3 Doors Down joins Seneca Casinos' winter entertainment

In addition to Niagara Falls acts, "American band" Grand Funk Railroad coming to Salamanca in late January

As the cold and snow come to Western New York this winter, Seneca Casinos will make the indoors seem even more warm and inviting with a variety of world-class entertainers. Modern rock band 3 Doors Down, the musical Burlesque to Broadway and Mike Epps of "Def Comedy Jam" are booked for Niagara Falls, while classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad makes a return visit to Salamanca. Six very diverse performances also are lined up for the 440-seat Bear's Den Showroom between New Year's Eve and Feb. 1.

Just announced for Seneca Niagara Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, is 3 Doors Down Acoustic - "Songs from the Basement." Tickets for the 8 p.m. show start at $35 and go on sale Friday, Dec. 6, at noon. 3 Doors Down is one of the most successful rock bands of the 2000s to present, with more than 20 million albums sold and six No. 1 singles, such as "Kryptonite," "When I'm Gone," "Here Without You" and "It's Not My Time." The group plans to provide a mix of hits with some rarely performed live cuts during this acoustic performance.

In a line of blockbuster performances this winter at Seneca Allegany Events Center by rock icons Cheap Trick (Dec. 29) and renowned insult comic Lisa Lampanelli (Jan. 11), Grand Funk Railroad makes a return to the venue on Sunday, Jan. 26, for a 5 p.m. show. Tickets start at a value price of $20 and are on sale now. The classic rock band last performed at the venue in March 2012 to a sold-out crowd. Grand Funk Railroad was one of the top rock acts of the 1970s and audiences continue to enjoy the band's high-energy hits from the past 45 years, such as "I'm Your Captain / Closer to Home," "The Loco-motion," "We're An American Band" and "Some Kind of Wonderful."

When New Year's Eve hits, Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel will host its fourth event in five days - including a sold-out show by Canadian rocker Kim Mitchell (Dec. 27), a spellbinding evening of entertainment by the multitalented Vanessa Williams (Dec. 28), and a moving performance by singer-songwriter Judy Collins (Dec. 29). Performing two shows at 7 and 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 is Paul Revere and the Raiders, the garage rock band with a string of hits in the 1960s, such as "Kicks," "Hungry" and "Good Thing." The up-tempo sound promises to provide a festive close to 2013. Tickets start at $55 and are on sale now.

The intimate 440-seat Bear's Den Showroom will continue to be very busy to begin 2014, as five very diverse acts will perform at the venue through Feb. 1. On Saturday, Jan. 4, the musical comedic duo of Williams & Ree will perform two shows - a matinee viewing at 3 p.m. and an evening routine at 8 p.m. The duo, billed as "The Indian and the White Guy," has performed for 45 years. Tickets start at $20 (matinee) and $25 (evening), and are on sale now. The following Saturday, Jan. 11, alternative-rock band Eve 6 takes the stage for an 8 p.m. show. The band's popularity soared around the turn of the millennium, behind hits such as "Inside Out" and "Here's to the Night." They released the album "Speak in Code" in 2012 after a nine-year studio recording hiatus. Tickets start at $55 and are on sale now.

The third weekend of 2014 will feature two very different rock bands on back-to-back nights. On Friday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m., indie rock band Carbon Leaf takes the stage, bringing a mix of alt-country, folk, Celtic and bluegrass inside the Bear's Den Showroom. Their catchy 2004 single, "Life Less Ordinary," charted on Billboard's U.S. Adult Top 40 Chart, and the band took second place overall and first place for lyrics in the 2007 USA Songwriting Competition. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale now. On Saturday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m., Canadian hard rock band Prism delivers the guitar-infused melodies that led to its achievement of Group of the Year at the 1981 Juno Awards. In 2011, their hit "Spaceship Superstar" was a morning wake-up song during the final mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Tickets start at $40 and are on sale now.

Finally, to begin the month of February, Dave Mason's Traffic Jam will deliver an evening of psychedelic rock on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m. The English singer-songwriter and guitarist was one of the most influential musicians of 1960s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of the band Traffic. He wrote the memorable song "Feelin' Alright" and recorded the solo hit "We Just Disagree," which continues to receive steady airplay on classic rock stations nationwide. Tickets start at $40 and are on sale now.

Tickets for all shows are available at Seneca Casino box offices, www.Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Visitwww.SenecaCasinos.com for more information.