When Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center celebrated the recent restoration of Schoellkopf Park, hospital officials promised it would be a centerpiece of community activity.

The Sanborn Band will be performing a concert of summer classic favorites at the Wilson Historical Society Grounds, 645 Lake St., Wilson, at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24.

T.J. Insana and Niagara Falls' own Tempest will reunite for one night only to celebrate Theresa Insana's life and to better the lives of two college-bound Niagara Falls High School students.

Local music promoter Steve Goodman (pictured) is placing the final touches on the first Lewiston Music Festival, which is set for Friday and Saturday, July 8-9, at Academy Park.

Chasing Static's Aaron Masters (an Islander) and Steve Rausche performed recently at a special open mic night at Hops-N-Vines in Lewiston.

One of the only U.S. stops on their tour, The Trews roll into Artpark to perform at the free "Coors Light Wednesdays" series on July 6.

Grand Island's David Nolf, a talented, up-and-coming singer, will open the July 5 "Tuesday in the Park" concert at Artpark at 6:30 p.m. The headliner is 1980s pop-rock star Pat Benatar and her husband, Neil Giraldo.

Oh, this just keeps getting better!

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo top off the Fourth of July holiday weekend by headlining "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" at Artpark on July 5. The free concert kicks off with the Niagara Falls Air Base special opening ceremony, which will include a color guard, the national anthem, and a special flyover of the air base's C130 aircraft at 6 p.m.

The Historic Riviera Theatre presents a trio of '80s musical acts this summer.

The Lewiston Council on the Arts will once again be presenting plenty of free, great music this summer with Blue Mondays, the "Summer of '69," and the Lewiston Jazz Project.

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of the legendary band Run DMC was just announced as the opening act for headliner Our Lady Peace at the Hard Rock Café "Saturdays at the Falls" concert series on July 2.

So, as the story goes, L.A.-based recording artist and Grand Island native Stacy Clark was back in town on Tuesday, and wanted to check out Creedence Clearwater Revisited at her favorite venue, Artpark. Once there, she bumped into some friends, Mike and Mia, who suggested they all hang out post-concert at Lewiston's newest establishment, Hops-N-Vines.

Theatre in the Mist Inc. presents its first "Beer Blast" fundraiser on Sunday, June 26, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Banchetti by Rizzo's, 550 N. French Road, Amherst.

When it comes to Creedence Clearwater Revival, it's hard to say which numbers are more impressive: the band's 12 Billboard Top 10 singles amassed over a three-year span, or its four generations of fans over a 44-year (and counting) career.

The Ransomville "Free Concerts in the Country" 2011 series kicks off on Thursday, June 30, with an award-winning local high school rock band, Brass Monkeez. The eight-week free concert series takes place at the William J. McLaughlin Free Library Gazebo at 3733 Ransomville Road every Thursday at 7 p.m. from June 30 through Aug. 25 with the July 14 concert changing venues for one date only to Porter on the Lake Park.

David Sedaris will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Center for the Arts - University at Buffalo.

Another electrifying season of Western New York's favorite free outdoor concert series is finally here. The award-winning "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" starts Tuesday, June 14, with heavy-metal pioneers Blue Oyster Cult taking the Amphitheater stage.

Village concert promoter Steve Goodman is coordinating the first Lewiston Musical Festival, an event that will feature local chefs and merchants providing their goods to a backdrop of music from some of Western New York's top bands. The event is set for Friday and Saturday, July 8-9, at Academy Park.

On the eve of the summer concert season, Artpark has announced one more special event for 2011. Canada's The Sam Roberts Band will hit the Mainstage Theater for a headlining performance on Friday, Sept. 2. Tickets ($40 and $30) go on sale Saturday, June 11, at 10 a.m.

Free Henry! headlines Artpark's official summer concert kick off Monday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the Outdoor Amphitheater. The free "Rock the Park" concert will also feature Aqueous and The Little Mountain Band as openers. Free Henry! nabbed the No. 1 spot in Artpark's "Rock the Park" local band contest that was held on the venue's website for the duration of summer 2010.

"Weird Al" Yankovic, the biggest selling comedy recording artist of all time, performs Wednesday, July 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo.

The Historic Riviera Theatre presents "Yesterday - A Tribute to the Beatles" on Friday, June 3, at 8 p.m. for one performance only.

The Historic Riviera Theatre presents "The Fabulous Fifties" featuring the Latshaw Pops Orchestra for one performance only on Monday, June 13, at 2 p.m.

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Keb' Mo's music is a living link to the seminal Delta blues that traveled up the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America before evolving into a universally celebrated art form. His distinctive sound embraces multiple eras and genres, including pop, rock, folk and jazz. The spirit of blues godfather Robert Johnson also dwells in his work.

Catch Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto with special guests New Riot and Rodeo Ruby Love on Friday, Aug. 12, at The Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls.

The Historic Riviera Theatre presents the legendary Engelbert Humperdinck on Monday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. for one performance only.

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones return to the University at Buffalo's Center for the Arts, this time with the original line-up. They are touring in support of their new album, "Rocket Science." The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3.

Year two of the Hard Rock Café's "Saturdays at the Falls" concert series will begin with a bang as Toronto's Our Lady Peace headlines a Canada Day weekend show July 2. The event begins with performances by a trio of top Western New York bands in Son Of The Sun, Klear and Agent Me, and ends with fireworks, courtesy of the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel.

It wasn't immediately obvious what John McCrea was getting at.

From flaming lips to laser lights, tower-climbing rockers to Elvis impersonators, Artpark has offered a vast assortment of entertainment options in recent years. But the Lewiston performing arts venue has never had a cat on its hind legs pushing a dog across the stage in a stroller. ... Until now.

Funtime Presents welcomes Cake to Artpark on Friday, May 20. The California rockers hit the stage at 8:15 p.m.

Jeff Martin is no stranger to Lockport, having headlined a Molson Canal Concert Series show there in 2008. But when he returns this summer, he'll have a few friends along for the ride.

The Foo Fighters have confirmed they will perform at HSBC Arena on Sept. 25 as part of the next leg of shows in their ongoing American arena headline run in support of the worldwide No. 1 album "Wasting Light" (Roswell/RCA). Special guests Rise Against and Mariachi el Bronx will be support for the show in Buffalo, which begins at 7 p.m.

A grand tradition of family-friendly entertainment is about to be revived. Niagara University Theatre's repertory troupe, N.U.R.T., will present a rotating repertoire of free children's stories outdoors in the Village of Lewiston at the Academy Park bandshell from July 18 through Aug. 26. The troupe hasn't performed on a regular basis in Lewiston since it last performed at Artpark in the 1990s.

The Lewiston Choraleers, in advance of an appearance at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., will provide the local community with a preview of the group's fall performance there at three concerts scheduled for June 4 and 5.

Anthony DiMino of Tops Market of Lewiston, a longtime supporter of the Lewiston Council on the Arts, recently made a generous contribution toward the many free summer concerts presented by LCA.

First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston hosts the Grammy-nominated Blackwood Gospel Quartet at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, in the Old Stone Church, 505 Cayuga St. The event begins with a pulled pork dinner and basket raffle from 5 until 6:30 p.m. in the social hall.