Summer concert schedule announced at Canalside

Expanded Thursday series; return of popular Battle of the Bands and Music and Dance series

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. today announced an exciting concert lineup for summer 2015 on Buffalo's waterfront. This year, ECHDC is proud to announce that, with the support of its sponsors, Canalside will have 12 free Thursday concerts - two more than last year - that run from June 4 to Aug. 20.

Canalside is bringing the likes of indie dance duo Matt and Kim to kick off the summer; progenitors of the ska punk genre, Mighty Mighty Bosstones; tribute band Get The Led Out "The American Led Zeppelin" to bring the studio recordings of one of the most successful, innovative and influential rock groups in history to life in concert; the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the city's cultural ambassador, featuring the music of Stevie Wonder; and the Real Funky Divas, R&B girl group EnVogue to close the season. Also on the docket this year is the continuation of the popular "Battle of the Bands" and "Music and Dance" series.

"Our free Thursday concerts continue to be a mainstay attraction on Buffalo's waterfront, attracting thousands of people to enjoy musical extravaganzas on beautiful summer evenings," ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia said. "This year we strived for a diverse lineup that has something for everyone, young and old, and we invite everyone to Canalside to experience their favorite playlists in person."

Free Thursday lineup - concerts start at 6 p.m.

June 4: Matt and Kim with Bearstronaut and Made Violent

June 11: Arkells with Robert DeLong and Milo Greene

June 18: Everclear with Fuel and American HiFi

June 25: Spoon with July Talk

July 2: The Sheepdogs with Yonder Mountain String Band

July 9: Mighty Mighty Bosstones

July 16: The BPO "Buffalo's All-Star Tribute to Stevie Wonder"

July 23: Bad Fish "A Tribute to Sublime" and Reel Big Fish

July 30: Iron and Wine with Ben Bridwell

Aug. 6: Umphrey's McGee and Aqueous

Aug. 13: Get The Led Out "The American Led Zeppelin"

Aug. 20: En Vogue

 

Get The Led Out "The American Led Zeppelin"

All the concerts are free to attend, but Canalside will be offering VIP tickets again this year for $40 per concert. The VIP tickets include three free glasses of beer/wine with $3 beer and wine after that (water and soda are free); light appetizers and finger foods from local restaurants, including Ironworks, Templeton Landing, The Hatch, Westside Bazaar, Fat Bob's, Just Pizza and 716 Food and Sport; VIP private bathrooms; Front-of-stage viewing area; and VIP tent with seating and lawn games.

"We have dozens of concerts coming to the waterfront - rock, alternative, jam bands, blues and even the philharmonic," said Ryan Coate, general manager of Canalside with Global Spectrum. "Building on last year's success, our beautiful waterfront will be filled with a variety of music each week that is sure to appeal to all our visitors."

Also continuing this year, Canalside is producing a "Battle of the Bands" on select Fridays at 5:30 p.m. throughout the summer with local bands competing for the chance to open for national acts performing during the free Thursday series. Local bands can apply at www.CanalsideBuffalo.com. Finalists will be chosen by a team from Canalside and Arts Services Initiative of Western New York and then go on to the live "Battle of the Bands," where a panel of local music industry experts will choose one winner in each of the following categories:

• Roots & Americana Battle: opening for Sheepdogs & Yonder Mountain String Band July 2
• Jam Battle: opening for Spoon June 25
• Ska & Punk Battle: opening for Mighty Mighty Bosstones July 9
• Classic Soul Battle: opening for BPO's tribute to Stevie Wonder July 16
• Rock Battle: opening for Badfish July 23
• Alternative Battle: opening for Iron & Wine July 30
• Blues Battle: opening for Get the Led Out Aug. 13
• Hip Hop Battle: opening for En Vogue Aug. 20

Another continued and expanded feature this summer is the Canalside Concerts "Music and Dance Series," where local instructors will teach dancing basics to novice dancers. After a 45-minute lesson, everyone will join together to dance to two half-hour sets of live music. Last year, The Canalside Concert "Music and Dance Series" held eight sessions. This year, due to its past popularity, Canalside will hold 14 Wednesday night sessions from June 2 through Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. and feature:

• Salsa
• Swing
• Ballroom foxtrot
• Ballroom waltz
• Argentine tango
• Merengue
• Charleston
• Country two-step
• Country line dance

That's not all though. Entercom and "Kiss" 98.5 will bring back "Kiss the Summer Hello" Saturday, May 30. This year's lineup includes Flo Rida, R5, Cash Cash, Cody Simpson, Natalie La Rose, Sheppard, LunchMoney Lewis and Jordin Sparks. Also, returning, on Saturday, July 25, is Alternative Buffalo 107.7's Kerfuffle. This year's lineup features Cake, The Airborne Toxic Event, Civil Twilight, Cold War Kids, The Gaslight Anthem, In The Valley Below, The Mowgli's, New Politics and Saint Motel

About Canalside

Canalside is a growing regional destination and entertainment district, situated on 21 historic acres along downtown Buffalo's emerging waterfront on the Buffalo River. Canalside earns its name from its storied past, when the Erie Canal Harbor was built in 1825 as the western terminus of the Erie Canal. Until five years ago, the land was barren and inaccessible, but the area has been reclaimed by the state's Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. and developed with millions of dollars in public and private investment. With more than 1,000 yearly events and nearly 1 million annual visitors,

For more information, visit www.canalsidebuffalo.com.

About Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation

A nine-member board consisting of seven voting directors and two non-voting, ex-officio directors governs ECHDC. The seven voting directors are recommended by the New York state governor and are appointed by the New York State Urban Development Corp. d/b/a Empire State Development as sole shareholder of ECHDC. The Erie County executive and the City of Buffalo mayor hold the two nonvoting, ex-officio director positions.

As a subsidiary of Empire State Development, the state's chief economic development agency, the ECHDC supports and promotes the creation of infrastructure and public activities at Canalside, the Ohio Street corridor and the Outer Harbor to attract critical mass, private investment and enhance the enjoyment of the waterfront for residents and tourists in Western New York.

For more information on ECHDC, visit www.eriecanalharbor.com.

Watch a teaser video of these acts.