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Six Bands We Aren’t Missing at Borderland Festival 2025

September 10, 2025

Knox Farm State Park’s annual music festival, Borderland, returns for their seventh consecutive year (COVID doesn’t count) this weekend with their biggest production yet. Since their beginnings as a two day festival in 2018, the crew behind Twenty6 Productions has added an extra day and turned the buzz meter up to eleven with their thorough and thoughtful curation of this annual staple that is driving home the message we’ve always hammered home – Western NY has great potential for a thriving music scene, complete with dive bars to full music festivals… And Oasis should play here.   Tickets are still available with weekend passes going for $240.95 and daily passes for $136.45. Here are six acts we aren’t missing this weekend at Borderland 2025.   Saturday @ 3pm   Sneaky Miles @ Mike’s Amazing Homespun Stage   Newmarket, New Hampshire project Sneaky Miles starts our schedule off Saturday afternoon with[...]

Must See Shows (8/27/25-9/2/25)

August 26, 2025

Thursday, August 28th @ 8pm Darksoft @ Nietzsche’s   Multi-instrumental dream-pop act Darksoft brings life to Allen St.’s west end for a much needed adrenaline shot. Hailing from East Coast Portland, the band has a moody shoegaze vibe that is brooding and dreary in all the right ways. The band is touring in support of their 2025 release, Rationalism. Fans of Hibou, Beach Fossils, or Wild Nothing would be into this. Joining this Thursday ripper will be local dreamgaze acts Elemantra * and Previous Love. $10 cover.   Rationalism by Darksoft Friday, August 29th @ 8pm Metalachi @ Buffalo Iron Works   Sometimes a band gimmick just works. Mac Sabbath have their McDonalds horror cosplay; Here Comes the Mummies have the full body wraps; and locally, Well Worn Boot have their “wrong turn in Oklahoma” vibe. Metalachi has been riding similar waves, breaking out in the 2000s with their live[...]

Must See Shows (8/13/25-8/19/25)

August 12, 2025

Friday, August 15th @ 6pm Big Neck Fest Day 1 @ Duende @ Silo City   Big Neck Records hosts a weekend blowout with some of the best local and touring punk bands Friday for two nights of of intensity. The label has been around since the mid-90s, debuting with 7″ releases from The Baseball Furies and The Blowtops. Now nearly 30 years later, the label still has its finger-on-the-pulse for quality punk bands that are emerging in the scene. Friday’s night lineup features sets from psycho-punk act Nervous Tick and the Zipper Lips, raw rock and rollers Evil Things, The Cramps tribute act Side Stitches, Wisconsin grunge act Bashford, lo-fi garage punk duo Teen Cobra, and Romeo Spikes. $15 and save energy for the second night of the fest on Saturday.   Saturday, August 16th @ 6pm Kiesza @ Rec Room   Calgary-born, Toronto-based electro-pop artist Kiesza makes a[...]

Must See Shows (8/6/25-8/12/25)

August 5, 2025

Wednesday, August 6th @ 7pm Amateur Hockey Club @ The Caz   In between throwing beers at each other to guess the brand and releasing their brand new single, “Uppercase,” local pop-punk act Amateur Hockey Club has managed to squeeze in a mid-week show to appease the demand from AHC Nation. Since forming in 2017, Amateur Hockey Club has steadily become a fixture in the local pop-punk and emo scene, cranking out quality material and sharing the stage on many of the top bills with local showcases. Fans of Hot Mulligan, Knuckle Puck, or Microwave would be into this one.   Joining the band will be local pop-rock act Orange Zest and alt-rockers Good Monster. AHC is up early so get there ON TIME. $10 cover.   Coexistence by Amateur Hockey Club Friday, August 8th @ 8pm Bad Bloom @ Amy’s Place   Rochester shoegaze/grunge act Bad Bloom makes a[...]

Must See Shows (7/23/25-7/29/25)

July 22, 2025

Wednesday, July 23rd @ 7pm Samantha Crain @ 9th Ward   Chocktaw-American singer/songwriter/multi-hyphenate Samantha Crain returns to Buffalo for an intimate basement show on Delaware Ave. Wednesday. Touring in support of their latest length album Gumshoe, their stop at the 9th Ward is at the tail end of a US and Canadian Tour that has been at full throttle since early May. Fans of Waxahatchee, First Aid Kit or Bonnie Prince Billy would be pleased as punch for this one. Opening the show will be indie-folksy Cherokee Nation folk musician Kalyn Fay. It’s $22 at the door.   Gumshoe by Samantha Crain Thursday, July 24th @ 6pm Root Cellar @ Duende   Last month, Buffalo-based freewheeling experimental jazz project Root Cellar came out with their album Fermentations. In fact, we loved the release so much, we made it our Album of the Week. The largely-improv’d act will be playing at Duende[...]

Must See Shows (7/16/25-7/22/25)

July 15, 2025

Wednesday, July 17th @ 7pm Claimed Choice @ Caffe at Amy’s   International touring punk act Claimed Choice makes a stop in for a mid-week pick-me-up. The Lyons-based French oi-punk act is touring in support of their new self-titled album. Fans of Turbo Negro, New York Dolls, or even locals Nervous Tick and the Zipper Lips would be into this one. Rounding out the bill will be support from local rock and rollers Sweet Talker and pop punkers Pilot-Field. $15 cover or pay what you can. CLAIMED CHOICE “We won’t give in” LP by Une vie pour rien Vinyles Saturday, July 19th @ 8pm Young the Giant @ Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Young the Giant was once one of the most buzzed about bands in the blogosphere in the early 2010s, where the quintet broke with notable singles like “My Body” and “Cough Syrup.” The momentum of the band’s[...]

Must See Shows (7/9/25-7/15/25)

July 8, 2025

Wednesday, July 9th @ 7pm Greg Norton + Büddies (Hüsker Dü)   Former Hüsker Dü bassist, Greg Norton, celebrates 40 years of the punk legends’ catalog with a new ensemble. Norton had been a key member of the Dü, as a founding member of the band along with Bob Mould and Grant Hart. On Wednesday night, Norton will lead a band consisting of Jon Snodgrass and Scott Reynolds who together will re-visit the band’s deep repertoire. $25 cover.   Savage Young Dü by Hüsker Dü Friday, July 11th @ 8pm Matthew Danger Lippman @ Milkies   buffaBLOG’s booking entity, Yace Booking, has two events this weekend that should definitely be on your radar. The first is the return of Buffalo-raised, Brooklyn transplant Matthew Danger Lippman, who will be headlining a show at Milkies on Friday. Lippman has been a creative and local staple since 2012, first emerging with his indie[...]

Must See Shows (7/2/25-7/8/25)

July 1, 2025

Wednesday, July 2nd @ 6pm Murphy’s Law @ Rec Room Hardcore punk forefathers Murphy’s Law make a stop mid-week to the Chip Strip to set the tone for an enjoyable 4th of July weekend. Since forming in 1992, Murphy’s Law has been a staple of the New York hardcore scene, inspiring thousands of bands who have emerged since the eighties and created generations of scenes. Starting the night off will be two hardcore punk bands, The Take and Bombvest. Doors are at 6pm with a $26.75 cover.   Saturday, July 5th @ 9pm The Psychedelic Furs @ Terminal B   English rock and rollers The Psychedelic Furs play Buffalo’s hottest waterfront venue on Saturday. The Psychedelic Furs have been a staple of the post-punk scene since their breakthrough 1981 album, Talk Talk Talk. Since then the band has popped in and out of existence with hiatuses and reunions, but has[...]

Must See Shows (6/25/25-7/1/25)

June 24, 2025

Thursday, June 26th @ 7pm The Surfrajettes @ Sportsmen Club   Toronto retro surf act The Surfrajettes showcase their summer-y sounds Thursday night in Black Rock.  Buffalo loves a band with a gimmick and The Surfrajettes can pull it off as they portray a group of 60s beach boppers. The four-piece has been steadily attracting fans with their intricate guitar work and upbeat shows since 2015. You may already be familiar with them as they gained the internet’s attention with their beach-y cover of Brittany Spear’s “Toxic” back in 2018.   Opening the night is local raw rock trio Evil Things. $20 cover.   Easy as Pie by The Surfrajettes Friday, June 27th @ 8pm Sun Junkies @ Milkies   Promising Brantford, Ontario quartet Sun Junkies cross the border for a Friday night rager on Elmwood. Throughout the band’s nine year tenure, the band has continued to pump out a[...]

Five Songs that Inspire Sean Ryan and his Campaign for Mayor of Buffalo

June 17, 2025

It seems like just yesterday that Buffalo hit the polls to decide if underdog India Walton could defeat the Byron Brown political machine. Turns out, the Brown campaign arose from it’s slumber and drove the vote out with their “Write Down Brown” write-in campaign, securing the office for roughly four years before heading into the obvious transition of working in horse racing. In just seven days, Buffalo decides the future of the city with a new democratic primary to see who gets to be the rightful nominee on the ballot that represents the future of the Queen City… And if it’s one thing we can all agree upon, it’s this – Buffalo deserves better.   Lifelong WNY resident and State Senator Sean Ryan is throwing his hat into the ring for Mayor of Buffalo with that very pitch, bringing a deep sense of Buffalo pride and decades of public service to[...]

Must See Shows (6/11/25-6/17/25)

June 10, 2025

Friday, June 13th Perfume Genius @ Electric City   Art-pop crooner Perfume Genius makes a stop Friday night for an undoubtedly gripping performance in the Theatre District. Perfume Genius is the performing name for Iowa native Mike Hadreas and his rotating cast of musicians who have been performing under the project name since 2008. The band has connected with their fans largely in part to Hadreas’ vulnerable lyrics and commanding story telling.   The band touring in support of their critically acclaimed album, Glory, which came out in the tail end of March. If you are a fan of Sufjan Stevens, Andy Shauf, or Arcade Fire, this is up your alley. It’s $45.28.   Glory by Perfume Genius Saturday, june 14th @ 5pm The Beaches @ Albright Knox Gallery   The AKG ups the ante after last spring’s Khruangbin performance as part of their Rockin’ the AKG series. This year,[...]

Must See Shows (6/4/25-6/10/25)

June 3, 2025

Wednesday, June 4th @ 7pm Sunny Day Real Estate @ Electric City   Second wave emo forefathers Sunny Day Real Estate hit the big stage at Electric City for a night of nostalgic feels mid-week. Formed in Seattle, Washington in 1992, the band has been credited for the recipe and rise of the Midwest emo sound. Sunny Day has been inspired many of the movers and shakers in the third wave of emo and early to mid 2000s pop punk fields, serving as a major influence and inspiration on their songwriting styles. If you’re a fan of The Get Up Kids, The Promise Ring, or Appleseed Cast then you already know about Sunny Day Real Estate and you already have your ticket most likely. It’s $49.32.   Diary (Remastered and Expanded Edition) by Sunny Day Real Estate Saturday, June 7th @ 7pm Lazlo Hollyfeld Plays In Rainbows @ Town Ballroom[...]

Must See Shows (5/28/25-6/3/25)

May 27, 2025

Thursday, May 29th @ 7pm Keep Flying @ Rec Room   Since 2015, high energy pop punk/ska hybrid act Keep Flying has been consistently pumping out Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater adjacent singalong anthems that have been hooking listeners throughout their tenure. The outfit may already be in your periphery as they have been regularly touring Western NY between Buffalo and Fredonia for close to a decade. If you are fan of Less Than Jake, Four Year Strong, or Millington, this one is for you.   This gig has a great undercard as well, featuring Buffalo post-hardcore act Gatto Black (who also released one of our favorite albums in 2024). Joining the lineup is local indiemos We Were Blank and alt-rockers Star Theory. $20.55 landed.   To save the bartender from repeating the same phrase over and over again, yes, Rec Room has mozzarella sticks.   Daylight by Keep Flying Saturday,[...]

Must See Shows (5/21/25-5/27/25)

May 20, 2025

Wednesday, May 21st @ 7pm Low Cut Connie @ Town Ballroom   Philly-based vintage rock and rollers Low Cut Connie play mid-week in the Theatre District. Since forming in 2010, the project has evolved from the early days of playing karaoke bars and honky tonks to getting the presidential rub by landing a slot on President Obama’s coveted Spotify playlist. Fans of J. Roddy Walston and the Business, King Tuff, or Har Mar Superstar would be enthralled with LCC’s encapsulating lyrics and their twangy, no-frills western saunter. Tickets are $37.25.   Low Cut Connie – Audiotree Live by Low Cut Connie Friday, May 23rd @ 7pm Smoking Popes @ Rec Room   Influential Chicago-based punk act Smoking Popes play the Chip Strip for a night of nostalgia and familiar tunes. Since forming in 1991, the band has been largely influential to the punk/indie scene with their earnest pseudo-Morrissey delivery and[...]

7 Acts to Catch at Elmwood Village Porchfest 2025

May 14, 2025

Ian McCuen @ 1pm 444 Forest Avenue   If you wanted to minimize your steps for the day, I would suggest bringing a lawn chair to 444 Forest Avenue and not leaving, as the lineup has some true talent from the emerging local scene. Starting the indie lineup is Ian McCuen, a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalists who has somber and gripping songs that are reminiscent of Bright Eyes or Sufjan Stevens.   As the Oceans Rise and the Empire Falls by Ian McCuen Kriggy @ 3pm 390 Richmond Ave   New kids on the block Kriggy aim to prove what the buzz is all about on Richmond Ave mid-afternoon. The band has an angular, math-y messiness that is appealing and no-frills in the most charming way possible.   Sonny Baker Trio @ 3:30pm 1110 Elmwood Ave.   Buffalo music scene mainstay Sonny Baker teams up with his frequent collaborators for a rare trio[...]