Prairie Pavement * @ Milkies

Elmwood Avenue’s best weirdo bar has night of infectious indie rock and jangle-pop as Buffalo’s own Prairie Pavement * headlines a local bill with some up-and-coming acts. Known for their commanding and energetic live performances, Prairie Pavement features multiple talented songwriters who each take turns on leading their songs, creating a diverse and dynamic sound. If you’re a fan of Surf Curse, Dr. Dog, or Car Seat Headrest, then you’ll dig this one.

Prairie Pavement * will be joined by SUNY Fredonia alt-rock newcomers New Venice and raw indie rock act Power Creep *. Doors are $10.

Saturday, December 6th @ 4pm

Triple Hammer Records Showcase @ Mohawk Place

Saturday Night is set to feature a showcase from Buffalo hardcore punk label, Triple Hammer Records, with their holiday expo: Scrooge’s Big Day Out. This all-day event will feature local eclectic vendors setting up shop at 2pm, with sets from a wide range of local musicians featuring some of the best punk, hardcore, and rap artists in the area. The evening is full to the brim with local talents, featuring performances by Do Crime, Neftali, Overgrowth, Piss Guzzler, Robbery Club, Super Flea, and New Fury. There will be DJ sets from DJ Knew’d and Spooky Stephen to keep the party bumping on transitions. Pre-sale tickets are $18.78.

Sunday, December 7th @ 7pm

The Bug Club @ Mohawk Place

Get ready for a night of high-energy, riff-heavy indie rock as the Welsh power trio The Bug Club takes the stage Sunday night in celebration of another Bills win. Known for their punchy guitars, clever lyrics, and infectious garage rock sound, The Bug Club is a band that delivers a spirited and engaging live performance. Signed to the iconic Sub Pop label, the band blends ’70s-inspired rock with a contemporary, lo-fi punk edge. Fans of Modern Lovers, Moldy Peaches or Guided by Voices should plan on this one. Support comes from locals Velvet Bethany and adelaide. Tickets are $28.22.

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Prairie Pavement w/ Romcom Victims, Night Owls, and Karma Queen @ Milkies

Milkie’s has been on a hot streak as of late with the downscaling of local programming at other venues in town. So much so that the Elmwood Strip establishment has moved their popular karaoke night from Thursdays to Tuesdays in order to fit the demand for more local music. This Thursday, Milkie’s will host a notable local lineup featuring promising indie act, Prairie Pavement, with support from Romcom Victims, Night Owls, and Karma Queen. Ultimately, it’s a tight local bill and it’s a Thursday. $10.

Friday, October 25th @ 8pm

Songbirds @ Buffalo Iron Works

Songbirds have quickly become a must-have at all venues around town. They’ve played at all of the midweek summer concerts in town and delighted thousands of moms in Western New York with their impressive Fleetwood Mac tribute. Soon enough, Songbirds will hit Strictly Hip levels as the band’s sound is incredibly tight and their live performance truly delivers. I’m predicting it now – Songbirds will be playing New Years Eve 2026 downtown with the ball drop.  The door is $20.

Saturday, October 26th

Halloween Covers Show @ Milkie’s

Milkie’s has another fun one this week with a covers bonanza on Saturday night. Previously booked at Electric Avenue, the lineup is organized and curated by Matto LA and has become a fun annual event that many Sugar Citizens have been participating in. This year, expect tribute sets for Metallica, the B-52s, Dashboard Confessional, The Gin Blossoms, and The Damned, all for the low price of $10. Costumes are encouraged but not required

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If you’re a blog-reading regular, you may notice we aren’t writing about the many established local acts that are great and we’ve covered ad hoc. There are dozens of bands playing that we won’t discuss today, as we’ve already exhausted hundreds of adverbs over the past ten-plus years via album reviews and show previews. The purpose of this article is to add some newer bands to your knowledge base and expand everyone’s horizons.

Should you see bands that aren’t on this list? For sure. One of the best aspects of this event is the buffet of sounds and vibes echoing throughout the festival grounds. The list below is flush with newcomers that have risen out of COVID’s ashes and are piquing our interest again in the local music scene.

Prairie Pavement @ 12pm  (Terminal B Stage 2)

Prairie Pavement is set to clock-in for their annual shift at Music is Art this Saturday. Making their Music is Art debut in 2021, the band dominated the Battle of the Band stage and proved that this project was more than just a bunch of high schoolers jamming around in the garage. Still in their pre-responsibility phase, the band’s youthful energy is truly infectious as they bring quite a commanding live show. There are many talented songwriters in this collective who each have their own identity and direction and frequently take turns taking lead. If Ween, GIRLS, and MGMT forgot their synthesizers, you’d have the essence of Prairie Pavement.

Spiria @ 1:30pm (Terminal B Stage 1)

Indie-pop duo Spiria has been blowing us away over the past couple years after we discovered them on Nickel City B-Sides. The band is a sibling act, performing fairly stripped down sets with a lineup of just keyboard and drums. Lead singer Mikayla Manke’s dreamy delivery is both enchanting and mesmerizing, so if you’re a fan of Regina Spektor or Laura Marling, then make sure you catch Spiria.

The Spit Sisters @ 1:30pm (Lakeside Lawn Stage 2)

Fresh off the release of their new six song EP, Nothing Heals,  The Spit Sisters continue their recent momentum with an early afternoon slot. The quartet is self-described “feral ferocious rock,” and we can’t really come up with a better descriptor than that. The Spit Sisters have a raw, DIY ethos that exudes passion and punk rock.  Check this one out if you are into The Donnas, The Distillers, or Bikini Kill.

Snakeland @ 1:30pm (Terminal B Stage 2)

The musicians that make up this Buffalo alt-punk quintet is are by no means newcomers to the scene, with dozens of years under each of their belts spent on various other projects. This collaborative’s latest venture, Snakeland, is an amalgam of rock-heavy pop-punk a la Alien Ant Farm B-sides, with a tad more indie angularity and vocal passion. Snakeland’s performance is dynamic with lead singer Tone Bone’s eclectic frontman energy truly something to behold.

Skamagotchi @ 3pm (Terminal B Stage 2)

Five piece ska project Skamagotchi is set to return to Music is Art after standout performances at the past couple festivals. Lead by multi-band juggler Philip Stephen, this high energy band’s sound is as fun as their pun-meets-nostalgia-inspired name and would nestle perfectly on a Tony Hawk Pro Skater re-vamp. If you like mozzarella sticks dunked in Mountain Dew, Less than Jake, or Keep Flying, then strap on your checkered vans and get ready to skank.

Matt Smith’s Nervous System @ 3:45pm (Lakeside Lawn Stage 2)

Matt Smith is no stranger to the local music scene (or buffaBLOG for that matter). We’ve been covering his resume with stints in Roger Bryan and the Orphans, and his numerous production credits via his recording studio HiLo. His latest project, Matt Smith’s Nervous System, is really garnering attention beyond the Buffalo scene after opening two sold out Passion Pit concerts at Brooklyn’s Warsaw. The band is raw and punk-y and made for ear-shattering basement shows – that’s exactly how we like it.

Addisyn Logan @ 5:30pm (Buskers Alley)

Addisyn Logan has been another one of our post-COVID favorites. A mix between Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers, this singer/songwriter truly delivers with her iconic sad girl energy. If you’re going to break up with someone, double check that it’s not Addisyn Logan with an alias, because she will make a biting song about it… And worst of all, it will have a really pretty melody.

The Weather Might Say Otherwise @ 6:30pm (Skatepark Stage)

For those keen on the Attic at Mr. Goodbar (or Fredonia’s not-so-secretly amazing music scene), The Weather Might Say Otherwise (TWMSO) is an act you’re already familiar with. The band has been around for close to six years at this point, forming in 2018 during the trio’s freshman year at the aforementioned SUNY Fredonia, but truly emerged into a force to be reckoned with in the post-COVID landscape. If you are fan of jaunty Midwest emo, Modern Baseball, and/or Blink-182, then make sure you catch this set.

Letter to Elise @ 8pm (Terminal B Stage 1)

Like a phoenix, Letter to Elise has risen from the ashes of suit-wearing pop rockers Mom Said No. The band has gotten right down to business, showing they truly have a knack for crafting great indie pop. The band continues Mom Said No’s electric live show antics while maintaining a bit more mystique this time around – a welcome transformation that’s truly something to behold.

OG Mom Said No member, Elliott Hunt formed the new project, which has a Harry Styles pop-influence with a Vampire Weekend preppy vibe. Letter to Elise may be one of the most proven breakthrough artists on this list, with their single “Day Drinking” taking off in the Spotify algorithm and garnering more than 100,000 streams as of press deadline. If that’s not enough, they rip an electric cello. Come on! No other bands at the festival have an electric cello (that we know of), and that’s reason enough to give this act your attention.

Zak Ward & the Million Dollar Question @ 9:30pm (Terminal B Stage 1)

Zak Ward is another familiar name that blog has been covering since its inception in 2010. Back then, Ward was buzzing with his work with Son of the Sun. Summer 2024 saw a Son of the Sun reunion, which delivered tenfold with their packed show at Fountain Plaza. Ward is debuting a new project many are excited about, Zak Ward and the Million Dollar Question. Without any recordings of the project online yet, we are left to anticipate and prognosticate. All we know is it’s going to be good.

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