What’s Good: January 15-21, 2026
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 1/15
Hallwalls Annual Members Meeting (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm)
Museum members — both new and renewing — are invited to join this annual state-of-the-museum meeting, in person or via Zoom.
Colin Quinn (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $32-$44)
The former “Weekend Update” and Tough Crowd host performs stand-up.
Mamma Mia! (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7:30pm, $57-$68)
The hit ABBA jukebox musical, in which a young woman tries to discover her biological father from her mother’s three former lovers.
Rick Matthews’ Therapy (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7:30pm, $20-$30)
Stand-up comedy from Matthews, Liz Reaves, and Allie Brady.
The Quentet (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, doors 7:30pm, $10)
Jazz, fusion, and progressive. w/R&R, Sequelibrium
Denzel World Peace (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm, $5)
Industrial electronics meets experimental pop. w/Colin Patrick
The Improv Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $5 suggested)
Newcomers and experienced performers are all welcome to participate in improv sketch comedy or just watch.
Starfleet Academy (Paramount+)
Trek takes the teen drama route, as interplanetary cadets train to explore strange new worlds. With Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, and Tig Notaro.
Friday, 1/16
Richard Lloyd Group (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm doors/9pm, $14.42)
The legendary Television guitarist was there for the birthplace of punk and is still going. Not to be missed.
Shea’s Centennial Celebration (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 5:30pm, $50-$2500)
Celebrate 100 years of this Buffalo landmark, with a fundraiser that features live entertainment on stage.
Catwalk For Charity (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7-11pm, $100)
Former Sabres great Ryan Miller and a few teammates host this annual event, which has raised over $1 million for pediatric cancer patients at Roswell Park. Festivities include a runway show in which models (including the ex-Sabres!) show off mid-2000s fashion; live music by The Strictly Hip; raffles and silent auctions, and an open bar (included in the ticket price).
Colin Quinn (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm, $32-$44)
The former “Weekend Update” and Tough Crowd host performs stand-up.
Amid/In WNY (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 7-10pm)
The museum’s regional survey exhibition, featuring current work from artists around Western New York.
Mozart’s Mass (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 10:30am, $17.50-$78.50)
The Philarmonic opens their Mozart festival with “Prague” Symphony No. 38, and the unfinished “Great” Mass in C minor.
Mamma Mia! (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7:30pm, $57-$68)
The hit ABBA jukebox musical, in which a young woman tries to discover her biological father from her mother’s three former lovers.
Charleston White (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 9:30pm, $33-$43)
YouTube comedy star and motivational speaker.
Strings Unbound (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $60-$70, all ages)
Electric cellist Alex Cousins leads a world-class band w/special guests.
Back to Basics (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, doors 9pm, $10)
Monthly bass music series
Rabbit Jaw (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Come Back to Earth (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
Tribute to Mac Miller. w/Discoté, Noah Fense
Improv Collider (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $10adv/$17)
An hour of long-form improv comedy.
Good Neighbors (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8pm, $22adv/$27/students $14 suggested)
Improv comedy built around a monologe by a notable guest from around Buffalo. Proceeds support a local nonprofit chosen by the guest. Admission includes all three Friday night shows.
The Improv Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 9:30pm, $5 suggested)
Newcomers and experienced performers are all welcome to participate in improv sketch comedy or just watch.
Rechouse (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 11pm, $10)
Honey Group presents a night of house music.
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
New Movies This Week
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (in wide release)
Ralph Fiennes is getting rave reviews for this sequel to last year’s zombie flick, with Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) stepping in for Danny Boyle in the director’s chair.
No Other Choice (Amherst Theater, 3500 Main St.)
A desperate job-seeker bumps off the competition in Park Chan-wook’s pitch-black satire. In Korean with subtitles.
Night Patrol (Elmwood Center, Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
A cop has to work with local gangs when he discovers his fellow cops are haboring an even darker than usual secret.
Signing Tony Raymond (Quaker Crossing, Hamburg)
A college coach has to deal with eccentric locals and a dysfunctional family when he travels to rural Alabama to recruit a promising high school talent.
Reservoir Dogs (Elmwood Center, Walden Galleria)
Quentin Tarantino’s debut film still packs a punch, and is always worth seeing on the big screen.
The Fellowship of the Ring (Elmwood Center)
A revival screening of the first entry in Peter Jackson’s beloved trilogy.
Madagascar (Elmwood Center)
A 20th anniversary screening of the animated favorite.
All You Need Is Kill (Elmwood Center, Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
In Japanese w/subtitles or dubbed, check listings.
Anaganaga Oka Raju (Elmwood Center, Transit Center)
Naveen Polishetty and Meenakshi Chaudhary star in this comedy-drama. In Telugu w/subtitles
Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi (Elmwood Center)
When a winemaker’s latest vintage is rejected, he travels to Spain to find out why. In Telugu w/subtitles
Mana Shankaravaraprasad Garu (Elmwood Center)
A security officer wants another chance with his estranged wife and kids. In Telugu w/subtitles
Nari Nari Naduma Murari (Elmwood Center)
A man is married to two women, one happily, one not, in this romantic comedy. In Telugu w/subtitles
Parasakthi (Elmwood Center)
Historical drama set during 1965’s anti-Hindu riots in Tamil Nadu. In Tamil w/subtitles
The Raja Saab (Elmwood Center)
A man searching for his missing grandfather has to brave a haunted mansion, in this horror comedy. In Telugu w/subtitles
Saturday 1/17
Colin Quinn (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 6pm/8:30pm, $32-$44)
The former “Weekend Update” and Tough Crowd host performs stand-up.
That Comedy Show (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $20 adv/$25)
This month’s show features “Dungeon Master” Steve Wrigley and special guest Doogie Horner.
Mozart’s Mass (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7:30pm, $17.50-$78.50)
The Philarmonic opens their Mozart festival with “Prague” Symphony No. 38, and the unfinished “Great” Mass in C minor.
Mamma Mia! (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 2pm/8pm, $57-$68)
The hit ABBA jukebox musical, in which a young woman tries to discover her biological father from her mother’s three former lovers.
DJ Scafetta (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 6:30pm doors/7:30pm, $15adv/$20, 18+)
Buffalo’s breakout bass innovator. w/Mista J
Dolly Sods (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm, $10)
w/Spit Sisters, Wylie Something, Lower Pony
World’s Largest Sober Dance Party (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $23, 18+)
No booze, just a wide selection of nonalcoholic beverages, and DJ Dave Sif spinning house, techno, and dance remixes, plus live performance TBA.
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4-7pm, FREE)
Traditional Irish music.
Black Rock Arts (Black Rock Arts, 43 Hamilton St, 11am-3pm, FREE)
The new artist-run gallery is open to the public every Saturday.
Sunday 1/18
Shapel Lacey (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm, $31-$41)
Lacey started stand-up on a dare, and within months it became his full time job, opening for the likes of Bill Burr and Hannibal Buress.
Taz (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
At age 22, this guitarist has already performed at Coachelle and opened for the Rolling Stones.
Mamma Mia! (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 2pm, $57-$68)
The hit ABBA jukebox musical, in which a young woman tries to discover her biological father from her mother’s three former lovers.
The Parent Trap (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 10am doors/11am, FREE)
The 1998 Lindsay Lohan version of the family favorite, as part of Shea’s Free Film Series.
The Goonies (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 3pm doors/4pm, FREE)
The 1985 kids’ adventure, as part of Shea’s Free Film Series.
John Riggi (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 4-7pm)
Blues and R&B.
Badlands (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 4:30pm doors/6pm, $20-$25)
Bruce Springsteen tribute.
Ann Philippone (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8, FREE)
Barrelhouse piano.
Jazz Cache (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm-mid, FREE)
A rotating cast of Buffalo’s best jazz musicians.
Karaoke Night (Twentysixallen, 26 Allen St, 9:30pm)
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO)
A smaller-scale Game of Thrones prequel, that ensures George RR Martin will be too busy singing checks to finish The Winds of Winter.
Monday 1/19
MLK Day Program (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm, FREE)
The Historic Colored Musicians Club & Jazz Museum presents a program of live music, spoken word, and more.
Will Blanda’s World’s Largest Trio (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Uncle Lazer (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $33-$43)
The “Mullet Maniac”‘s outlandish blue collar comedy.
Songwriter Showcase (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm-mid, FREE)
Singer-songwriters from 8-9, and then an open mic for the rest of the evening.
Monday Night Foosball (Riverworks, 359 Gansom St, 6pm warmups/7-9pm, $10)
Weekly foosball tournament; free trial week for newcomers, $80 15-week season pass. buffalofoosball.com
Tuesday 1/20
Steam Donkeys (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8:30pm, FREE)
Long-serving “cosmic Americana” group.
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9-10pm, FREE)
A rotating cast of local stand-ups.
The Stripteasers (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 10pm-mid, $4)
Weekly burlesque show.
Open Mic (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 5-8pm)
Hosted by Ian Be, with Adam James on piano.
Open Mic (Cucina @ Hotel Richardson, 444 Forest Ave, 6-8pm)
This weekly open mic features music, poetry, and comedy. Register at jkonze@douglasdev.com.
Karaoke (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm)
Wednesday 1/21
The Elovaters (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 6pm, $45)
Roots reggae. w/Shwayze, Jarv
The Viavattine Bros (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $20-$25)
The band re-creates the Brecker Bros. 1978 fusion classic Heavy Metal Be-Bop.
Brendan Gosson (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Posey Shines (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm, FREE)
Blues, gospel, jazz, rock, and reggae.
Karaoke Night (Twentysixallen, 26 Allen St, 9:30pm)
Open Mic Night (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, FREE w/2-item minimum)
Over 20 comics perform.
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
