Latest Posts

Widespread Panic at Artpark (6/16/15)

June 19, 2015

Last year, Widespread Panic suffered a similar fate to Athens after Poseidon lost the city to Athena in a great challenge. Irrate with anger, he flooded the city in spite, as he would Artpark that fateful night. Attendees were compensated with tickets to Ziggy Marley or Gregg Allman, but those remedies could not mend the emptiness that those who left after a half show felt. Panic would not let the people of Western New York down twice, and played a strong and complete show to kick off their 2015 summer tour earlier this week. The band that can outsell Taylor Swift in the south played for an about two thirds full Artpark crowd Tuesday night and it was a beautiful evening indeed for music. Last year, before WP’s fall tour, founding member and drummer Todd Nance left the band for personal reasons. Wasting no time, the band picked up Duane[...]

Just Announced: Alabama Shakes

May 11, 2015

Along with this weekend’s Avett Brothers show announcement, Artpark has had a busy couple days rounding out its summer 2015 schedule. Earlier this afternoon, soul rockers Alabama Shakes revealed they too will be playing the Lewiston venue on Tuesday, September 22nd. Led by the powerhouse of Brittany Howard, the quartet released its sophomore album, the weird and diverse Sound & Colour, a few weeks back. The two shows, both presented by Funtime, will go on sale this Friday, May 15th, at noon.

Just Announced: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

March 23, 2015

With spring in full bloom (sort of), Artpark has begun to roll out its summer concert schedule. We learned of the My Morning Jacket show a few weeks ago, along with Amos Lee just recently. The next show that should be of note is an August 4th engagement with Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. The retro soul act will be a part of the “Wheels of Soul Summer Tour 2015” along with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Doyle Bramhall III. The show will be the conclusion to the venue’s annual  “Tuesday at the Park” series. After successfully beating cancer last year, its a pleasure to see Jones and her band returning to the WNY area. Those who caught them a few years back at Town Ballroom know should expect another soul explosion from the dynamic front woman and one of music’s finest backing bands. Tickets will on sale this Friday,[...]

Just Announced: My Morning Jacket

March 3, 2015

I first caught My Morning Jacket live in the fall of 2002 opening for Manchester’s The Doves at the Kool Haus in Toronto. The Louisville based band was an unknown to me at the time and the members had yet to clean up their shaggy image, looking the part of what a Southern rock band should look like. Jim James’ hair was down to his knees and spun it in an almost hypnotic rhythm as the band proceeded to destroy “One Big Holiday.” I was so blown away by the band that I went to see them again the following night in Rochester at Water Street. Since then, the band has been steadily releasing albums over the years, with highlights including It Still Moves and Z, but MMJ is most definitely a live band, one whose shows have reached near legendary statuses over the years and should be seen in[...]

Tonight: Arctic Monkeys

June 18, 2014

Between the fact that the Arctic Monkeys remain one of the biggest acts in the world and that tickets to see them here at Artpark were ridiculously cheap, it’s no surprise tonight’s outdoor concert is sold out. For those lucky ticket holders (or those who can do some last minute scalping at inflated prices), the Arctic Monkeys show this evening at 6:30pm should be worth braving the traffic for. The band’s most recent album, AM, is arguably their best, featuring slick, soulful songwriting and a dark conceptual arc. The British rockers will be joined by Austin’s White Denim for a night under the stars (or under the rain clouds (we’ll see)). Get there somehow.

Tonight: Willie Nelson & Alison Krauss

June 7, 2014

Hop on that country wagon when Willy Nelson & Family hit the stage tonight with Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas at Lewiston’s Artpark. A man who needs no introduction, Willie has made a name for himself through the endless stream of albums he’s masterminded, the 30-something movies he’s acted in, the several books he’s written, and the activism he’s fueled by his own creative genius. As for Alison Krauss, underneath her 27 Grammy Awards and 49 nominations—she won her first in 1991, when she was only 20—is a virtuoso credited with helping to renew popular interest in bluegrass in the United States. Between the sweet finesse of her fiddle, the graceful range of her voice, and the raw talent that comprises her backing band Union Station, there are few that stand ahead in bridging the roots/country gap. Roll one up and come enjoy the scenery-backed country tunes. Doors[...]

Just Announced: Lorde

June 2, 2014

Continuing to support her 2013 mega album Pure Heroine, current pop It-Girl, Lorde, will be making her WNY debut at Artpark’s Mainstage Theatre on Sunday, September 7th. Hailed as one of the biggest indie-pop crossovers in the last couple of years, Lorde will be sure to please the closet music elitists fans, and lure the suburbanites out to Lewiston like the Pied Piper. Supporting Lorde will be moody indie duo Majical Cloudz. Tickets will go on sale Friday, June 6th at 10am for $39.50, $49.50, and $59.50.