Exploring the music scene in Western New York reveals a spectrum of venues that reflect the region’s cultural diversity. From venerable theaters with a storied past to more intimate establishments pulsating with contemporary sounds, the musical landscape in Western New York is both rich and varied.
Whether your musical taste gravitates towards soulful jazz, the energetic rhythms of rock, or the harmonious melodies of folk and blues, Western New York caters to a wide range of preferences. This list serves as a guide, offering insights into iconic theaters and lively pubs (RIP Broadway Joe’s) that collectively contribute to shaping the vibrant and diverse musical culture of Western New York.
Be sure to check out our look at the venues of the New York City, Hudson Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, Central New York, the Berkshires and Capital Region as well.
Artpark
450 S 4th Street, Lewiston
Artpark, situated at 450 S 4th Street, Lewiston, is a seasonal concert venue offering indoor and outdoor options. From summer through early autumn, the Amphitheater and Main Stage showcase national acts across a diverse range of musical genres.
African-American Cultural Center
Address: 350 Masten Avenue, Buffalo
Since 1958, the African-American Cultural Center at 350 Masten Avenue, Buffalo, has been a vibrant hub for live music and cultural events. Renowned for organizing the annual Pine Grill Jazz Reunion at MLK Park, it is also the proud home of the Kakilambe Dance & Drum Company.
Babeville/Asbury Hall
Address: 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo
Babeville, located at 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, is a 19th-century church famously preserved and revitalized by folk-rock star Ani DiFranco. Within its walls, Asbury Hall, The Ninth Ward, and Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center’s cinema host a mix of national and local bands.
The Banshee Irish Pub (formerly Darcy McGee’s)
257 Franklin Street, Buffalo
Formerly known as Darcy McGee’s, The Banshee Irish Pub at 257 Franklin Street, Buffalo, is a cozy, traditional spot with a focus on Celtic music. Its stage features a full schedule of live, local bands during weekends.
Bears Den at Seneca Niagara Casino
Address: 310 4th St, Niagara Falls
A cozy venue with great seats and acts continually, Bears Den at Seneca Niagara Casino brings in local talent as well as national acts. Watch the series Inside the Bear’s Den for a look at past performances at the venue.
Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Address: 1285 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo
One of the oldest museums dedicated to modern art, Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery) is the sixth-oldest public art institution in the United States, founded in December 1862 as the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. Now renovated, the museum hosts weekly Thursday Night Live performances, M&T First Fridays with live music, the Buffalo Chamber Players at AKG, and the seasonal outdoor concert Rockin’ at the Buffalo AKG.
Buffalo Irish Center
Address: 45 Abbott Road, Buffalo
A hub for local acoustic, folk, and Celtic acts, the Buffalo Irish Center at 45 Abbott Road boasts live music every weekend.
Buffalo Iron Works
Address: 49 Illinois Street, Buffalo
Located at 49 Illinois Street, Buffalo Iron Works is a mid-sized music venue housed in a former factory. With a lively room, great sound, and vibrant atmosphere, it proudly features local and national bands, adhering to its motto: “Funk, Soul, Rock & Jam Spread Daily.”
Buffalo Riverworks
Address: 59 Ganson Street, Buffalo
Website: buffaloriverworks.com
At 59 Ganson Street, Buffalo Riverworks stands as a post-industrial marvel, boasting a big two-story barroom/restaurant, expansive patios, and a large stage for live music. It hosts the annual Music is Art festival, a multi-stage extravaganza produced by Robbie Takac and volunteers.
Buffalo State Performing Art Center
Address: 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo
Situated on the campus of Buffalo State College, Buffalo State Performing Art Center features an exquisite and acoustically perfect auditorium. Primarily showcasing ensembles from the college, it also presents the ongoing Great Performers Series.
The Cave
Address: 71 Military Road, Buffalo
Part of the Sportsmen’s Tavern complex, The Cave at 71 Military Road is an intimate music venue offering a distinct range of acts.
Central Park Grill
Address: 2519 Main Street, Buffalo
Acting as both a dive bar and a music venue, Central Park Grill at 2519 Main Street features local bands in its intimate back room.
Chautauqua Institution
Address: 1 Ames Ave, Chautauqua
Each summer, Chautauqua Institution comes alive with a mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities, a true variety of the arts. For nine weeks, the more than century old institution welcomes more than 100,000 people who participate in programs, classes and community events designed for all ages, all at an historic lakeside village.
Colored Musicians Club
Address: 145 Broadway Street, Buffalo
The historic Colored Musicians Club has been a venue that has hosted jazz greats throughout its storied history.
Darien Lake Amphitheater
Address: 9993 Alleghany Rd, Darien Center
40 minutes east of Buffalo and 55 minutes from Rochester, one of the two summer shed amphitheaters in Western New York, Darien Lake Amphitheater, opened in 1993, replacing Lakeside Amphitheater. With a capacity of 21,600, this Live Nation venue welcomes national tours all summer long.
Duende
Address: 5 Silo City Row, Buffalo
Duende, situated at 5 Silo City Row, is a captivating venue in the transformed Silo City. Offering three stages for live music, along with a restaurant and a popular outdoor seating area, Duende has become a safe space for art and music enthusiasts.
Electric City
Address: 433 Pearl St, Buffalo
The former Tralf Music Hall, Electric City has been open since early 2024 with a capacity of 750, taking its name as an homage to Buffalo’s history in early electric lighting. Electric City is fully redesigned, with enhanced acoustics and improved sight lines, plus VIP experiences, spacious bars and enhanced concert enjoyment.
Evening Star Concert Hall
Address: 8810 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls
Set in the heart of Niagara Falls, Evening Star Concert Hall hosts a variety of musical performances and events for the local community, while providing a platform for artists to showcase their talents in a unique and intimate setting for music lovers.
The Heron Farm & Events Center
Address: 2361 Waits Cors Rd, Sherman
The Heron Farm and Events Center hosts the annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival, as well as concerts, retreats, and other events. In addition you’ll find camping and lodging to relax and enjoy the surrounding and music found on this Chautauqua County this quintessential New York destination.
Highmark Stadium
Address: 1 Bills Drive, Orchard Park
The home to the Buffalo Bills also serves as a venue for concerts. It hosts a handful of annual concerts, primarily featuring rock superstars like the The Rolling Stones.
Jack Rabbit
Address: 1010 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo
Jack Rabbit on Buffalo’s Elmwood Strip, located at 1010 Elmwood Avenue, hosts a diverse array of live music, drag shows, and performances in its front room and upstairs piano lounge.
KeyBank Center
Address: 1 Seymour H Knox III Plaza, Buffalo
KeyBank Center, is the stage for major acts such as Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, and the Eagles. Known for its excellent sound, attendees are advised to wear earplugs for an enhanced sonic experience.
Kleinhans Music Hall
Address: 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo
Designed by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, Kleinhans Music Hall is an architectural masterpiece. Home to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, it is hailed as an acoustically perfect venue, hosting a variety of musical ensembles and the Buffalo Chamber Music Society.
Knox Farm
Address: 437 Buffalo Rd, East Aurora
Knox Farm is a 600+ acre State Park located in the Erie County village of East Aurora. The former country estate of the Knox Family of Buffalo, Knox Farm hosts Borderland Fest each fall, as well as a variety of other events.
Larkin Square
Address: 745 Seneca Street, Buffalo
Located at 745 Seneca Street, Larkin Square is the heart of the Larkinville neighborhood of Western New York. Along with hosting Food Truck Tuesdays and KeyBank Live at Larkin on Wednesdays, it presents free outdoor concerts during the season.
The Lion and Eagle Pub
Address: 10255 Main Street, Clarence
The Lion and Eagle Pub is a welcoming establishment offering live music and a pleasant atmosphere.
Luna Lounge
Address: 603 Dingens St, Cheektowaga
Located in the former Buffalo Grill and Ale House, Luna Lounge opened in 2023 as music venue, bar, and restaurant in Cheektowaga, with a variety of hip hop and EDM artists performing here.
Mohawk Place
Address: 47 E Mohawk Street, Buffalo
Mohawk Place features a delightful long wooden bar leading to a back room for rock and roll shows. The venue proudly displays decades of touring band flyers and photographs.
MusicalFare Theatre
Address: 4380 Main Street #123, Amherst
Located on the Daemen College campus, MusicalFare Theatre offers a season of musicals in its 136-seat main theater and cabaret concerts in the spacious, ninety-seven-seat lobby.
Nietzsche’s
Address: 248 Allen Street, Buffalo
Nietzsche’s hosts an anything-goes weekly open mic in addition to nightly live music in the front barroom or on the elevated stage in the back room.
OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
Address: 6366 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
With a view from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino has 5,000 seats, has been ranked #1 in Canada and #10 in the world among similar sized rooms, featuring state of the art technology and outstanding acoustics.
PAUSA Art House
Address: 19 Wadsworth Street, Buffalo
PAUSA Art House is a sophisticated venue combining music, art, and a wine + tapas bar. It hosts blues, jazz, bossanova, and more.
Public House on the Lake
Address: 914 Lake Shore Road, Hamburg
As the only lakeside music venue in Western New York, Public House on the Lake at 914 Lake Shore Road in Hamburg features both indoor and outdoor stages.
Rapids Theatre
Address: 1711 Main Street, Niagara Falls
The Rapids Theatre offers a prime concert venue within an ornate former 1920s-era movie house. It has hosted many national acts. (The venue has recently closed its doors.)
Rec Room
Address: 79 W Chippewa Street, Buffalo
Rec Room is a venue where touring rock, metal, or tribute bands perform weekly.
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
Address: 116 E 3rd St, Jamestown
Originally opened in 1923 as the Palace Theatre in Jamestown, the venue hosted films, vaudeville acts, stage shows and the premiere of hometown legend Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz’s film Forever Darling. By the 1980s, the venue fell into disrepair but thanks to philanthropists Reginald and Elizabeth Lenna, who provided a great deal of funding towards the renovations, the venue was renamed for them as the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. The venue, nicknamed “The Showplace of the Chautauqua Region,” has now been open consistently for the past decade, aside from the pandemic in 2020.
Revolution Gallery
Address: 1419 Hertel Ave, Buffalo
Situated on bustling Hertel Avenue, Revolution Gallery opened in 2016. It hosts art exhibitions, wine tastings, and a popular performance series featuring diverse acts, from electric Irish punk to “crime jazz.”
Riff City
Address: 166 Chandler St, Buffalo
This is a brand new venue and private event space in Buffalo’s historic Black Rock neighborhood. Riff City was opened by partners from Jack Rabbit and is an event-driven music venue, with wood-fired pizzas during live music events and plans for a full menu and sit down dining on tap.
Riviera Theatre
Address: 67 Webster Street, N. Tonawanda
Built in the 1920s as a Vaudeville and movie house, the Riviera Theatre is a busy concert venue hosting touring artists performing original or tribute-focused music.
Shawbucks
Address: 212 W 2nd St, Jamestown
Kurt Johnson opened Shawbucks in 1995, naming it after his great uncle who had the nickname ‘Shawbuck’ while working as a logger. Johnson opened a second bar in the building next door, connecting the two buildings to have two bars in one location, starting in 1996, and moved into the Journal Press building where it is now located, serving food, drinks and hosting occasional shows.
Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Address: 650 Main Street, Buffalo
Primarily a touring house for Broadway shows, Shea’s Performing Arts Center also hosts several concerts throughout the year.
Showplace Theater
Address: 1065 Grant Street, Buffalo
Originally built in 1911 as a movie theater, the Showplace Theater experienced a revival in 2019. It serves as a vibrant music venue, bringing life back to its historic space.
The Spire Theater
Address: 317 E 3rd St, Jamestown
Built in 1868, one of Jamestown’s oldest churches has since been repurposed as a center for the arts. The Spire hosts regular theatrical programming; serves as a home to entrepreneurs, artists, performers, groups, churches, and organizations; and hosts Chautauqua’s Got Talent competition, concerts, comedy, and more.
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Address: 326 Amherst Street, Buffalo
A haven for roots music, Sportsmen’s Tavern features Americana, blues, rock, and big band performances. It also owns and operates The Cave, providing a diverse musical experience.
The Stage
Address: 8166 Main Street, Williamsville
Country and classic rock take the spotlight at The Stage. The venue features a dance floor, depending on the featured bands, and a large stage.
Tacoma Performing Arts Center
Address: 351 Tacoma Avenue, Buffalo
The Tacoma Performing Arts Center, nestled in a former synagogue, is known for its Blues Mondays.
Terminal B at Buffalo Outer Harbor
Address: 850 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo
Opened in spring 2024, Terminal B at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor was closed to the public since 1967, but after an infusion of resources, a permanent, $13 million amphitheater has been built right on the banks of the Outer Harbor. The 100,000 square foot open air event center has a canopied stage for concert performances, non-for-profit events, and cultural organizations that features a sloped lawn in a natural setting, plus an overlook deck facing Lake Erie. What was once contaminated land now has a deep concert schedule has been bringing folks back to the shores of the Outer Harbor. The venue officially opened with an announcement from Governor Hochul on April 8, the day of the most recent solar eclipse, serving as a viewing location on the site.
Town Ballroom
Address: 681 Main Street, Buffalo
Built as The Town Casino in the 1940s, Town Ballroom was a lounge and cabaret hotspot. Today, it showcases the best contemporary talent across various musical genres.
Tudor Lounge
Address: 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo
A fun dive bar with a low stage and good sound, Tudor Lounge provides an intimate setting for watching live bands.
University at Buffalo Center for the Arts
Address: 103 Center For The Arts, Buffalo
With venues including the Mainstage Theatre, Drama Theatre, Black Box Theatre, and Screening Room, the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts hosts live music events, featuring national touring acts and other performances on campus.
West Falls Center for the Arts
Address: 1863 Davis Road, West Falls
The West Falls Center for the Arts is a charming space that hosts live music throughout the year. With a various shows per month, it showcases both local and national bands, spanning genres like blues, folk, acoustic, Americana, and gentler rock & roll, fostering an intimate vibe.
Willow Bay
Address: 1 E 3rd St #300, Jamestown
Listed as “temporarily closed” with no recent shows of note, The Willow Bay Theater, formerly know as The Crown Theatre, is a 500-seat venue located at the top of the Willow Bay Building on 3rd Street in downtown Jamestown.
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