What’s Good: August 20-26, 2026
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 8/20
Greyhaven (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7pm, $33, 16+)
w/Footballhead, Cheem, Quantifier
Mark Paul (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $32-43)
This stand-up is best known for his viral videos playing various characters you encounter in youth sports.
The Band Memo (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $15adv/$20, 12+)
Energetic NYC classic rock outfit. w/Loaded and Gorgeous
Dgi Dgi (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $10)
w/The Bob Smith Quartet
Snowmen (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7pm, $15adv/$20)
NYC rock band.
Peacemaker (Hen House, 690 Hertel Ave, 4:30-10pm, $20, All Ages)
w/Eyesawgod, Cease to Exist, Vanta NC, Flesh Carving, Karnage, Bus Stop Abortion
Driveways (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 6pm doors/7pm, SOLD OUT, 16+)
w/Liek Roses, Action/Adventure, Don’t Panic
Dave Stewy & Friends (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $25-$35)
Local R&B crooner.
East Coast Dave (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30-9:30pm)
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, 8/21
Wallace (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm doors/8pm, $10)
w/Tonight!, The Mookies, Dolly Sods, Silver Proof.
Blacktop Mojo (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $32, 18+)
w/Seven Year Witch
Noche Latina (Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $16 adv/$20)
The Mood Swingers (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm)
Parking (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm doors/9pm, $10)
w/Anxious Cricket, Debris Bardot, Ordinary Feeling
Wicked Sacrifice (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6:30pm doors/8pm, $15)
Stone Temple Pilots/Creed tribute 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.
Indie Summer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7:30pm, $5 suggested)
BIH features independent improv teams all summer. This week: Hannah Montana, Buffalo Cursebreakers.
Good Neighbors (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, PWYC)
An hour of improv comedy, built around a story told by a notable Buffalonian.
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Saturday 8/22
Fetty Wap (Terminal B, 850 Fuhrmann Blvd, 8pm, $75)
The “Trap Queen” rapper understands his appeal, as this year’s outing is called The Nostalgia Tour.
BUR Fest (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, noon, $10adv/$15, 18+)
Buffalo Underdogs Rescue benefit, with performances by Karma Queen, DoDriver, Trever Stribling of PA Line, and local Alanis Morissette tribute act Jagged Little Bills.
Sessions X Legacy House (Legacy House, 620 Winslow Ave, 6pm, $26adv/$30)
Performances by Neftali and the Dominic Missana Band, Curtis Lowell, and vinyl set by Knew’d.
The Unteachables (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 3:30pm, $21-32)
Stephen Taylor, Lou Pharis, and Miss Redacted; three teachers-turned stand ups.
Joey Harkum (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, noon, $10adv/$15, 18+)
Singer-songwriter returning to the scene of his 2018 live album. w/Part Time Genius
Wilt (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm doors/8pm, $18 adv/$22)
w/Harepin Turn, Blissen.
Equinox Band (Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $9)
7-piece jazz group with student musician guests.
Little Cake Band (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $29-$35)
Multinstrumentalist-songwriter, backed by harmonies and strings.
Indie Summer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 6pm, $5 suggested)
BIH features independent improv teams all summer. This week: Musical Mashterpiece, Bad Haircut.
Sonderful (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $12adv/$15/$10 student)
Improv group Unnecessarily Complicated performs in a format that weaves characters and storylines together.
Babushka! (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, $15adv/$20/$12 student)
Buffalo’s longest-running long form improv show.
Sasha Fleet (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm doors/9pm, $5)
w/Faerot, Different Planets, Chris Humel
India Ramey (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 8pm, $15+fee)
Trio Donny (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 4:30pm, $5)
The Dream Eaters (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $17)
w/Velvet Bethany, Dang!
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 8/23
Lord of the Rings Drag Brunch (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, noon, $28-38)
More of a Drag Second Breakfast, with hobbit-themed lip-sync battles, mimosas, and camp aplenty.
Pinkshift (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7pm, $27, 16+)
Saccharine 5-year anniversary tour. w/Pollyanna, Thorns For Lovers
Kash’d Out (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $26.42, 18+)
Florida reggae-rock band. w/RDGLDGRN, DJ Ricochet Red
Joanna Connor (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $20-$25)
Builes guitarist
The Grateful Dans (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 3:30-4:30pm, FREE)
Despite the name, not a Dead cover band.
Big Martha (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 4pm, $20+fee)
Allman Brothers tribute.
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 8/24
A Thousand Horses (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7pm, $27, 16+)
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 8/25
Flow Tribe (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20.72, 18+)
After Hurricane Katrina, this group formed to bring New Orleans rhythm to the world.
Vacation Manor (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7:30pm, $27, 16+)
Olmstead Dub System (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $10)
Roots reggae and dub.
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 8/26
Inspectah Deck (The Showplace Theater, 850 Fuhrmann Blvd, 8pm, $27.37)
The Wu-Tang member hosts a pre-party for the group’s Darien Lake show the following night.
Koe Wetzel (Terminal B, 850 Fuhrmann Blvd, 6:45pm, $81+)
Country/rock singer. w/Shane Smith & the Saints, Bayker Blankenship, Logan Jahnke
Henry’s Summer Kitchen (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm)
Roots rock on the back patio.
Tyler Westcott (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm, FREE)
Andy Thomas (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 7pm, $20+fee)
Comedy Open Mic (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
Thursday 8/27
Wu-Tang Clan (Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, 7:30pm, $27.50-$242)
The hip-hop legends descend on Darien Lake.
Saturday 8/29
Helmet (Terminal B, 850 Fuhrmann Blvd, 6:45pm, $38, 16+)
Just giving you some advance notice to get tickets for the hardcore legends. w/Spirit in the Room, Jeweltone
