Music Events

Buffalo’s music heritage runs deep.

There’s a long tradition here of festivals and outdoor concerts bringing together fans who enjoy the energy and excitement of live performances. Here are a dozen reasons to make a musical trip to Buffalo in 2020.

Buffalo Porchfest – May 30, 2020

The quaint porches of the Elmwood Village neighborhood become the stages for local musicians at Porchfest. This biannual grassroots music festival allows visitors to walk or bike from porch to porch sampling the music of dozens of local artists. It’s music on the go! Free. buffaloporchfest.org

Live at Larkin – Wednesdays, June 10 – August 26, 2020

Larkin Square’s Wednesday night concert series, Live at Larkin, is quite the weeknight bash. Sway to the tunes of local rock, bluegrass and folk acts as you walk the square filled with artisan vendors, food trucks, and fun and games. Free. larkinsquare.com

Bidwell Concert Series – Tuesdays, June – August 2020

Pack a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers for a music-filled Tuesday night picnic on the beautiful, tree-lined, Olmsted-designed Bidwell Parkway. Family and dog friendly, these outdoor concerts are one of the highlights of Buffalo’s summer music scene. Free. elmwoodvillage.org

Strawberry Moon Festival at Artpark – June 27 – 28, 2020

The Strawberry Moon Festival links amazing musical performances to the culture and history of the indigenous peoples that called the lands surrounding Artpark home. Dance competitions, performing arts showcases and a traditional drum procession are just the start at this weekend-long festival. artpark.net

Independence Eve with the BPO – July 3, 2020

Following a Buffalo Bisons’ game, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus will take the field. For more than 20 years, this tradition has filled the stadium with patriotic music and the skies with the largest fireworks show of the season. milb.com/buffalo

Cobblestone Live – July 31 – August 1, 2020

Entering its fourth year, Cobblestone Live has become downtown Buffalo’s signature summer music festival. Filling the streets of the Cobblestone District with local vendors, eats and music lovers, the festival features big names and talented local acts rocking out on four stages. cobblestonelive.com

Pappy Martin Legacy Masten Jazz Festival – July 2020

Over the course of two weekends in July, the Pappy Martin Legacy Masten Jazz Festival, held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park features the local, national and international artists who carry jazz traditions forward. For more than 20 years, these free concerts have celebrated the memory of local jazz legend James “Pappy” Martin. Free. pmljazz.com

Buffalo Niagara Blues Festival – July 2020

Set at perhaps the most unusual outdoor event space in town, the Buffalo Niagara Blues Festival takes place on the grounds of Silo City, an impressive collection of grain elevators and silos along the Buffalo River. wnyblues.org

Music is Art – September 12, 2020

Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac founded this all-day, multi-genre festival, which is part concert, part bazaar, street fair, art gallery and all fun! Music Is Art celebrates Year 18 at the urban sports and entertainment complex that is Buffalo RiverWorks. Free. musicisart.org

Borderland Music + Arts Festival – September 19 – 20, 2020

Experience some of the biggest names in folk, alt- country and Americana alongside the impeccable skill of local craftsmen and women on the historic grounds of Knox Farm State Park. borderlandfestival.com

CMC Jazz Festival – October 2020

A festival backed by more than a century of jazz history, the historic Colored Musicians Club spreads the joy of jazz with performances at venues all across the city. Make sure you step inside the club and experience the venue where jazz giants like Miles Davis and John Coltrane once jammed. cmcjazzfest.com

‘Tid the Season – December 11 – 12, 2020

Local metal/hardcore legends, Every Time I Die, return home for their annual two-day Christmas season extravaganza that smashes together – sometimes quite literally – the worlds of hardcore, punk, heavy metal and pro wrestling. tidtheseason.com