There’s a few places in this city where you can physically see the revival of Buffalo. Where you take your friends from out of town to show them what they’re missing and prove the stereotypes all wrong. Larkinville is one of those places where you can say, “See? We figured it out! This is cool!” So we are proud to team up with Live at Larkin this week to introduce their summer schedule and remind you of why summers in Buffalo are better than in any other city. It’s outdoor concert season! Live at Larkin will NOT repeat any acts this summer. Every week is fresh. Just like their playlist. Hear about it from Larkin’s Seamus Gallivan:

Live at Larkin

This playlist displays the diversity of our lineup along with some song titles that speak to our vibe and local flavor. I love the lyrical wisdom and musical mastery of tension and release in David Michael Miller’s “Once”; the exuberance of The Reign of Kindo’s “Feeling in the Night”: the dark drive of The Tins’ “Please Be Kind”; and the pouring love of “You Already Know” by Vin DeRosa of The Buffalovebirds featuring Geraldo Castillo from The Reign of Kindo – all four songs have hooks that stick in my head for days on end. Ton Stahl’s “Are There Angels” makes my dad cry, and that ain’t easy; Dive House Union’s “Love Ain’t So Blind” brings the house down every time; Will Holton summons the spirit of Michael Jackson with an instrumental spin. We hope all who attend our events “Remember the Time” – in the words of MJ, “those sweet memories will always be dear to me.”


Jony James & DHU receiving one of the loudest ovations in Larkin history.

While Food Truck Tuesday has become Larkin Square’s flagship event, the Live at Larkin Wednesday concert series is the original event that welcomed thousands to the heart of Larkinville for free, family-friendly fun. Live local music is the star of the show on Wednesdays (5-8:30pm), each week offering multiple bands that combine at the end for a collaborative encore – and fret not, food truck lovers, we have a handful on Wednesdays as well! Here in our 5th season of Live at Larkin, we’re continuing to showcase original music while adding to our offering of unique theme nights that have a wider appeal. The resulting 2016 lineup is our biggest yet with 38 acts in all – 24 of which will make their Live at Larkin debut – and it’s definitely our most diverse.



Congressman Brian Higgins rocks out.

Summer 2016 Schedule

Scope the scoop on each week, save the dates and join the fun!

6/1 – Opening Night Extravaganza! 6 acts, all representing local music nonprofits – John and Mary & the Valkyries(Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation); Fredtown Stompers (Music is Art); Freightrain (Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, Blues Society of WNY); Verve Dance Studio (Young Audiences of WNY); Carol McLaughlin & Magnitude (Colored Musicians Club, Community Music School); and the French Quarter Hounds (Music is Art).

6/8 – On a break from nationwide touring, Buffalo’s own ever-growing groove-rockers Aqueous return to Larkin Square with support from the debut show of their friends Jettison, featuring members of The Albrights.

6/15 – After one of the wildest nights in Live at Larkin history last year, Outer Circle Orchestra brings its Afro-Caribbean world-beat back to Larkinville with support from fellow horn-heavy, high-energy ensemble Tiger Chung Lee.

6/22 – East Side Night: featuring the return of the Unity Band along with Larkinville debuts of jazz saxophonist Will Holton, a cappella quartet 4 B-Lo, and Polonia-flavored polkas from the Buffalo Concertina All Stars.

6/29 – Buffalo ’66: Cash & Stones Revisited: 50 years ago this week, Johnny Cash played 6 nights at Melody Fair while The Rolling Stones played The Aud on their first U.S. tour. In honor of this amazing occasion, Buffalo bands Stoneflower and A Band Named Sue featuring cast members from Ring of Fire will recreate the sets of those shows.

7/6 – Latin at Larkin: while not the first time Latin grooves have graced the Larkin stage, this makes the first time that free dance lessons will be offered alongside, as Salsa Sarah’s beginner sessions in merengue, bachata and salsa precede sets from La Krema and Sol Y Sombra.

7/13 – Album release: folk-rock veterans Tom Stahl and the Dangerfields will celebrate the release of his 11th album – along with his 25th wedding anniversary! – with support from the Larkinville debut of folk-pop singer-songwriter Savannah & the Kings.

7/20 – In a brief visit home from cross-country touring, Miller & the Other Sinners bring their internationally-charting blues-soul back to Live at Larkin, with support from the Larkinville debut of renowned roots-rock-reggae sage Preach Freedom & Connect.

7/27 – Returning home from New York City for their first Buffalo show in more than two years, The Reign of Kindobrings their adventurous rock to Larkinville for the first time, with support from fellow internationally-renowned indie rockers The Tins.

8/3 – South Buffalo Night: the annual civic pride party returns with both new and familiar faces – Congressman Brian Higgins & the Exchange Street Band will once again headline in their only annual appearance, along with South Buffalo special-occasion staple The Stone Bridge Band and newcomer Keith Shuskie featuring John Higgins.

8/10 – The only Live at Larkin pairing to appear together in each of the series’ first five seasons, blues-rock powerhouse Dive House Union will once again reunite for the occasion of playing with survival blues beacon Jony James Band.

8/17 – Album release: Led by Andrew J. Reimers and Kate Panfil of CPX fame, The Rear View Ramblers will release their debut album of original Americana with support from another Live at Larkin debut in outlaw country newcomers Uncle Ben’s Remedy.

8/24 – Sinatra’s Second Century: with another new theme night unique to Live at Larkin, two acts will look both forward and back on the songbook of Frank Sinatra, who would’ve turned 100 in 2015 – Nelson Starr & the Franciscans have been assembled just for the occasion, as Starr and a group of adventurous local musicians will put a new spin on old Sinatra songs, while the Joey Giambra Jazz Orchestra will honor the original Sinatra sound while sharing stories of The Chairman of the Board’s many visits to Buffalo.

8/31 – The Live at Larkin finale has always been a big party – enter the perfect party band, The Buffalovebirds, a local supergroup which to date has only performed at the annual Buffalovefest at the zoo, with support from another special-occasion party band in the debut of The New Good Neighbors, a 12-piece outfit led by Larkin’s own emcee, Seamus Gallivan.

Buffalo Music Cooperative

Feature Friday alumnus BMC just filmed their latest episode at Larkin with David Michael Miller and Jony James. Check this out:

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