Canalside has made its official announcement regarding the line-up for this summer’s free Thursday concert lineup. Concerts start at 6 p.m. See bottom of page for VIP info.
6/4 Matt and Kim with Made Violent and Bearstronaut
6/11 Arkells, Robert DeLong, and Milo Greene
6/18 Everclear, Fuel and American Hi-Fi
6/25 Spoon, with July Talk
7/2 The Sheepdogs & Yonder Mountain String Band
7/9 Mighty Mighty Bosstones
7/16 Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with Buffalo’s All-Star Tribute to Stevie Wonder
7/23 Badfish – Sublime Tribute with Reel Big Fish
7/30 Iron & Wine, with Ben Bridwell
8/6 Umphrey’s McGee and Aqueous
8/13 Get the Led Out – The American Led Zeppelin Tribute
8/20 EnVogue
“Our free Thursday concerts continue to be a mainstay attraction on Buffalo’s waterfront, attracting thousands of people to enjoy musical extravaganzas on beautiful summer evenings,” said ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia. “This year we strived for a diverse line-up that has something for everyone, young and old, and we invite everyone to Canalside to experience their favorite playlists in person.”
“Battle of the Bands” also continues on select Fridays, starting at 5:30 pm. Local bands are encouraged to apply at www.CanalsideBuffalo.com to be entered into the competition. Music genres coincide with the flavor of the national acts. Canalside and Arts Services Initiative of Western New York (ASI) will select the finalists that will play in the battles, with the winners going on to the main Main Stage as opening acts on eight Thursday concert dates.
A panel of local music industry experts will choose one winner in each of the following categories:
- Roots & Americana Battle: opening for Sheepdogs & Yonder Mountain String Band on July 2
- Jam Battle: opening for Spoon on June 25
- Ska & Punk Battle: opening for Mighty Mighty Bosstones on July 9
- Classic Soul Battle: opening for BPO’s tribute to Stevie Wonder on July 16
- Rock Battle: opening for Badfish on July 23
- Alternative Battle: opening for Iron & Wine on July 30
- Blues Battle: opening for Get the Led Out on August 13
- Hip Hop Battle: opening for En Vogue on August 20
“We have dozens of concerts coming to the waterfront—rock, alternative, jam bands, blues and even the philharmonic,” said Ryan Coate, General Manager of Canalside with Global Spectrum. “Building on last year’s success, our beautiful waterfront will be filled with a variety of music each week that is sure to appeal to all our visitors.”
Due to its popularity, Canalside will also host Wednesday Canalside Concerts Music and Dance Series with the following styles of dance/music:
45 minute lesson and then dance to two, half-hour sets of live music
*14 Wednesday night sessions from June 2 through September 2 at 7 p.m.
- Salsa
- Swing
- Ballroom Foxtrot
- Ballroom Waltz
- Argentine Tango
- Merengue
- Charleston
- Country Two-Step
- Country Line Dance
Two additional music events will also be thrown in for good measure this summer:
Entercom & Kiss 98.5 are excited to bring back Kiss the Summer Hello presented by Seneca Gaming & Entertainment on Saturday, May 30. This year’s lineup includes Flo Rida, R5, Cash Cash, Cody Simpson, Natalie La Rose, Sheppard, LunchMoney Lewis and Jordin Sparks.
Saturday, July 25 is Alternative Buffalo 107.7’s Kerfuffle presented by Seneca Poker @ The Seneca Niagara Casino. This year’s lineup features CAKE, The Airborne Toxic Event, Civil Twilight, Cold War Kids, The Gaslight Anthem, In The Valley Below, The Mowgli’s, New Politics and Saint Motel
*All the Thursday concerts are FREE to attend but Canalside will be offering V.I.P tickets again this year for $40 per concert. The VIP tickets include:
- 3 FREE glasses of beer/wine with $3 beer and wine after that (water and soda are free).
- Light appetizers and finger foods from local restaurants, including Ironworks, Templeton Landing, The Hatch, Westside Bazaar, Fat Bob’s, Just Pizza and 716 Food and Sport.
- VIP private bathrooms.
- Front of stage viewing area.
- VIP tent with seating and lawn games.