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Kiss 98.5 morning show host Nicholas Picholas announces some of the free Canalside concerts.
Kiss 98.5 morning show host Nicholas Picholas announces some of the free Canalside concerts.

Summer concert schedule announced at Canalside

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Tue, May 3rd 2016 07:50 pm

Summer-long free Thursday series; return of other popular musical series

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. today announced, with the support of its sponsors, the Canalside summer 2016 concert lineup. Canalside will host 12 free Thursday concerts from June 9 to Aug. 25.

Kicking off the summer is "The Screaming Eagle of Soul" Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires; followed by a diverse lineup of acts including Public Enemy, the American hip-hop group that led the politically charged music scene in 1982; country music singer-songwriter and guitarist Frankie Ballard, who won Kenny Chesney's "Next Big Star" competition in 2008; and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra playing the music of the late David Bowie. Closing the season is The Claypool Lennon Delirium, featuring Les Claypool and Sean Lennon (son of John Lennon).

View a short video of the featured Canalside Concert artists below:


"Music brings people together, and our free Thursday concerts are no exception, drawing tens of thousands of people to Buffalo's waterfront each summer," ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia said. "This year we worked hard to put together a diverse lineup that has something to satisfy nearly every musical taste. We hope to see some new faces at Canalside this year listening to their favorite tunes, as well as our regulars who keep coming back because of the great concert lineups."

WKBW meteorologist Andy Parker welcomed guests to a press conference Tuesday. 

WKBW meteorologist Andy Parker welcomed guests to a press conference Tuesday.

Concerts start at 6 p.m. The free Thursday lineup dates include:

•June 9: Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires

•June 16: Frank Turner with special guests July Talk

•June 23: Public Enemy

•June 30: Frankie Ballard

•July 7: Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa

•July 14: Shakey Graves and Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Wild Child

•July 21: The Arcs and Mariachi Flor De Toloache

•July 28: BPO "A Tribute to David Bowie"

•Aug. 4: Tritonal

•Aug. 11: Lowest of the Low and Serena Ryder

•Aug. 18: Coolio

•Aug. 25: Claypool Lennon Delirium

While the concerts are free to attend, Canalside is be offering VIP tickets again this year for $55 per concert. The VIP tickets include:

  • Three free glasses of beer/wine/pop/water with discounted drinks after the initial three.
  • Light appetizers and finger foods from our new VIP tent caterer 716 Food and Sport.
  • Private bathrooms.
  • Front of stage viewing area.
  • Access to the new, custom-built, 100-foot-by-40 foot VIP tent with seating and lawn games.
  • A souvenir 2016 free Thursday Canalside concert cup.

Ryan Coate 

Ryan Coate

"The music this summer is going to be remarkably distinct with something for everyone," said Ryan Coate, general manager of Canalside with Spectra Venue Management. "Canalside will host memorable events all summer long with visitors enjoying their favorite tracks live at our 12 consecutive free Thursdays series starting June 9, and also at the other exciting concerts announced today by our partners. It is also notable that we purposely have programmed live music every day this summer season, so music lovers can enjoy Buffalo's premier waterfront venue even more."

Also new this year, Canalside, with the help of Arts Services Initiative of Western New York and The Public weekly newspaper, will produce "The Public Choice at Canalside." For select free Thursday concerts, the community will be able to visit www.dailypublic.com and vote for which local artists they would like to see open for the national acts performing during the series.

In addition, two new musical programs will premiere at Canalside this summer: the "Buffalo Roots Series," five evenings dedicated to exploring and celebrating the diverse cultures of Buffalo's neighborhoods created with the help of The Buffalo World Music and Dance Academy and ASI; and "Cultural Connections," which will blend two varying arts and culture programs together to create a fusion experience for patrons to enjoy. Both of these programs will take place on select Fridays throughout the summer (June 10; July 1, 15; Aug. 12, 26; and Sept. 2, 9).

Canalside also will host six other ticketed concerts produced by local radio stations and promoters:

•Friday, June 17: Stage One Live presents "The Bad Boy Reunion" featuring Grammy Award-winning R&B/hip-hop artists Faith Evans, 112, Carl Thomas and Total.

•Sunday, June 19: Kiss 98.5's "Kiss the Summer Hello" featuring Meghan Trainor, Iggy Azalea, Magic!, Troye Sivan, Melanie Martinez and Jonas Blue.

•Tuesday, June 21: Twenty One Pilots "Emotional Roadshow" concert.

•Saturday, July 23: 107.7/104.7 Alternative Buffalo's "Kerfuffle" 2016 featuring Violent Femmes, AWOLNATION, Bloc Party, Coleman Hell, Death From Above 1979, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, The Moth & The Flame, PVRIS and The Strumbellas.

•Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30: Buffalo Ribfest presented by Townsquare Live Events, 93.7 WBLK the People's Station, Country 106.5 WYRK, MIX 96, 92.9 JACK-FM and Fichte Endl & Elmer Eyecare. The two-day festival features national rib vendors (Bad Wolf BBQ, Cowboys BBQ, Fine Smoke, Pork Brothers, Johnson's BBQ); local food trucks and rib vendors; and live music both days with national headliners and some local acts, too.

•Sunday, July 31: 103.3 The Edge "Edgefest" featuring Deftones and City and Colour with guests Sam Roberts Band, Joywave, Tokyo Police Club, The Joy Formidable, Best Coast and Holy White Hounds.

Nicholas Picholas 

Nicholas Picholas

Canalside, with the support of Spectra Venue Management, wants one lucky winner to have "One Epic Summer at Canalside." Running through May 19, one individual will have the chance to win two VIP tickets to all 12 Thursday Canalside concerts, plus two general admission tickets to all six ticketed shows. Any person 21 years or older can sign up to win at http://woobox.com/v93e9x.

Canalside is a growing regional destination and entertainment district, situated on 21 historic acres along downtown Buffalo's emerging waterfront on the Buffalo River. With more than 1,000 yearly events and nearly 1 million annual visitors, Canalside is fast becoming the go-to place for in- and out-of-towners of all ages to learn, play and relax. For more information, visit www.canalsidebuffalo.com.

As a subsidiary of Empire State Development, the state's chief economic development agency, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. supports and promotes the creation of infrastructure and public activities at Canalside, the Ohio Street corridor and the Outer Harbor. For more information on ECHDC, visit www.eriecanalharbor.com.

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