The Big Easy in Buffalo

Tab Benoit wsg Jesse Dayton - The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series at Town Ballroom
2024-12-06 19:00 (America/New_York) | Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, Buffalo, NY, 14203, US
Tab Benoit “I Hear Thunder Tour” wsg Jesse Dayton
The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
Friday December 6
Town Ballroom
Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
Ages 12+, Minors under 16 must be accompanied by a parent
Government Issued ID Required
$35 – $65
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/46254823/tab-benoit-the-big-easy-in-buffalo-nola-series-buffalo-town-ballroom-buffalony
“Tab rarely plays the same show twice and eschews a standard setlist. He treats his shows like he treats his songs. He stretches things out and totally jams out making every night and half the time every song a bit different which adds to the entertainment and uniqueness of every night he plays.” – Splice Magazine
Tab Benoit is a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist who has built a remarkable 30+ year career on the foundation of his gritty and soulful Delta swamp blues, acquiring a devoted legion of fans along the way, as well as 5 Blues Music Awards, including BB King Entertainer of the Year (twice) and an induction into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. He has recorded and/or performed with Junior Wells, George Porter Jr, Dr. John, Willie Nelson, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Billy Joe Shaver, Maria Muldaur, James Cotton, Cyril Neville, Kenny Aronoff, Allen Toussaint, Kim Wilson, Jimmy Thackery, Charlie Musslewhite, Kenny Neal, Chris Layton, Ivan Neville, Jimmy Hall, Jim Lauderdale, Anders Osborne, and Alvin Youngblood Hart to name a few. Tab just released his first album in 13 years, “I Hear Thunder” and is touring in support of the release.
Jesse Dayton isn’t just an unsung hero of modern-day American music; he’s a towering figure in the realm of Outlaw Country, a master storyteller who effortlessly blurs the boundaries between genres and disciplines. With a career spanning multiple decades, Dayton has left an indelible mark as a chart-topping songwriter, guitar virtuoso, author, frontman, sideman, producer, and relentless road warrior. From his early days with the Road Kings, where he fearlessly melded Texas Rockabilly and Country with the raw energy of Punk Rock, Dayton has been a trailblazer. His innovative style not only earned him acclaim but also paved the way for collaborations with legends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. Over the years, Dayton’s collaborations have spanned a diverse array of artists, from blues sensation Samantha Fish—his partner on the Grammy-nominated Death Wish Blues—to icons of country like Willie Nelson and Glenn Campbell, rock rebels such as Guns ‘N Roses’ Duff McKagan and Glenn Danzig, and even visionary horror filmmakers like Rob Zombie. Yet amidst this vast spectrum of work, Dayton’s solo albums stand as a testament to his refusal to be confined by genre, earning him recognition as a roots-rock renaissance man.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, buffalo.fm, Dick & Jenny’s, Town Ballroom, and National Fuel Gas Co.

Joe Krown Trio +1 feat Papa Mali - The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series FREE Show
2024-12-12 18:00 | The Cave, 71 Military, Buffalo, NY, 14207, US
Joe Krown Trio +1 feat. Papa Mali – Songs of New Orleans and more!
The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
Thursday December 12 at The Cave, Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
FREE SHOW – optional free-will donation at the door to support The Big Easy in Buffalo
Collectively Joe Krown and Papa Mali are taking Joe’s latest release “Tribute” on the road. It is a curated collection of songs from many of New Orleans’ gifted musicians: Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, and many more. Joe showcases his piano expertise, andwith a little bit of help from his trio and his friend Papa Mali, the songs will come to life. This show is a must for all who love New Orleans music. Specifically, New Orleans piano.
Joe Krown is a resident and is based out of the city of New Orleans. He is a New Orleans style piano and Hammond B-3 player.In addition to his solo and trio work under his own leadership, he is currently touring all over the U.S. and the world as the organ/piano player for the multi award winning, chart topping Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, and was a longtime member of Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown’s band.Joe was the first-ever Big Easy in Buffalo artist, opening for Ellis Marsalis in 2007 and has been back frequently with Walter “Wolfman” Washington.
Papa Mali is a New Orleans based, American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer.He has been a touring musician and recording artist for decades. Yet, he is probably best known as the front man for 7 Walkers, a band formed in 2009 that includes three musical icons: Grateful Dead founding member and drummer Bill Kreutzmann, The Meters’ founding bassist, George Porter Jr. and lyricist Robert Hunter.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture.The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the NYS Council on the Arts, buffalo.fm, Erie Co, The Cave & Sportsmens Tavern, and National Fuel Gas Co.

Mardi Graski 4 - The Buffalo Touch & LeeRon Zydeco
2025-02-23 13:00 | Potts Banquet Hall, 41 South Rossler Ave., Buffalo, NY, US
LeeRon Zydeco & The Buffalo Touch
Mardi Graski with The Big Easy in Buffalo!
Potts Banquet Hall
Sunday February 23
1pm doors, 2pm show
$10 advance / $15 door
Advance tickets now available at Potts Deli & Grill or
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mardi-graski-4-tickets-1207921609049
Celebrate Mardi Gras, Buffalo style with local legends LeeRon Zydeco and The Buffalo Touch polka band, playing separately AND together to celebrate the season.They’ll also be joined by special musical guests Captain Tom (Cpt Tom & The Hooligans) and Kyle Yagielski (The Brass Machine). The dance floor will be open! So will the bar and restaurant, and there will be plenty of seats. Wear your best Polish or New Orleans outfits and get ready to party at The Big Easy in Buffalo’s 19th annual Mardi Gras Jam(ski)!
LEERON ZYDECO
Ron Davis aka LeeRon Zydeco is a professional musician with over fifty years of experience in recording and live performance. His credits include the Four Tops, Spencer Davis, Otis Rush, Bernard Purdie, Sean Costello, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. In 1991 he formed LeeRon Zydeco & the Hot Tamales. The band was the first in the Buffalo area to blend bluesy Cajun and Tex-Mex music into a roots sound. The group performs throughout the Eastern United States.
THE BUFFALO TOUCH
High energy, entertaining, a good time, and “plenty of dancing” is how to describe shows performed by The Buffalo Touch. This Award-Winning Polka Band performs music sure to put a smile on the face of everyone young and old alike. The Buffalo Touch has received three Grammy nominations for “Best Polka Album” and were the sole representatives of Western New York at the 45th, 46th, and 51st annual Grammy awards.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Dick & Jenny’s, National Fuel Gas Co., and Potts Banquet Hall.

The Kevin Gordon Trio & The David Miller Trio
2025-06-12 19:00 | 326 Amherst St, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14207
Sportsmens presetns
The Kevin Gordon Trio & The David Miller Trio
Thursday, June 12, 2025 7pm
$15ad($17.60w/online fee) or $20 door
“He’s amazing.” –Jim Lauderdale
“Dude’s a juke-joint professor emeritus”–Rolling Stone
Kevin Gordon’s Louisiana is a strange place. It’s a place where restless teens road trip
to where the highway dead-ends at the Gulf of Mexico; a place where prisoners who are
in for life compete in a rodeo while the town watches; where a character can get lost in
the humid afternoon and where religion may not signify hope; and where rivers, never
far away, carry secrets behind levees. “One of the things I like about it and am mystified
by is that what passes for normal in Louisiana would not make the grade elsewhere,” he
says.
The kicker? All of these postcards are based on true stories. It’s a place that he’s been
exploring for twenty years now, on the eve of the release of his astonishing new album
“Tilt And Shine” on Crowville Media. It is work that has earned him fans like noted author
and Elvis Presley biographer Peter Guralnick; New West Records artist Buddy Miller;
journalist, songwriter, and Country Music Hall of Fame staffer Peter Cooper; Todd
Snider; head of the Americana Music Association Jed Hilly; and Lucinda Williams, with
whom Kevin dueted on the song “Down To The Well” (which was featured prominently on
an Oxford American compilation).
Before you even hear his vivid lyrics, you start feeling the sound of that ’56 Gibson ES-
125 tuned down to open D, often with the tremolo flowing like a river, and an
unstoppable groove distilled from swamp blues and Sun Records. His MFA from the
University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop allows him to capture it with a degree of precision. As the New
York Times put it in its headline of a feature on Kevin, “A Musician Or A Poet? Yes to
Both.”
Kevin sums it up, “There are so many stories in north Louisiana and it’s a place that
nobody pays attention to. For me, you can feel the arc of time passing there. I’m captivated by
the power of strong memories—those films that run continuously in your mind, if you let
‘em.” With “Tilt and Shine,” those movies translate into rock n’roll poetry.

KeyBank Live at Larkin with James Andrews & The Crescent City All Stars w/the George Caldwell Trio
2025-06-18 17:00 - 20:00 | 745 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14210
Presented by The Big Easy in Buffalo, James Andrews is a vocalist, songwriter, and trumpet legend from New Orleans. He hails from a musical family, the grandson of the late Jesse “Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo” Hill and the brother of Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. A trumpeter and vocalist with a tone and voice as distinctive as Louis Armstrong, Andrews is one of the primary cultural ambassadors from the cradle of music. James and his band will be joined by special guest Black Masking Indian Spy Boy Al Polite. Opening set by Buffalo’s own George Caldwell, a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, who has toured the world with bands including the legendary Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras, playing Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Kennedy Center, The Blue Note, Montreux and Newport Jazz Festivals, to name just a few.
Admission and parking are free thanks to KeyBank and Independent Health, Food and drink available for purchase.No coolers, outside food or drinks allowed, folding chairs are welcome.

John Papa Gros Band wsg. Critt's Juke Joint - The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
2025-07-12 15:00 | The Cave, 71 Military, Buffalo, NY, 14207, US
John Papa Gros Band wsg. Critt’s Juke Joint – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA series
The Cave
Saturday July 12, 2pm doors, 3pm show
$20 advance, $25 day-of
https://www.showclix.com/event/-john-papa-gros-band-w-critt-s-juke-joint
“John ‘Papa’ Gros is a bedrock New Orleans artist, a keyboardist, singer and songwriter who draws on funk, rhythm & blues and Americana songcraft; he also knows his way around the Mardi Gras music repertoire about as well as anyone.” – Keith Spera The New Orleans Advocate
Between 2000 and 2013, Gros led Papa Grows Funk, a highly revered group that mixed hard-hitting funk grooves with often unpredictable jazz spontaneity. The band released six critically-acclaimed studio albums, including Needle in the Groove, which was co-produced by New Orleans legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Allen Toussaint. The group’s weekly gigs at the world-famous Maple Leaf became a staple for both locals and tourists alike, eventually leading to Gros touring in far off countries like Japan and Brazil.
After Papa Grows Funk dissolved, Gros briefly returned to sideman work, playing organ for a series of all-star tributes to Dr. John and the Neville Brothers. The 2014 Dr. John tribute, The Music Mojo of Dr. John, was later released as a critically-acclaimed live album that featured Gros playing with Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, and John Fogerty. More importantly for Gros, those tribute concerts allowed him to play alongside his two biggest influences: the Doctor and Art Neville, both of whom passed in 2019.
In 2016, Gros returned to the spotlight yet again with his second solo album River’s On Fire, the much anticipated follow up to his 2004 debut Day’s End. Co-produced by Gros and Tracy Freeman (Harry Connick Jr, Rebirth Brass Band, Bonerama), the album’s fiery funk rock showed how Gros had matured as both a songwriter and bandleader. It firmly established Gros’ identity as a solo force. In 2020 Gros released Central City, his third solo album. The album is a collection of classic New Orleans songs, both new and old, filtered through his decades of dedication to his craft. The album features Gros’ feel good originals alongside his takes on beloved songs by Allen Toussaint, Lloyd Price, and John Prine.
“I’m walking in the same path [as Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and Art Neville,]” explains Gros. “I’ve been following them my whole life. Now, they’re no longer in front of me. They’ve gotten off the path but the path is still very clear.”
Eric “Critt” Crittenden has over 25 years as a touring performer under his belt, sharing the stage with the likes of Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, Sinbad the Comedian, Michael Franti, G-Love & Special Sauce, Jefferson Airplane/Starship, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and so many more.
Since his birth in Buffalo, NY, Eric has been immersed in the funk and feel-good soul sound of Motown. (After all, his father played with James Brown for 13 years.) But it was in his twenties that he really discovered the organic self expression of jazz, listening to Eddie Harris, John Coltrane, and Herbie Hancock. Branching further out into rock, including the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd, completely changed his life and started him on a path to genre mixing that was accessible to everyone. “For me, in order to go forward, you have to go back,” says Eric. “I was raised with old school R&B and soul. This is who and what I am all about. But this is a new era, and music needs evolution. I’m fortunate to be able to do my part.”
As a highly respected music educator, he has conducted over a hundred master classes and edutainment performances, and has been a key force behind numerous arts education efforts in Buffalo and Western New York, including The IMAGE Urban Arts Workshop (co-sponsored by New Era Cap), the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (where he served as Arts Director), and his music camp program “Future Sounds of Buffalo.” Today, he teaches music in the public school system of Buffalo, NY, where he continues to perform and dedicate his career to the local music scene and the youth in the community.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture.The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, buffalo.fm, Goldfarb Financial, National Fuel Gas Co., and The Cave.

TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE - MIGHT NOT MAKE IT HOME TOUR w/ JJ Grey & Mofro
2025-07-17 18:00 | Artpark
Sale Dates and Times:
Public Onsale : Fri, 13 Dec 2024 at 10:00 AM
Artist Presale : Wed, 11 Dec 2024 at 10:00 AM
Artparker Member Presale : Thu, 12 Dec 2024 at 10:00 AM
Week of Show Admission : Sun, 13 Jul 2025 at 03:00 AM
GA Upgrade WOS : Sun, 13 Jul 2025 at 03:00 AM
Mother’s Day Promotion : Fri, 9 May 2025 at 10:00 AM
Father’s Day Promotion : Tue, 10 Jun 2025 at 10:00 AM
SCI audience promotion : Thu, 19 Jun 2025 at 12:15 PM
Gary Clark Jr. Audience Promotion : Wed, 25 Jun 2025 at 04:35 PM

New Orleans-Style Jazz Mass & Concert w. The Brass Machine at St. Adalbert Basilica
2025-08-09 17:00 | 212 Stanislaus St., Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14212
Come celebrate through music!St. Adalbert Basilica is proud to host a jazz concert and mass featuring Buffalo’s own New Orleans-style brass band The Brass Machine.Fr. Cole Webster will be our celebrant.
Concert – 5pm
Mass – 5:30pm
Light Reception – Immediately following
The Brass Machine is a Buffalo-based, professional touring band that has shared stages with Earth Wind & Fire, Starship, Rebirth Brass Band, John Papa Gros and many more.Brass bands play an important role in celebrations of faith in New Orleans, from church services to second lines as our faithful departed are laid to rest.The Brass Machine will share that music with us as we make a joyful noise in praise. Please join us for this special event!

Sunny Side - The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
2025-08-10 18:30 | Duende at Silo City, 85 Silo City Row, Buffalo, NY, 14203, US
Sunny Side – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
All Ages
Sunday, August 10
Show at 6:30pm
Duende at Silo City (outdoors; moved inside in case of rain)
Free (but please tip the band)
New Orleans Trad Jazz band Sunny Side returns to Buffalo for their annual trad jazz dance party!Weather-permitting, we’ll be outside with plenty of room to dance, so bring a chair as there’s limited seating (in case of rain, we’ll move inside to the bin floor upstairs).
Sunny Side, a jazz band based out of New Orleans, is heavily influenced by the music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Fats Waller, and many other early jazz legends. During the 2020/2021 quarantine, Sunny Side provided a ‘Jazz in Coliseum Square Park’ series in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans hosting a variety of live music including themselves. Many locals expressed much gratitude for the music during the challenging time. Sunny Side is planning their fifth national tour for summer 2025.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture.The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, buffaloFM, Dick & Jenny’s, Duende, and National Fuel Gas Co.

Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. wsg. Ten Cent Howl – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
2025-09-04 19:00 | Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, Buffalo, NY, 14207, US
Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. wsg. Ten Cent Howl – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Thursday September 4, 5pm doors, 7pm show
$15 advance; $20 day-of
https://www.showclix.com/event/buckwheat-zydeco-jr-wsg-ten-cent-howl
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.’s story is one of musical inheritance, hard work, and dedication to preserving the spirit of zydeco music. From a young boy learning the craft of music by ear, to becoming a Grammy-winning artist, he continues to make his mark on the world stage. With his band and his son by his side, he is ensuring that zydeco music will continue to inspire and uplift audiences for generations to come. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. was born into a musical family in Lafayette, Louisiana, a city deeply rooted in the sounds of zydeco and Creole culture. His father, Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Sr., was a legendary figure in zydeco music, and Buckwheat, Jr. was immersed in music from a young age.
Following the death of his father in 2016, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. assumed the mantle of his father’s musical legacy, continuing to lead the Ils Sont Partis Band. This band, which was originally formed by Stanley Dural, Sr., is a tribute to the vibrant tradition of zydeco and remains a vital force in spreading the genre’s infectious rhythms worldwide. Buckwheat, Jr. now performs with his father’s iconic custom monogrammed accordion and shares the stage with his son, Kyle Anthony Dural, who plays the rubboard. This family connection is deeply meaningful to Buckwheat, Jr., who reflects, “Everywhere I go, my son is on my right. It really is a blessing.”
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.’s career has been marked by significant milestones, both alongside his father and as a solo artist. He shared the stage with some of the most renowned figures in music, including Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Dwight Yoakam, and Los Lobos, to name a few. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and The Ils Sont Partis Band won the 2024 Best Regional Roots Music Album – New Beginnings award at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards, and also in 2024 got inducted at the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Ten Cent Howl has been making waves in the Buffalo Americana scene for over two decades with their original music. The Howl is known for their riveting original songs as well as their extensive catalogue of cover songs ranging from folk to roots to country to classic rock. Ten Cent Howl can make you dance, sing, laugh and cry with their tremendous musicianship, craftsmanship, and harmony. “Sounding like they come from a simpler time, unspoiled by the marvels of modern technology, Ten Cent Howl offers a refreshing glimpse into rural American living through their vacillatingly uplifting and melancholy songs, many of which are about love lost and found.” – Amy Lieberman – NYSMusic.com
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, buffalo.fm, Goldfarb Financial, National Fuel Gas Co., Dick & Jenny’s, and Sportsmen’s Tavern.

Borderland Festival 2025
2025-09-12 12:00 - 2025-09-14 21:00 | Knox Farm State Park
Borderland Festival returns to Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, NY on September 12-14. We’re back with Vampire Weekend, Khruangbin, Mt. Joy, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and many more gracing the beautiful Borderland stages for WNY’s biggest end-of-summer music festival. Enjoy, craft beverages, local art, regional fare and much more on the Borderland this September!
GA & VIP passes are now on sale at borderlandfestival.com.
Sign-up for our newsletter and texts to stay in touch here: https://laylo.com/borderlandfesttival

Help us get a grant by sending a text!
2025-09-15 12:00 | Buffalo, NY
Hey y’all, The Big Easy in Buffalo, with the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy, are competing for a Levitt Music Series grant for $120K over three years to bring MORE FREE concerts to Buffalo—and we need your help to get out the vote!
Public voting runs from NOW through SEPT 15 (8 pm ET).
It’s quick and easy for people to vote:
Text BUFFALO to 877-409-5525
Or visit https://levitt.org/vote
And please share this with all your friends, colleagues, etc!
Strong community support will help show the Levitt Foundation that Buffalo is ready to bring our community together and host free, high-quality live music in Ralph Wilson Park beginning next year, and part of those free shows will be some great NOLA artists brought to you by The Big Easy in Buffalo!

Buffalo Bully Brass Band Bflo-NOLA Tailgate Party
2025-09-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Wayland Brewing
Well of course The Big Easy in Buffalo has to celebrate when Buffalo and New Orleans are coming together on the football field!Join us for a free tailgate the night before at Wayland Brewing with Buffalo Bully Brass Band.Then, if you’re headed to the game, catch The Brass Machine on the Billevard as part of the official pre-game party.Our worlds collide!
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, buffalo.fm, Goldfarb Financial, National Fuel Gas Co., Dick & Jenny’s, and Sportsmen’s Tavern.

Split Club Party
2025-10-04 12:00 - 16:00 | Dick and Jenny’s
Please join The Big Easy in Buffalo for an afternoon of good food, good music, good libations, and a chance to win one of 25 prizes – it’s our first-ever SPLIT CLUB PARTY!
CASH PRIZES OF $1,000 / $500 / $500 / $250 / $150 / $100
19 Additional Prizes – Gift Cards, Spirits, and More
ONLY 75 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD
No Repeat Winners – 1 of 3 WILL win a prize!
(winners need not be present)
Donation of $100 gets you entry into the raffle, NOLA-style food, two drinks, live music from Joe Bellanti of Organ Fairchild, and the chance to help us bring some of Louisiana’s finest bands to town for free and low-cost shows and to work with local professional and student musicians.
Tickets are available at venmo @The-Big-Easy-In-Buffalo , atwww.thebigeasyinbuffalo.org, by emailing thebigeasyinbuffalo@gmail.com, or calling 716-912-8236.

Sally Baby's Silver Dollars at Folkfaces Fest!
2025-10-04 23:30 | Cherry Hill Campground, 1516 Sumner Rd, Darien Center, NY, 14040, US
The Big Easy in Buffalo presents Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars direct from New Orleans as part of the Folkfaces Fest lineup!SBSD plays at 11:30pm on Saturday October 4, but check out the entire four-day lineup of this great festival!
Folkfaces Fest 9
October 2nd-5th 2025
Cherry Hill Campground Darien Center, NY
4 days of music, camping, workshops, vendors, and more!
📣FOLKFACES FEST 9📣
☁️🐈 LINEUP IS HERE🐈☁️
We’re so thrilled to announce another year of Folkfaces Fest! Can’t believe it’s been 9 years! Can’t wait to gather with all our friends and celebrate in the woods! Music, dancing, art & community! We’ve got an incredibly special lineup of curated artists from all over the country and beyond!
The theme is “Felines & Cloud 9” (cats & clouds). Start thinking about that costume! Workshops schedule, activities & more coming soon!
Folkfaces x2
The Tillers
Sally Babys Silver Dollars
The Flying Clouds of South Carolina
Red Elvises
Showman & Coole (of Lonesome Ace Stringband)
Trombone Charlotte (artist at large)
Martha Spencer
Meredith Moon
Uncle Ben’s Remedy
Bosko Baker
Hobo Gadget Junk Band
Johanna Rose
The Vaudevillian
Flying Object
Whitford Klyma Band
Funknut
Moon Hollow
Melanie Beth Curran
Personal Blend
Cast Iron Cowboys
Candy
Sousaphunk
Family Funktion Sitar Jams
Leah Ou & Alyssa Rodriguez
Buffalo Choro
Slyboots Circus
The Traveling Pianist
Shaun Jones
Benjamin Richard
Kody & Herron
Sweet Degenerates
Perry Gordon
Songwriters:
Oscar Fargnoli
Katie Mangiamele
Maria Sebastian
Ben Perello
Sponsored by:
Slyboots School of Music, Dance & Art
Art By Joeski
Jack Rabbit
Captain Tom & the Hooligans
Buffalo Friends of Folk Music
Bop Shop Records
Tupelo Honey Spa LLC
Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation
Old World Warblers
Allentown Music
Paul Fancher
Lavender Haze Collective
42 North Brewing Company
Bernunzio’s Uptown Music
Shianne Waxing Studio
The Big Easy In Buffalo
The Fretted Buffalo
Legacy Sport Fishing
ANITHS
Hans Neilson
Nietzsches
House of Charm
Joanie Conti
Tickets on sale now:
https://theticketing.co/e/folkfacesfest9
Book camping at cherryhillcamp.com
Theme:
Felines & Cloud 9
Vendors:
Want to vend at Folkfaces Fest 9? Please email Candace at Clain117@yahoo.com & put “Folkfaces Fest vendor” in the subject line.
Sponsorship opportunities:
Email us at folkfacesmusic@gmail.com
Description:
Folkfaces Fest is a living growing grassroots style music festival thrown by Tyler Westcott & his band Folkfaces. The fest is rapidly approaching its 9th year! This year the festival date is set for October 2nd-5th. The festival takes place at Cherry Hill Campground in Darien Center, NY (40 minutes from Buffalo, about an hour from Rochester). Located directly across the road from Six Flags Darien Lake Amusement Park.
About Cherry Hill Campground:
This well manicured campground has 50 campsites scattered throughout its 63 acres. Each with their own picnic table and fire ring. A few unfurnished barebones cabins. A bathhouse with 6 flush toilets and two showers, coin operated laundry and vending machines. There are numerous spigots with potable water spread throughout the festival grounds. A camp store with all your camping supply needs, snacks, drinks and more. Located directly across the road from Six Flags Darien Lake Amusement Park. Which creates a unique backdrop for incredible sunsets with a rollercoaster skyline!
Stages:
The festival has three areas for performances: The Greystone Stage (main stage), The Gage Stage (side woods stage), and the Slyboots Tent (a large circus tent for performance, workshops, activities and more).
Artists village & food vendors:
We host food vendors of all varieties. We try our best to have a range of healthy options as well as standard fair fare. We include many art and craft vendors. We are always seeking more vendors to add to our food court and artist village. You are welcome to bring your own food and drinks as well.
Other activities:
It’s a theme party! (Past themes include sci-fi, denim, hot dogs). Costumes, festive attire and decorations encouraged. We host a yearly film fest, midnight movies, square dance, costume contest, raffles, art installations, a paint wall, mycology foray, & workshops with artists (past workshops have included swing dancing, zydeco dancing, songwriting, singing saw, harmonica, guitar, bass, fiddle, banjo, spoons, washboard, novelty instruments, New York State fiddle tunes). There’s also a volleyball net, tetherball, horseshoe pits as well as hiking trails.
Musicians:
At Folkfaces Fest we curate unique national and regional acts mostly of the roots music or world music variety. Over the last half a decade we have hosted many notable performers including Grammy award winning co-founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops Dom Flemons “the American Songster”, Pete Bernhard of the Devil Makes Three, the father of modern Bluegrass Tony Trischka, champion fiddler & ragtime banjoist Aaron Jonah Lewis, Viral YouTube sensation Abby the Spoon Lady, folk music hero Bruce Molsky, Psychedelic prog rockers Consider the Source, ragtime blues guitarist Andy Cohen, Kentucky Colonel and front man of the Legendary Shack Shakers -JD Wilkes, Texas based dirty old one man band: Scott H. Biram, Nashville based slide guitarist and songwriter Cristina Vane, African drum and dance troupe Slyboots Circus, Innovative folk duo Richie Stearns & Rosie Newton, freak folk legend Baby Gramps, New Orleans tenor banjoist Hunter Burgamy, Australian folk singer Archer, Ashevilles’ The Resonant Rogues, Alabamas own Steel City Jug Slammers, Boston area Trad Jazz outfit Annie & the Furtrappers, many many others…
We have built a beautiful community over the years and we hope you will join us this year and see what Folkfaces Fest is all about!

Joe Krown Trio +1 feat Papa Mali wsg "Busted on Bourbon St" - The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
2025-10-10 20:00 | The Cave, 71 Military, Buffalo, NY, 14207, US
Joe Krown Trio +1 feat. Papa Mali wsg. “Busted on Bourbon St.” feat. members of Organ Fairchild & The Brass Machine – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
The Cave
Friday October 10, 7pm doors, 8pm show
$15 advance; $20 day-of
“Joe has the New Orleans piano style nailed, as the presence of Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and James Booker are everywhere throughout this recording.” Blues Blast Magazine
Collectively Joe Krown and Papa Mali are taking Joe’s latest release “Tribute” on the road. It is a curated collection of songs from many of New Orleans’ gifted musicians: Allen Toussaint, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, and many more.Joe showcases his piano expertise while showcasing the plethora of friends who joined him in making this release a true work of art. With a little bit of help from his friend, Papa Mali, the songs will come to life. This show is a must for all who love New Orleans music. Specifically, New Orleans piano.Joe currently tours the world as a member of the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, and has previously been bandmates with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Walter “Wolfman” Washington.Papa Mali is best known as the frontman of 7 Walkers, a band formed in 2009 that includes three musical icons: Grateful Dead founding member and drummer Bill Kreutzmann, The Meters’ founding bassist, George Porter Jr. and lyricist Robert Hunter.
“Busted on Bourbon St.”, featuring members of Organ Fairchild and The Brass Machine, turns the Grateful Dead songbook into a brassy, funky New Orleans jam.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Erie County Legislator Michael Kooshoian, Buffalo.FM, Goldfarb Financial, National Fuel Gas Co., Dick & Jenny’s, and The Cave.

Rebirth Brass Band wsg. The Brass Machine – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
2025-11-05 19:00 | Nietzsche’s
Rebirth Brass Band wsg. The Brass Machine – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
Nietzsche’s (248 Allen St. Buffalo)
Wednesday November 5 – 7pm doors, 8pm show
$15 advance; $20 day-of
https://rebirth-buffalo.eventbrite.com
“Just saw THE REBIRTH BRASS BAND, unbelievable. Hard as hell, free as a ray of light, there is not a band on earth that is better. Stunning.” – Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
For nearly four decades, The Rebirth Brass Band has redefined what it means to bring the vibrant spirit of New Orleans music to the world. Founded in 1983 by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier along with their friend Kermit Ruffins, the band quickly became a sensation, blending the traditional brass sounds of the Big Easy with modern funk, jazz, soul, and hip-hop influences. What began as a group of high school musicians performing on the streets of New Orleans has now evolved into a world-renowned musical force.
From their earliest gigs at the now-legendary Maple Leaf Bar to Grammy Award-winning recordings, The Rebirth Brass Band continues to push the boundaries of brass music. In 2012, the band received the Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album for Rebirth of New Orleans, solidifying their place as both guardians of tradition and pioneers of innovation.
Their sound is a seamless blend of second-line rhythms and energetic brass arrangements that resonate with audiences young and old. Whether performing at Mardi Gras parades, festivals like Jazz Fest, or on international stages, The Rebirth Brass Band brings an unmatched energy that compels every listener to dance.
The Brass Machine lays down funky New Orleans-style street beats. Formed in 2014 at the University at Buffalo, The Brass Machine provides a unique blend of jazz, funk, and R&B, all in an infectious and energetic brass-y package. Having performed alongside national acts such as Earth, Wind, and Fire, Starship, The Soul Rebels, Rebirth Brass Band, Bonerama, John Papa Gros, CJ Chenier and more – The Brass Machine is hittin’ the streets HARD. Led by frontman “Kidd” Kyle Yagielski, the group has been named the best FUNK BAND in Western New York three years in a row by JazzBuffalo. If you want to hear music that’s good for your souls and soles, come party with The Brass Machine!
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Erie County Legislator Michael Kooshoian, Buffalo.FM, Goldfarb Financial, National Fuel Gas Co., Dick & Jenny’s, and The Cave.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Creole Christmas
2025-12-06 20:00 | 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14222
The Performing Arts Center welcomes New Orleans jazz legends, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, on Saturday, December 6 at 8 p.m. Originally founded by New Orleans tuba player Allan Jaffre in the early 1960s, Preservation Hall Jazz Band has performed with award-winning jazz musicians for more than 60 years. In 2006, the band was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence. Celebrate the season as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band returns with its Creole Christmas concert, full of New Orleans classics and beloved holiday selections with a twist.

LeeRon Zydeco & The Buffalo Touch - Mardi Graski 5!
2026-02-15 14:00 | Potts Banquet Hall, 41 South Rossler Ave., Buffalo, NY, US
The Buffalo Touch & LeeRon Zydeco – Mardi Graski 5
The Big Easy in Buffalo
Potts Banquet Hall
Sunday February 15
1pm doors, 2pm show
$12 advance / $15 door
Reserved table of 10 for $100.
Advance tickets now available at Potts Deli & Grill or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mardi-graski-5-tickets-1980233866802
Celebrate Mardi Gras, Buffalo style with local legends LeeRon Zydeco and The Buffalo Touch polka band, playing separately AND together to celebrate the season. They’ll also be joined by special musical guests Captain Tom (Cpt Tom & The Hooligans) and Kidd Kyle (The Brass Machine). The dance floor will be open! So will the bar and restaurant, and there will be plenty of seats. Wear your best Polish or New Orleans outfits and get ready to party!
LEERON ZYDECO
Ron Davis aka LeeRon Zydeco is a professional musician with over fifty years of experience in recording and live performance. His credits include the Four Tops, Spencer Davis, Otis Rush, Bernard Purdie, Sean Costello, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. In 1991 he formed LeeRon Zydeco & the Hot Tamales. The band was the first in the Buffalo area to blend bluesy Cajun and Tex-Mex music into a roots sound. The group performs throughout the Eastern United States.
THE BUFFALO TOUCH
High energy, entertaining, a good time, and “plenty of dancing” is how to describe shows performed by The Buffalo Touch. This Award-Winning Polka Band performs music sure to put a smile on the face of everyone young and old alike. The Buffalo Touch has received three Grammy nominations for “Best Polka Album” and were the sole representatives of Western New York at the 45th, 46th, and 51st annual Grammy awards.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Buffalo.FM, National Fuel, Dick & Jenny’s,and Potts Banquet Hall.

CJ Chenier wsg Banjo Juice Jazz Band - 19th Annual Mardi Gras Jam
2026-02-20 20:00 | Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, Buffalo, NY, 14207, US
C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band wsg. Banjo Juice Jazz Band – The Big Easy in Buffalo 19th Annual Mardi Gras Jam
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Friday February 20
6pm doors, 8pm show
$20 advance, $25 day-of
https://www.showclix.com/event/c-j-chenier-the-red-hot-louisiana-band
C.J. Chenier, a Creole born and raised in an indigenous American culture with its distinct language, cuisine and music, delivers a soulful vocal and accordion! Chenier, a GRAMMY® nominated world renowned musician and recording artist, has performed alongside many internationally recognized artists including his GRAMMY® awarded father, Clifton Chenier “The King of Zydeco”, Paul Simon, Joe Sample and Ray Parker, Jr., The Gin Blossoms, and John Mayall. He has appeared on the Jon Stewart Show, CNN and was featured on VH1 and Entertainment Weekly. C.J. has exhibited his musicianship at many large festival venues such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival and Austin’s SxSW Music Conference. In addition to a GRAMMY® award nomination in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category, C.J. has received many major awards inclusive of the Living Blues Critics’ Poll Award, Indie Award (from AFIM) for Best Zydeco Album, Coups de Coeur (Blows of Heart) Blues Category Award from l’Académie Charles Cros (France) and Best of the Beat Best Zydeco Album (Offbeat Magazine).
Banjo Juice Jazz Band: Call it what you want! “Hot jazz” or “Trad jazz” or “New Orleans jazz” or just “Jass”. It’s just fun music. It makes you dance, cry, laugh, and hopefully feel something. It’s raw, organic and infectiously joyful or melancholy. This supergroup is made up of recognizable musicians from various bands throughout Western New York with a shared love of those old-timey songs from way back when, led by Vocalist, Banjoist, & Guitarist Tyler Westcott (of Folkfaces).
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Buffalo.FM, National Fuel, Dick & Jenny’s, and Sportsmen’s Tavern.

The Travesties & Canela - The Big Easy in Buffalo Local Series
2026-04-30 19:00 | Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, Buffalo, NY, 14207, US
The Travesties & Canela
The Big Easy in Buffalo Local series
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Thursday April 30, 5pm doors, 7pm show
$15
https://www.showclix.com/event/-the-travesties-canela
The Travesties (garage folk) & Canela (tango/string quartet), performing separately and together. Sally (of The Travesties) will be writing a string quartet arrangement for a Travesties original song and Vanessa (of Canela) will be writing a full rock band arrangement for a Canela original – to be performed by both bands together!
Buffalo-based folk rock band THE TRAVESTIES breathe fire into folk songs old and new, including a treasure trove of Americana and Irish music. Songwriter Tyler Bagwell is a historian with a busker’s voice in search of couplets within the notion that “history rhymes.” Fiddler Sally Schaefer is an ethnomusicologist with wide-ranging folk and traditional music interests. Together, with bassist Patrick Jackson of Folkfaces and drummer Marc Smith of BTPM The Bridge, they invent and reinvent songs highlighting events, people, and places of local and national note.
CANELA is not your ordinary quartet. Augmented by bass and percussion, we take a fresh look at what a string ensemble can accomplish and communicate when traditional boundaries of genre and style are reimagined.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Erie County Legislator Michael Kooshoian, Buffalo.FM, Dick & Jenny’s, National Fuel Gas Co., and Sportsmen’s Tavern.
Cover poster by S Schaefer, featuring public domain art “The Old Violin” by John Frederick Peto (c. 1890).

DSP Shows presents An Evening with Andrew Duhon: Stop Motion Tour
2026-05-19 20:00 - 23:00 | 341 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14202
DSP Shows presents An Evening with Andrew Duhon live in The 9th Ward in collaboration with The Big Easy in Buffalo
7pm Doors, 8pm Show
Tickets: On sale Fri 3/13 @10am EST.General Admission Seated: $30 advance, $35 day of show at TixR.com (online convenience fees will apply) or in person at the Babeville Box Office M-F 11a-5p (in person: fee free cash sales, 3% credit/debit card fee)Born, raised, shaped, and inspired by his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, Andrew Duhon tours performing songs that are as much about recognizing our shared stories as they are about telling his own. Rounding out the touring trioare two of his most trusted collaborators—Myles Weeks (James Hunter Six, Eric Lindell) on bass and Jim Kolacek (Feufollett) on drums.
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Blending the gritty, bluesy, folksy, country sounds of his home with the experience of traversing the country and immersing himself in the broad array of cultures across the American landscape, Andrew’s music creates real connection between former strangers through song. As he puts it, “When a song written by a stranger heals you, even in the smallest way, that’s a connection beyond entertainment.”
Andrew has shared stages with Guster, Blind Pilot, and Amos Lee, among others, and has performed at major festivals across the US including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Milwaukee Summerfest, Bonnaroo, and Americanafest. His music has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, Jam In The Van, Meat Church, as well as in Glide Magazine, No Depression, and American Songwriter.

John Papa Gros Band w. The Brass Machine @ Town Ballroom The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA series
2026-06-05 20:00 - 23:55 | Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, Buffalo, NY, 14203, US
John Papa Gros Band w. The Brass Bachine
The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA series
Town Ballroom
Friday June 5, 7pm doors, 8pm show
General admission, seating and standing room
$20 advance, $25 day-of
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/45421266/john-papa-gros-band-buffalo-town-ballroom-buffalony
“John ‘Papa’ Gros is a bedrock New Orleans artist, a keyboardist, singer and songwriter who draws on funk, rhythm & blues and Americana songcraft; he also knows his way around the Mardi Gras music repertoire about as well as anyone.” – Keith Spera The New Orleans Advocate
Between 2000 and 2013, Gros led Papa Grows Funk, a highly revered group that mixed hard-hitting funk grooves with often unpredictable jazz spontaneity. The band released six critically-acclaimed studio albums. The group’s weekly gigs at the world-famous Maple Leaf became a staple for both locals and tourists alike, eventually leading to Gros touring in far off countries like Japan and Brazil.
After Papa Grows Funk dissolved, Gros briefly returned to sideman work, playing organ for a series of all-star tributes to Dr. John and the Neville Brothers. The 2014 Dr. John tribute, The Music Mojo of Dr. John, was later released as a critically-acclaimed live album that featured Gros playing with Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, and John Fogerty. More importantly for Gros, those tribute concerts allowed him to play alongside his two biggest influences: the Doctor and Art Neville, both of whom passed in 2019.
Turning his attention back to being a bandleader, John has now released four albums, including this year’s “Giants” which pays tribute to some of his main musical influences. “I’m walking in the same path [as Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and Art Neville,]” explains Gros. “I’ve been following them my whole life. Now, they’re no longer in front of me. They’ve gotten off the path but the path is still very clear.”
The Brass Machine lays down funky New Orleans-style street beats. Formed in 2014 at the University at Buffalo, The Brass Machine provides a unique blend of jazz, funk, and R&B, all in an infectious and energetic brass-y package. Having performed alongside national acts such as Earth, Wind, and Fire, Starship, The Soul Rebels, Rebirth Brass Band, Bonerama, John Papa Gros, CJ Chenier and more – The Brass Machine is hittin’ the streets HARD. Led by frontman “Kidd” Kyle Yagielski, the group has been named the best FUNK BAND in Western New York three years in a row by JazzBuffalo. If you want to hear music that’s good for your souls and soles, come party with The Brass Machine!
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Erie County Legislator Michael Kooshoian, Cullen Foundation, buffalo.fm, Dick & Jenny’s, Town Ballroom, and National Fuel Gas Co.

New Orleans Jazz Mass and Concert
2026-06-13 16:30 | 212 Stanislaus St., Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14212
Come celebrate through music! St. Adalbert Basilica is proud to host a jazz concert and mass featuring Buffalo’s own New Orleans-style brass band The Brass Machine featuring vocalist Lindsey Holland. Fr. Cole Webster will be our celebrant.
Concert – 4:45pm featuring New Orleans secular & sacred music.
Mass – 5:30pm featuring New Orleans songs of praise.
Second Line and Light Reception – Immediately following
Brass bands play an important role in celebrations of faith in New Orleans, from church services to second lines as our faithful departed are laid to rest. The Brass Machine will share that music with us as we make a joyful noise in praise. Please join us for this special event, presented with support from Friends of St. Adalbert Basilica and The Big Easy in Buffalo.
The Brass Machine is a Buffalo-based, professional touring band that has shared stages with Earth Wind & Fire, Starship, Rebirth Brass Band, John Papa Gros and many more.

The Brass Machine Jazz Mass @ St. Adalbert Basilica
2026-06-13 16:45 - 18:00 | Saint Adalbert Basilica
This Saturday, we’re so exciting to be working with the Saint Adalbert Basilica & The Big Easy in Buffalo for a New Orleans Jazz Mass!⚜️
…join us at 4:45pm for a taste of New Orleans Jazz & Brass!❤️

KeyBank Live at Larkin ft. Bonerama with Buffalo Bully Brass presented by Big Easy in Buffalo
2026-06-17 17:00 - 20:00 | 745 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14210
Enjoy live music along with a curated selection of food offerings. Admission and parking are free thanks to presenting sponsor KeyBank and sponsor Independent Health.
Bonerama is a New Orleans-based band that fuses everything that has made that city’s music famous into a genre defying gumbo. The band has taken the best elements of rock, soul, fusion, pop, jazz, funk, brass, gospel and blues to forge its unique sound. With opening support from a mix of Afrobeat, New Orleans jazz, funk and hip-hop in Buffalo Bully Brass.

The Big Easy in Buffalo presents: The Soul Rebels & Honey Island Swamp Band
2026-06-18 17:00 - 20:00 | 20 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, United States, New York 14202
Buffalo Place will produce the free outdoor summer series, Thursday & Main, weekly from June 4th through July 30, 2026 in Downtown Buffalo at Fountain Plaza. Thursday & Main is presented by M&T Bank.
On Thursday, June 18th the series shifts into high gear as our partner, The Big Easy in Buffalo, takes us down to New Orleans for an electrifying night of “swamp and soul,” featuring The Soul Rebels and Honey Island Swamp Band. Hailing from New Orleans, The Soul Rebels have redefined the modern brass ensemble by blending elements of funk, jazz, hip-hop, and soul into their unmistakable sound. Known for their high-energy performances and innovative approach, the group has built an international reputation for turning every show into a full-scale dance party. Honey Island Swamp Band complements the evening with a rich mix of Southern rock, Americana, and swampy grooves, creating a layered and immersive musical experience. “As The Big Easy in Buffalo marks our 20th season of bringing the best in Louisiana music to Western New York, we’re thrilled to be part of the 10th annual Thursday & Main series for this free community celebration,” said Big Easy in Buffalo Director Tod Kniazuk. “Thanks to Buffalo Place for letting us join the party!”
Thursday & Main is made possible with the generous support of our official sponsor family. The series is presented by M&T Bank and supported by Big Ditch Brewing Company, Iroquois Construction Services, Katz Americas, Lawley, National Grid, Premium Parking, The Buffalo News, Try-It Distributing, VanDette Law, WKBW-TV 7, and Yuengling.

Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. w. Yellow Jack – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
2026-08-13 19:00 | Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, Buffalo, NY, 14207, US
Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. w. Yellow Jack – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Thursday August 13, 5pm doors, 7pm show
$15 advance; $20 day-of
https://events.leapevents.com/event/buckwheat-zydeco-jr-26
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.’s story is one of musical inheritance, hard work, and dedication to preserving the spirit of zydeco music. From a young boy learning the craft of music by ear, to becoming a Grammy-winning artist, he continues to make his mark on the world stage. With his band and his son by his side, he is ensuring that zydeco music will continue to inspire and uplift audiences for generations to come. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. was born into a musical family in Lafayette, Louisiana, a city deeply rooted in the sounds of zydeco and Creole culture. His father, Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Sr., was a legendary figure in zydeco music, and Buckwheat, Jr. was immersed in music from a young age.
Following the death of his father in 2016, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. assumed the mantle of his father’s musical legacy, continuing to lead the Ils Sont Partis Band. This band, which was originally formed by Stanley Dural, Sr., is a tribute to the vibrant tradition of zydeco and remains a vital force in spreading the genre’s infectious rhythms worldwide. Buckwheat, Jr. now performs with his father’s iconic custom monogrammed accordion and shares the stage with his son, Kyle Anthony Dural, who plays the rubboard. This family connection is deeply meaningful to Buckwheat, Jr., who reflects, “Everywhere I go, my son is on my right. It really is a blessing.”
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.’s career has been marked by significant milestones, both alongside his father and as a solo artist. He shared the stage with some of the most renowned figures in music, including Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Dwight Yoakam, and Los Lobos, to name a few. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and The Ils Sont Partis Band won the 2024 Best Regional Roots Music Album – New Beginnings award at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards, and also in 2024 got inducted at the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Yellow Jack plays rowdy roots, fiddle tunes, spirituals, hillbilly rave-ups and bluegrass from Buffalo-Niagara. Songs about local history, the Erie Canal, the mighty Niagara, the War of 1812, labor songs, traditional folk songs, very lively bluegrass and much more is what you’ll hear, many of them original songs written by Dennis Reed Jr.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Erie County Legislator Michael Kooshoian, Buffalo.fm, National Fuel Gas Co., Dick & Jenny’s, and Sportsmen’s Tavern.

Sunny Side Jazz Band - The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
2026-08-22 19:00 | Duende at Silo City, 85 Silo City Row, Buffalo, NY, 14203, US
Sunny Side Jazz Band – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
Saturday, August 22
Show at 7pm
Duende at Silo City (outdoors; moved inside in case of rain)
Free (but please tip the band), All Ages
New Orleans Trad Jazz band Sunny Side returns to Buffalo for their annual trad jazz dance party! Weather-permitting, we’ll be outside with plenty of room to dance, so bring a chair as there’s limited seating (in case of rain, we’ll move inside to the bin floor upstairs).
Sunny Side, a jazz band based out of New Orleans, is heavily influenced by the music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Fats Waller, and many other early jazz legends. During the 2020/2021 quarantine, Sunny Side provided a ‘Jazz in Coliseum Square Park’ series in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans hosting a variety of live music including themselves. Many locals expressed much gratitude for the music during the challenging time. Sunny Side is planning their sixth national tour for summer 2026.
Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Erie County Legislator Michael Kooshoian, The Cullen Foundation, buffaloFM, Dick & Jenny’s, Duende, and National Fuel Gas Co.

NEW DATE: Organ Fairchild w/ The Brass Machine - FREE show at Ralph Wilson Park, Buffalo NY
2026-08-24 17:00 | Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy, 5 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14201, US
Free live music is coming to the Buffalo Waterfront, thanks to the Levitt VIBE Buffalo Music Series!
Bring a blanket, grab a bite from the weekly food trucks, and enjoy the show!
Organ Fairchild is thrilled to be bringing you the season finale of this new music series at the brand-new Ralph Wilson Park (formerly LaSalle Park) on Monday, August 24 along with our friends The Brass Machine!!
Join us for an all-new Buffalo summer tradition – – music starts at 5:30pm each Monday, and it’s completely FREE 🎶💃🏽
Big thanks to The Big Easy in Buffalo for asking us to inaugurate this series, and to Levitt Family Foundation and Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy for making these events possible!
#MusicMoves
