What’s Good: April 30-May 6, 2026
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 4/30
Phil Hanley (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $33-$45)
This Oshawa native is now a comic in NYC, who’s appeared in I Feel Pretty, Inside Amy Schumer, and has comedy specials on Comedy Central and YouTube.
Elliot Lewis (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 7pm doors/8pm, $10)
The former Hall & Oates sideman and member of The Average White Band performs.
The Hip Snacks (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $20)
Denver six-piece soul outfit. w/Saving Waves
Danny Brown (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm doors/8pm, $38-$74)
Detroit rapper. w/midwxst
Kings Kaleidoscope (Iron Works, 47 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
The Credo Spirit Tour. w/Hollyn
Lou’s Garage (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $10)
Automotive-themed drag and burlesque show.
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.
Friday, 5/1
Lingua Franca (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm)
When an undocumented Filipina immigrant’s green card marriage falls through, she romances a slaughterhouse worker who’s unaware that she’s trans, in Isabel Sandoval’s 2020 film. (1hr 35m)
Alan Doyle (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave, 8pm doors, $54-$66)
Solo artist formerly of Great Big Sea. w/Bandits on the Run
Phil Hanley (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/9:15pm, $33-$45)
This Oshawa native is now a comic in NYC, who’s appeared in I Feel Pretty, Inside Amy Schumer, and has comedy specials on Comedy Central and YouTube.
Mo Lowda & the Humble (Iron Works, 47 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $25adv/$30, 18+)
Philadelphia indie rockers whose fifth album, Tailing the Ghost comes out in June. w/Lost Mary
Pure Glitter (Shea’s Smith, 658 Main St, 7:30pm, $22adv/$59)
Drama erupts among a chosen family of gay men when one of them throws a surprise party, in this play performed by Second Generation Theatre Company.
julie (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm doors/8pm, SOLD OUT)
SoCal shoegaze band. w/Fleshwater, Midrift
Kurts Back (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $20-$25)
Local classic rock outfit celebrates their 20-year anniversary.
Start Making Sense (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $28adv/$38, 12+)
Talking Heads tribute. w/Ocean Avenue Stompers Horns
Improv Jam (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 6:30pm, $5-$10 suggested)
Newcomers and experienced performers are all welcome to participate in improv sketch comedy or just watch.
Improv Collider (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7:30pm, $5 suggested)
An hour of long-form improv comedy.
The Faculty (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, $15adv/$20/$12 students)
An hour of long-form improv comedy from BIH’s teaching faculty.
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)
Saturday 5/2
Lily Rose (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $29, 16+)
Georgia country singer on the “I Know What I Want” tour.
Phil Hanley (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/9:30pm, $33-$45)
This Oshawa native is now a comic in NYC, who’s appeared in I Feel Pretty, Inside Amy Schumer, and has comedy specials on Comedy Central and YouTube.
Socialite (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $10)
w/Spiria, Night Owls
Pure Glitter (Shea’s Smith, 658 Main St, 8pm, $22adv/$59)
Drama erupts among a chosen family of gay men when one of them throws a surprise party, in this play performed by Second Generation Theatre Company.
Various Factors (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $22adv/$28/$14 students)
A fully improvised Broadway-style musical comedy. Live piano karaoke to follow.
Fuzzy & the Rustbelts (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6:30pm doors/8pm, $20-$25)
Local roots rock group. w/OsbornNash
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 5/3
UB Poetry Club Open Mic (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 2-5pm)
Free food & drinks!
Christopher Titus (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm, $34)
The veteran standup, and star of his self-titled 2000s sitcom.
Buffalo Flow Jam Fundraiser (Iron Works, 47 Illinois St, 6pm doors/6:30pm, $20adv/$25, All Ages)
4th annual fundraiser to support this local artists’ nonprofit’s Monday night performances at Hoyt Lake.
Colin James, Matt Andersen, Terra Lightfoot (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $48, 16+)
Three Canadian roots rockers team up.
Emily Beisel & Bill Sack (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $20/$18 students)
“Beautifully brutal” bass clarinet player Beisel, and guitarist and electronic artist Sack team up.
Demon Hunter (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 6:30pm doors/7:30pm, $38-$81)
This hard rock band have not let up since they started in the early 2000s. w/Convictions, Cultist
Pure Glitter (Shea’s Smith, 658 Main St, 2pm, $22adv/$59)
Drama erupts among a chosen family of gay men when one of them throws a surprise party, in this play performed by Second Generation Theatre Company.
Ann Philippone (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8, FREE)
Solo 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)
Monday 5/4
The Afghan Whigs w/Mercury Rev (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $48.50, 16+)
Two legendary ’90s indie rock groups; the latter Buffalo legends. Not to be missed.
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 5/5
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 (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 5/6
The Wailers (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $30adv/$35)
Bob Marley’s legendary reggae group is celebrating 50 years of Rastaman Vibration.
Adjust the Sails (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm doors/6:30pm, $20)
w/Thoughts on Bowling, Tiny Voices, Latchkey Kids, Silver Proof
Open Mic (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, FREE w/reservation)
Over 20 comics perform.
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
