What’s Good: Aug 27- Sep 2, 2026
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 8/27
Cuba After Castro (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 7:30pm doors, 8pm screening, 84min, $4)
A special screening of the new documentary from journalist Abby Martin and filmmaker Matthew Belen, centered on an interview with Miguel Díaz-Canel, the unlikely successor to the Castros.
Transforming Historic Neighborhoods (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5pm, FREE)
Buffalo architect and developer C. Jake Schneider (who also owns The Caz) gives a lecture on rebuilding derelict properties and revitalizing neighborhoods around the city.
Corey B (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:15pm, $32-$44)
This performer has gone from radio to stand-up to viral videos, and is coming back to stand-up.
Sarah Borges (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 7pm, $15adv/$20)
Marmot Ointment (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 5:30-7:30pm, FREE)
Nickel City Jazz (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 7:30pm doors/8pm, $10adv/$15)
Chris Panfil (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
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, 8/28
Colony (North Park Theatre, 1428 Hertel Ave, 9:30pm nightly through 9/3)
The new zombie thriller from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho is screening just once a night for this week only.
Chicago Comedy Takeover (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $26)
Featuring Windy City stand-ups John Gasper, Grace Piotrowski, Ron Hexagon, Des Mulrooney, and Seth Payne.
Headliners Only (Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave, 7pm doors, $13adv/$18)
Hip-hop show featuring K-Rob, Early Bird, i.F, Sneakvibing, Audi3k, and Jaydense.
Honey (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $5, All Ages)
A late night of dance music, featuring Danny Delta, Zeb, Harr, and ChrisLa.
Corey B (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/9:15pm, $32-$44)
This performer has gone from radio to stand-up to viral videos, and is coming back to stand-up.
The Waves (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm doors/8pm, $10)
Local band, not to be confused with Wavves. w/Ordinary Feeling, Wren Cove, The Turbulents.
Rebellion in the Round (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
And open session for social justice music from all eras.
Ernie the Band (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm doors/8pm, $10)
w/Buffalo Funk Brigade
Joey Gonzalez Collective (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6:30pm doors/8pm, $25)
Mark Winsick (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 7-9pm)
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, $6.59)
BIH features independent improv teams all summer. This week: Musical Mashterpiece, Bad Haircut.
Defiant Monkey Improv (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, $12adv/$15/$10 student)
The improv duo performs audience-interactive short form impov.
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Saturday 8/29
Helmet (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $38, 16+)
The hardcore legends are still going strong. w/Spirit in the Room, Jeweltone
Litfrank (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm, $15adv/$20)
A full night of hip-hop. w/DDK & Good View, Inhail, Broken Harmony Syndicate
Support Queer Art (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $12adv/$15/$10 student)
Improv comedy with an all-queer cast, including a performance by The Buffalo Trans Choir.
Fun & Gay Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, $6.59)
Newcomers and experienced performers are all welcome to participate in improv sketch comedy or just watch, at this improv mixer for LGBT+ friends and allies.
Cemetery Echo (Hen House, 690 Hertel Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $10, All Ages)
w/Vicious Intent, Grilth, Bifurcate
Corey B (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 6pm/8:30pm, $32-$44)
This performer has gone from radio to stand-up to viral videos, and is coming back to stand-up.
Maze Piper Drum (Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $11)
Professor Louie & the Crowmatix (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 3-6pm, $20+fee)
Tom Stahl and the Dangerfields (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Dead Letter Office (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 8pm, $20+fee)
REM tribute.
Slow Animals (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $21, 18+)
Arctic Monkeys tribute performs Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and AM. w/Silver Maple
Past Masters (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6:30pm doors/8pm, $15)
Beatles tribute.
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 8/30
Olivia Block (Slee Hall B1, North Campus, 8pm, $20/$18 student)
The media artist and composer performs her work Breach in the Music Department’s multi-channel studio.
Under the Lights (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 1pm doors/2pm, $27, All Ages)
A preview screening of the film and Q&A with director Miles Levin. Pearce Joza stars as a teen with epilepsy, who wants to go to prom despite fears of having a seizure. Supporting cast includes Lake Bell, Mark Duplass, Randall Park, and Nick Offerman.
Jay Webb (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $21, 18+)
w/Chris Casale
Autonomous Vehicles (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 3:30-5:30pm)
Acoustic folk/Americana.
OsbornNash (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6pm doors/6:30pm, $10-15)
Buffalo/Nashville country duo.
John Bacon Jazz (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm)
The Chicago Authority (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 3-6pm, $25+fee)
Chicago (the band, not the city) 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 8/31
Tom Robert & the Mystics (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
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 9/1
Alexandr Misko & Gareth Pearson (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm doors/7pm, $25adv/$30)
Two fingerstyle guitar prodigies team up. w/Forest Bailey
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 9/2
The Mid-Week Vibe (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $30)
This month’s vibe features DJ Hassan, an acoustic set by Labrina, and featured artist Terry Mason.
Suzanne Lambert (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $39-$51)
This sharp-witted DC comic “had a very normal upbringing in a gun-loving Bible Belt town and remains unaffected to this day.”
Les Greene & the Swayzees (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 5:30-7:30pm, $15adv/$20)
Soul music originals. w/Pine Fever
Tom Robert (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Comedy Open Mic (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
