Canalside: Summer 2014 concert schedule announced

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. today announced a diverse lineup on Buffalo's waterfront. Thirty concerts will rock the park, including 10 free Thursday concerts and four ticketed concerts. Canalside is bringing the likes of Buffalo favorite and lead singer of the Tragically Hip, Gord Downie & The Sadies; reggae fusion artist Shaggy; neo soul/indie pop group Fitz and the Tantrums; and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring the music of Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Jackson.

"Faster and louder or slower and soulful - music is about diversity of sound and rhythm and that's also what Canalside is all about this summer season," said ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia. "We will rock it out some nights and feel the blues on others. 2014 will be the summer that has something for everyone who gets to the waterfront when mics are on and the guitars are plugged in."

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

June 12: Dj Milk, Soul Rebels, Shaggy

June 19: Conehead Buddha, moe.

June 26: July Talk, Sam Roberts Band

July 3: Boy & Bear, Hey Rosetta!, Gord Downie & The Sadies

July 10: Fitz and the Tantrums

July 17: The Oh Hellos, Lake Street Dive

July 24: Extreme

July 31: Sheila E

Aug. 7: BPO Rock Show: Earth, Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson

Aug. 14: TBD

Ticketed - concerts start at 7 p.m.

June 21: Tedeschi Trucks Band

June 27: George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Aug. 8: Girl Talk

TBD

"The best venues keep a finger on the pulse of their audience," said Ryan Coate, general manager of Canalside with Global Spectrum. "Our goal is to take this beautiful waterfront space and fill it with a wide variety of music to appeal to Buffalo music fans' multitude of tastes. Canalside is ready to stand and deliver a knockout summer schedule for Western New Yorkers."

New this year is "Music and Dance" Wednesdays, featuring live local salsa, Latin, swing and tango bands. Local dance groups will take the lead teaching the audience all the latest steps, breaking them down, then heating it up as everyone learns to put the hottest dances together to the beat of Buffalo's favorite dance bands.

Music & Dance

July 9: Swing

July 16: Tango

July 23: Ballroom

July 30: Salsa

Aug. 6: Swing

Aug.13: Tango

Aug. 20: Ballroom

Aug. 27: Salsa

Canalside will have area favorites participating in Sunday night "Battle of the Bands." Blues, alternative, lady lead bands and other categories of local bands will face off with the winner getting a chance to open for one of the big national bands.

This is how the battle will break out:

Local Favorites "Battle of the Bands"

June 8: Blues - winner opens June 21 concert

July 6: Americana - Winner opens July 17

July 13: Jazz/R&B - Winner opens July 31.

July 20: Alternative - Winner opens July 10

July 27: Lady leads - Winner opens Aug. 14

Funtime/After Dark has announced two ticketed concerts on the Outer Harbor (325 Fuhrmann Blvd.), with more to be announced.

Outer Harbor Concerts

June 9: Vampire Weekend

July 11: City and Colour with special guests Young the Giant and Tokyo Police Club

Tickets for the Outer Harbor shows are available online at ticketmaster.com and through all Ticketmaster locations in the U.S. and Canada, including Walmart locations. For reduced service fees, purchase tickets at the Town Ballroom box office (681 Main St.), and the After Dark box office (630 Elmwood Ave.). Call to charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

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 800 yearly events and nearly 1 million annual visitors, Canalside is fast becoming a go-to place for in- and out-of-towners of all ages to learn, play and relax. For more information, visit www.canalsidebuffalo.com.