What’s Good: August 13-19, 2026
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 8/13
Craig Robinson (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $40-$56)
The Office and Hot Tub Time Machine actor is on a headlining stand-up tour. Take advantage of the chance to see him at a relatively small venue.
Noah Guthrie (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $15adv/$20)
Americana singer-songwriter who’s appeared on America’s Got Talent and Glee. Rescheduled from 2/10, all previous tickets will be honored.
Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 7pm)
The zydeco legend’s son keeps the family legacy going as part of Sportsmens’ Big Easy in Buffalo series.
Peggy Farrell (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6pm doors/7pm, $17-$20)
Songs and stories from a Buffalo jazz icon.
Daniel Donato (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $40, 16+)
Cosmic country
Adam Bronstein & ABTrio (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, $20 suggested)
Jazz happy hour.
Donny’s Trio (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm)
Darksoft (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $12)
w/Elemantra, Hundred Plus Club
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, 8/14
Violent Femmes (Terminal B, 850 Fuhrmann Blvd, 7pm doors, $75-$134, 16+)
The alt-rock pioneers celebrate their 45th anniversary as a band. w/54.40
Craig Robinson (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7/9:15pm, $40-$56)
The Office and Hot Tub Time Machine actor is on a headlining stand-up tour. Take advantage of the chance to see him at a relatively small venue.
Fidelio (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm doors/7pm, $15adv/$20)
Sotto Voce Opera Collective and the Avanti Orchestra present Beethoven’s only opera. Sung in German, with English dialogue and English subtitles.
OT the Real (Showplace Theater, 1065 Grant St, 7pm doors, $33-$38)
Philly rapper who’s featured with Benny the Butcher.
Black Pontiac (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm doors, $15adv/$20)
Glam/garage rock. w/Noshows
IDL Quartet (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $13-$15)
Modern jazz fusion.
Backpack Mafia (Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave, 6pm, $11)
w/CeeGee, Art Major Fonz, Bless 3K, Mic Excel
Xo’Lei Benefit (26Allen, 26 Allen St, 7pm)
Billy Bratek (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm)
Jagged LIttle Bliss (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 4:30-6:30pm, $10)
Milkie’s Summer Mixer (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $10)
Performances by Higher Vibration, Miles Crowl, TJ Cutajar, Teezy814, Nequia5
Sam Morrow (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 8pm)
The Songs of Carole King (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $20-$25, All Ages)
The TLC Trio (not to be confused with 90s R&B group TLC) performs the legendary songwriter’s hits.
The DMV (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 8pm)
Cars cover band.
The Trash Pandas (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, 18+)
Local cover band.
Friday Improv Jam & Happy Hour (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 6:15pm, $5 suggested)
Newcomers are welcome to join in with more experienced performers and come up with a sketch on the spot.
Comedy Incubator Showcase (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7:30pm, $12adv/$15/$10 student)
Comedy Incubator helps develop new comedy teams of all kinds. Tonight they test a new format, and give the audience both a look behind the curtain and a live improv comedy show.
Indie Summer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7:30pm, $5 suggested)
BIH features independent improv teams all summer. This week: Coyote Juice, Bedelia, and Wondering Eye.
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Saturday 8/15
Craig Robinson (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7/9:30pm, $40-$56)
The Office and Hot Tub Time Machine actor is on a headlining stand-up tour. Take advantage of the chance to see him at a relatively small venue.
Arkells (Terminal B, 850 Fuhrmann Blvd, 7pm doors, $56-$110, 16+)
Juno-winning Canadian alt-rockers. w/The Maine
Arrangements (Mothership571, 571 E Delevan Ave, 7pm, $10)
The band celebrates the release of their new album, Arrangements Play Their Instruments. w/softwheres, JABS
Fight Fest 2026 (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 3pm, $30.40, 18+)
Performances by Fight From Within, Yung Mosh, Provenance, Iara, Allegiant, Among the Outcast, Scvrecrvw, Arcana.
Rock For the Cure (Sportsmens Park, 334 Amherst St, 3pm doors, $25adv/$30)
Benefit for Against the Storm, which fights blood cancers. Performances by Matt Schofield, The Kensingtons, Kurt’s Back, Flashback, The Trash Pandas
Eli & Fur (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 8pm, $15-$70, All Ages)
British deep house duo.
Minka (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm, $15adv/$20)
Dance-y group from Philly.
Earl/Thomas/Gray Piano Trio (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $13-$15)
Modern jazz.
Renovation Blues Band (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 4:30pm, $5)
Evergreen Echoes (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7pm)
Local high-energy jam band. w/One Foot Up, Too Skinny
Karaoke (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm)
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 8/16
Craig Robinson (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm, $40-$56)
The Office and Hot Tub Time Machine actor is on a headlining stand-up tour. Take advantage of the chance to see him at a relatively small venue.
Fidelio (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm doors/7pm, $15adv/$20)
Sotto Voce Opera Collective and the Avanti Orchestra present Beethoven’s only opera. Sung in German, with English dialogue and English subtitles.
Wind & Wire (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6pm doors/6:30pm, $10-$15, All Ages)
Singer/songwriter Maria Sebatian and guitarist Matt Pszonak team up..
The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA (Terminal B, 850 Fuhrmann Blvd, 7pm doors, $25-$60, 16+)
Featuring members of the real ABBA’s backing band.
Dr. Jazz & the Jazzbugs (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 3:30-4:30pm)
We’re not sure but we think they might play jazz.
Ann Philippone (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, 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 8/17
The Mountain Goats (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $59, 16+)
Indie singer-songwriter par excellence John Darnielle. Not to be missed.
Shaky Stage (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm)
Folk rock.
Bird Soup Comedy Open Mic (Hen House, 690 Hertel Ave, 6pm sign-up/7pm, FREE)
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.
Tuesday 8/18
PJ Morton (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 8pm, $38-$74, All Ages)
Maroon 5 member’s R&B/gospel solo act.
Christen E. Civiletto book signing (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm)
The author reads from his book Thundering Waters: The Toxic Legacy of Niagara Falls.
Philip Lindsay (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $40-$56)
This middle school teacher’s comedy went viral, so he’s spending summer vacation doing stand-up.
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 8/19
Big Daddy Rich Rogenmoser (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $12-$15, 18+)
This Key West favorite brings his island spirit back to his hometown.
Artemis X (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Phillip Steven (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm, FREE)
Comedy Open Mic (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
