BUFFALO, N.Y.—M&T Bank today announced the 49th anniversary season of its Plaza Event Series, an enduring symbol of M&T’s commitment to downtown Buffalo. The 11-week concert series – a summertime tradition in Buffalo – is the longest running free concert series of its kind in the United States.

 

This year’s Plaza Event Series, which carries the slogan “Brighten up your day,” will feature 54 performances this summer. It starts June 11, with the season’s last performance scheduled for August 24. Six new acts have been added to the line-up, and several favorites will continue their longtime streaks of Plaza Event Series appearances. 

 

“For many, summer begins in downtown Buffalo when the entertainers take to the stage at One M&T Plaza,” said Keith Belanger, M&T Bank Senior Vice President and Buffalo Place Chairman. “The concerts pump an extra dose of energy into downtown Buffalo, further enlivening the city culturally and socially.”

 

The new acts to take the Plaza Event Series stage this summer will be West of the Mark, XOXO, The Scott Celani Band, Metropolitan Voices of Unity, The Kensingtons and The Soul Providers. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is again scheduled to play at the plaza. Other popular artists and bands returning this year include Beatlemagic, Terry Buchwald’s Tribute to Elvis and Boys of Summer.

 

For the fourth year running, the season will feature local food trucks each weekday, including The Flaming Fish (Mondays), Chef’s (Tuesdays), Cheesy Chick (Wednesdays), The Blend (Thursdays) and Dickey’s BBQ Pit (Fridays). 

 

When One M&T Plaza was designed, its architect envisioned the outdoor plaza becoming a gathering place for downtown Buffalo. One year after the building opened, the Plaza Event Series began and fulfilled the plaza’s historic intended purpose.

 

M&T Bank is encouraging the public to use #PlazaEventSeries to share their photos, video and memories on social media. 

 

The full list of artists for the 2018 concert series is as follows:

 

Monday, June 11 - Hit ‘N Run

Tuesday, June 12 - The Tommy Z Band

Wednesday, June 13 - Westminster Community Charter School

Thursday, June 14 - West of the Mark

Friday, June 15 - Tom Stahl and The Dangerfields

 

Monday, June 18 - Old School B-Boys

Tuesday, June 19 - Winelight

Wednesday, June 20 - Mark Mazur and “The Little Big Band”

Thursday, June 21 - LeeRon Zydeco and The Hot Tamales

Friday, June 22 - Pointless Brothers Band

 

Monday, June 25 - Total Eclipse & The Buffalo Horns

Tuesday, June 26 - Beatlemagic

Wednesday, June 27 - Disco Duck

Thursday, June 28 - Will Holton

Friday, June 29 - The Chicago Authority

 

Monday, July 2 - Bar-room Buzzards

Tuesday, July 3 - The Frankfurters

Wednesday, July 4 - No Performance – Bank Holiday  

Thursday, July 5 - XOXO

Friday, July 6 - Creek Bend

 

Monday, July 9 - The Scott Celani Band

Tuesday, July 10 - Party Squad

Wednesday, July 11 - The Soul Providers

Thursday, July 12 - Ultraviolet

Friday, July 13 - Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra

 

Monday, July 16 - Anatara

Tuesday, July 17 - Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (Note: Begins at 11:45 a.m.)

Wednesday, July 18 - Only Humen

Thursday, July 19 - Taylor Made Jazz

Friday, July 20 - McCarthyizm

 

Monday, July 23 - “In Jest” Comedy Variety Show with Nels Ross

Tuesday, July 24 - Fat Brat

Wednesday, July 25 - Queen City Swing

Thursday, July 26 - Colleen Williams and The Bobby Jones Trio

Friday, July 27 - Metropolitan Voices of Unity

 

Monday, July 30 - Joseph Michael Mahfoud Band

Tuesday, July 31 - Big Wheelie & The Hubcaps

Wednesday, August 1 - Jim Tudini Big Band

Thursday, August 2 - Breakaway

Friday, August 3 - African American Cultural Center’s Dance & Drum Performance Company

 

Monday, August 6 - David Kane’s Them Jazzbeards

Tuesday, August 7 - Ramblin’ Lou Family Band from WXRL Radio

Wednesday, August 8 - Caribbean Extravaganza

Thursday, August 9 - JJ Swing

Friday, August 10 - Denzel Ward & The Cool Platinum Band

 

Monday, August 13 - Boys of Summer

Tuesday, August 14 - The Rod Nickson Project

Wednesday, August 15 - The Kensingtons

Thursday, August 16 - Joyryde & The Hitmen Horns

Friday, August 17 - Terry Buchwald’s Tribute to Elvis

 

Monday, August 20 - Unity Band

Tuesday, August 21 - Mike Randall & Friends

Wednesday, August 22 - Dave Constantino Band

Thursday, August 23 - The Lake Effect

Friday, August 24 - SuperCharger

 

For a copy of the full schedule, use the 'click to download' button below. For further information about the series or becoming a performer in the 2019 lineup, call (716) 842-5237. 
 

M&T is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. 

 

©2018 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.

Media Contact: 

 

Julia Berchou

(716) 842-5385

jshanahan@mtb.com

 

Performer/Community Member Contact: 

 

(716) 842-5237