10

Artpark

(450 S 4th St, Lewiston).

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Summerfest

(July 12- Aug 1) Artpark Mainstage Theater, tickets $15-$48.

• July 12: By George By George Gershwin, 8pm
• July 13: The All American John Philip Sousa, 3pm
• July 19: From Mozart to Berstein, 8pm
• July 20: Native American Celebration, 3pm
• July 25: Rachmaninon's Piano Concerto No. 3, 8pm
• July 26: Tchaikovsky Spectacular, 8pm
• July 27: Cirque Capriccio, 3pm
• Aug 1: The Tango Returns!, 8pm
• Aug 2: An Evening With Neglia Ballet, 8pm
• Aug 3: A Salute to John Williams, 3pm.

Dancin' in the Park

(June 30 and July 28) Artpark Mainstage Theatre, shows at 2pm and 8pm, tickets $24.50 and $29.50. Formerly known as Artpark's Big Band Series, with a brand new giant dance floor.

• June 30: Kings of Swing, featuring the Galaxy All-Star Orchestra
• July 28: Artie Shaw Tribute, featuring the Sal Andolina Big Band.

Tuesday in the Park

(June 3-Aug 26) 6:30pm, Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater, free admission.

• June 10: Trisha Yearwood
• June 17: Three Dog Night
• June 24: America
• July 1: David Clayton-Thomas
• July 8: Kansas
• July 15: Blue Rodeo
• July 22: Michael McDonald
• July 29: Gov't Mule
• Aug 5: Dickey Betts
• Aug 12: Celtic Night, featuring Leahy
• Aug 19: Joe Bonamassa
• Aug 26: War

Wednesdays on the Gorge

(July 9-Aug 27) 6:30pm, Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater, free admission.

July 9: Moe

July 16: Cajun Festival, with Steve Riley & Lil Brian

July 23: Cherry Poppin' Daddies

July 30: Sam Roberts Band

Aug 6: Walter Trout with Watermelon Slim

Aug 13: Kim Mitchell

Aug 20: Donna The Buffalo

Aug 27: Sass Jordan

Bemus Bay Pops

(Bemus Bay Waterfront, Bemus Point). Outdoor concert series held on floating stage, June 29- Aug 30:

• June 29: Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, 2:30pm
• July 4: Salute to America, featuring the Jamestown Municipal Band at 7pm, with a traditional lighting of the lake at 10pm
• July 5: The British are Coming!, featuring the Caverners, 7pm
• July 6: Rod Stewart Tribute, 2:30pm
• July 13: Jimmy & The Soul Blazers, 2:30pm
• July 20: Shama Lama, 2:30pm
• July 25: Swinging Street Dance with Dr. Zoot, 7pm
• July 27: Neil Diamond tribute, 2:30pm
• Aug 3: Irish Festival, noon
• Aug 10: Frankie Valli tribute, 2:30pm
• Aug 17: Cher and Friends, 2:30pm
• Aug 24: Blues Family Show Band with 12 performers and tributes to The Blues Brothers, Sister Act and more, 2:30pm
• Aug 29: Trombone Salute with John Marcellus, 6:30pm
• Aug 30: Labor Day Finale with the full symphonic Bemus Bay Pops orchestra and fireworks, 6:30pm.

Darien Lake

(9993 Alleghany Rd., Darien Center).

• June 6: Tim McGraw
• June 17: Dave Mathews Band
• June 21: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• June 27: Brad Paisley
• July 12: Martina McBride
• July 24: Warped Tour with Angels and Airwaves, Relient K. The Academy Is..., and more
• Aug 15: The Jonas Brothers
• Aug 18: Maroon 5
• Aug 19: Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival with Disturbed, Slipknot and more
• Aug 23: Toby Keith

Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or livenation.com

Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center Summer Concert Series

(Union Rd, West Seneca). Tuesdays June 3-Aug 26, 6:30pm.

• June 3, Pyramid Band
• June 10, Mama Earth's Kitchen
• June 17, Jim Yeoman's Band
• June 24, Sugar & Jazz Orchestra
• July 8, Doerfel Family Blue Grass Band
• July 15, Doug Yeomans & The Lo Blu Flame
• July 22, Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra
• July 29, romantic music
• Aug 5, Tom Stahl & The Dangerfields
• Aug 12, Paul James Jazz Band;
• Aug 19, Orengue
• Aug 26, West Seneca Town Band

Chautauqua Institution

(Route 394, Chautauqua). The Logan Chamber Music series, every Monday June 23- Aug 18, 4pm.

June 23: Hugo Wolf Quartett

June 30: New Arts Trio

July 7: Harlem Quartet

July 14: Synergy Brass Quintet

July 21: Chautauqua Quartet

July 28 & Aug 4: Audubon Quartet;

Aug 11: Sarah Wolfson and the Brasil Guitar Duo

Aug 18: Chautauqua Wind Quintent

Friday at the Falls Concert Series

(1st & Old Falls Sts, Niagara Falls). Fridays June 6-Aug 29, 7:30-9:30pm.

June 6, Frank Grizanti Band

June 13, White Chocolate

June 20, Bob Volkman Band

June 27, Deep B-Lo

July 4, Aqueous

July 11, Paleface

July 18, Jerry Andres Band

July 25, This Vehicle

Aug 1, The Image

Aug 8, Passion Works

Aug 15, Salt Peter

Aug 22, Powertrain

Aug 29, The Davey Z Band.

Fredonia Opera House

(9 Church St., Fredonia). June 6-8: Bach & Beyond: A Baroque Music Festival. Fri & Sat, 8pm; Sun, 4pm. Tickets, $20 for each concert day or $45 for all three concerts.

• June 21: Summer Solstice with Jamcrackers featuring Dan Berggren, Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn, Folk in Fredonia Music Series extra, 8pm, admission $15.
• July 19: The Bar-room Buzzards, 7:30pm, admission $10. Aug 3: Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians, 7pm, reserved seating $25.
• Sep 14: Folk in Fredonia Free-For-All, with Carmen and Dick Gilman, free admission but tickets are required and may be reserved by calling the Box Office (679-1891/)

Fairgrounds Summer Concert Series

(Fairgrounds Gaming & Raceway).

• June 10, Otis Day & the Knights
• July 8, The Buckinghams
• July 29, Jay & the Americans
• Aug 13, the Spinners
• Sept 9, BJ Thomas

All concerts begin at 6pm with a local opener, national act plays at 7:30. Free except for Aug 13, which is free with purchase of admission to America's Fair.

Hennepin Park Gazebo

(4th & Center St., Lewiston).

• Blue Mondays (July 14-Aug 18), blues concert series every Monday, 7-9pm
• Jazz Wednesdays (June 4-25) every Wednesday.
• International Sundays (July 6- Aug 10), every Sunday 2-4pm: honor your heritage and celebrate local diversity with different ethnic music each week.
• Summer of '69 (July 18) 6-10pm. Music of the sixties, seventies and eighties performed by Lewiston's own super-groups such as The County Orphanage, The Invaders and The Loved Ones and special guests Richie McDonald and Gary Baker.
• Lewiston Jazz Project (July 12- Aug 23) every Thursday 7pm, featuring the New Upstate Express Jazz Ensemble and special guests throughout the series.

Jackson Square Concert Series

(Jackson & Center Sts., Batavia). June 6-27, 7-9pm. Friday Nights in Jackson Square, several bands will perform each Friday. Free admission

Jazz in July Concert Series

(Bassett Park, Amherst).

• July 13, Bobby Militello Quartet
• July 20, Pete Ciraolo All-Star Big Band
• July 27, Wendell Rivera's Latin Jazz Ensemble

All concerts begins at 7:30pm. Free.

Mayville Bluegrass Festival

(Lakeside Park, Rt. 394, Mayville). June 14-15. With Chris Hillman, Herb Peterson, John Cowan Band, Dave Peterson and 1946 and many more. The festival also features guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and dobro workshops, food and more (753-2800/mayvillebluegrassfestival.com)

M&T Bank Plaza Event Series

(One M&T Plaza, Main at Division St). Free Outdoor Concerts June 9- Aug 29 Mon- Fri. Each weekday of the summer, M&T Plaza is the lunchtime gathering spot, featuring an eclectic group of musical and theatrical talent.

Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort

(6380 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls). Concerts in the Avalon Ballroom.

• June 6, 7: Tony Orlando
• June 13, 14: Sinbad (standup comedy)
• June 19: Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band
• June 26: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
• June 27, 28: Grand Funk Railroad
• July 3, 4: Jay Leno (standup comedy)
• July 8: Brian Wilson
• July 11, 12: Songwriter's Night
• July 13: Carole King
• July 15, 16: Reba McEntire
• July 17, 18: Brad Garrett (standup comedy)
• July 20-20 (excluding July 26) 6 Chix
• July 31: 38 Special
• Aug 7, 8: Vietnamese Show
• Aug 14, 15: The Smothers Brothers Show (comedy)
• Aug 17-24: World Rock Symphony Orchestra

Tickets available at ticketmaster.ca or 1-877-833-3110. All Prices reflect Canadian currency. 888-325-5788

Party on the Portico

(Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Ct). June 20, July 18, Aug 22, 5-8pm. Live music, free museum tours, beer, wine, food and more. General admission $10

Seneca Niagara Casino

(310 4th St., Niagara Falls. Seneca Events Center).

June 14: Blondie

June 27: The Neville Brothers with Dr. John

July 18: Al Green

Aug 1: Frank Caliendo

Aug 9: Kathy Griffin

Aug 15: Puddle of Mud

Aug 16: Chaka Khan

Tickets available at ticketmaster.com

Seneca Square, free outdoor concerts.

Aug 21: Tops in Blue

Aug 22: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts with The Derek Miller Band.

Sunday on the Steps

(Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave, Niagara Falls) Sundays June 1-Aug 31, 6-8pm.

• June 8, The Ralph Fava Trio with Bobby Militello
• June 15, Second Generation
• June 22, Paul James Jazz
• June 29, Jerry D'Amico Group
• July 6, Chu Nero Group
• July 13, Jack Prybylski Group
• July 20, Ladies First Jazz Combo
• July 27, Lakeside Blues Band
• Aug 3, The Dave Schiavone Quartet
• Aug 10, A Touch of Class Revisited
• Aug 17, Easy Street Big Band
• Aug 24, Talarasa
• Aug 31, Lynn Ligammari Quartet