When One M&T Plaza was designed, its architect envisioned the outdoor plaza becoming a gathering place for downtown Buffalo. This year, as M&T Bank’s headquarters celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Plaza Event Series will return for its 48th season and continue to fulfill the plaza’s historic intended purpose.
Plaza Event Series will feature 54 performances this summer. It starts June 12, with the season’s last performance scheduled for Aug. 25. Five new acts have been added to the lineup, and several favorites will continue their longtime streaks of Plaza Event Series appearances.
“Our 2017 theme ‘Tunes at Noon’ will serve as a helpful reminder to downtown workers and residents to join us for live music every workday at 12 p.m.,” said Keith Belanger, M&T Bank Senior Vice President and Buffalo Place Chairman. “Plaza Event Series has become Buffalo’s longest-running free concert series, and our team at M&T looks forward to organizing and hosting it every year. This year, as in previous years, we have a wide range of talented and diverse acts on our stage.”
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is again scheduled to play at the plaza. Other popular artists and bands returning this year include Beatlemagic, Terry Buchwald’s Tribute to Elvis and Boys of Summer.
The new acts to take the Plaza Event Series stage will be West of the Mark, Queen City Swing, The Trend and Joseph Michael Mahfoud. Ramblin’ Lou Family Band and Mark Mazur and The Little Big Band will continue their long-running string of annual performances for the series.
“Plaza Event Series is a great place to take your lunch break. In addition to the live music, we’ll have a rotating roster of food trucks,” Belanger added. “And even if you bring lunch from home, there are tables set up outside for you to enjoy the sunshine on our Plaza.”
M&T Bank is encouraging the public to use #PlazaEventSeries to share their photos, video and feedback on social media.
The full list of artists for the 2017 concert series is as follows:
Monday, June 12 – SuperCharger
Tuesday, June 13 – Westminster Community Charter School/Facepainters
Wednesday, June 14 – The Dreadbeats
Thursday, June 15 – Blood Money
Friday, June 16 – Total Eclipse & The Buffalo Horns
Monday, June 19 – Old School B-Boys
Tuesday, June 20 – Beatlemagic
Wednesday, June 21 – The Reminders
Thursday, June 22 – Only Humen
Friday, June 23 -Winelight
Monday, June 26 – The David DeMarie Dancers
Tuesday, June 27 – McCarthyizm
Wednesday, June 28 – Tom Stahl and The Dangerfields
Thursday, June 29 – Will Holton
Friday, June 30 – West of the Mark
Monday, July 3 – Queen City Swing
Tuesday, July 4 – No Performance – Bank Holiday
Wednesday, July 5 – The Trend
Thursday, July 6 – Urban Renewal
Friday, July 7 – Joseph Michael Mahfoud Band
Monday, July 10 – Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra
Tuesday, July 11 – Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (Note: Begins at 11:45 a.m.)
Wednesday, July 12 – Disco Duck
Thursday, July 13 – Mark Mazur and The Little Big Band
Friday, July 14 – Oldie’s But Goodies Gospel Singers
Monday, July 17 – Boys of Summer
Tuesday, July 18 – Patti Parks & Sizzlin’ Heat
Wednesday, July 19 – Unity Band
Thursday, July 20 – Dave Constantino Band
Friday, July 21 – Joyryde & The Hitmen Horns
Monday, July 24 – Widow Maker
Tuesday, July 25 – In Jest Comedy Variety Show w/ Nels Ross
Wednesday, July 26 – JJ Swing
Thursday, July 27 – NY Rockin’ Revue Band
Friday, July 28 – Caribbean Extravaganza
Monday, July 31 – Back to the Bars
Tuesday, August 1 – Colleen Williams & The Bobby Jones Trio
Wednesday, August 2 – Jim Tudini Big Band
Thursday, August 3 – The Tommy Z Band
Friday, August 4 – African American Cultural Center’s Dance & Drum Performance Company
Monday, August 7 – Bar-room Buzzards
Tuesday, August 8 – Ramblin’ Lou Family Band from WXRL Radio
Wednesday, August 9 – Doug Yeomans & The Lo Blu Flame
Thursday, August 10 – Creek Bend
Friday, August 11 – Denzel Ward & The Cool Platinum Band
Monday, August 14 – The Chicago Authority
Tuesday, August 15 – Mike Randall and Friends; Zoomobile
Wednesday, August 16 – David Kane’s Them Jazzbeards
Thursday, August 17 – The Frankfurters
Friday, August 18 – Terry Buchwald’s Tribute to Elvis
Monday, August 21 – LehrerDance
Tuesday, August 22 – Pointless Brothers
Wednesday, August 23 – Breakaway
Thursday, August 24 – Big Wheelie & The Hubcaps
Friday, August 25 – Taylor Made Jazz
For further information about the series or becoming a performer in the 2018 lineup, please call 842-5237.
