One of the best things about summer in Western New York is the large number of great outdoor venues for free summer concerts. Two venues recently announced their summer concert lineups.
The Molson Canal Concert schedule has officially been announced, ending weeks of speculation with the confirmation of nine shows at the Ulrich City Centre in Lockport. The nine-week series, running Friday nights from June 25th through August 20th, moved from North Tonawanda to Lockport in 2008. The Ulrich City Centre is bound by Main, Walnut, and Locust Sts.
This year’s schedule mixes the successful formula of classic rock and Canadian hitmakers with some country and 80s pop thrown in. All shows start at 5:30 p.m.
*June 25th – Rusted Root, opening the series for the second year in a row.
*July 2nd – Our Lady Peace, also back for the second consecutive year after a very successful show on July 4th weekend in 2009.
*July 9th – country’s “Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson.
*July 16th – Three Dog Night, with hits from the late 1960s and 1970s.
*July 23rd – Blues Traveler, returning to Western New York after a great free show at the Seneca Niagara Casino last summer.
*July 30th – Rik Emmitt of Triumph making one of his annual appearances.
*August 6th – more 1970s rock from Kansas.
*August 13th – 1980s Brit-pop stars Tears for Fears.
*August 20th – more Canadian rock from Big Sugar.
The shows are free to attend, and concessions are available on site. There is free parking but it is first come, first served; some area businesses offer parking at a nominal fee. For more information on the series, visit www.canalconcerts.com.
This year, Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls USA gets in on the act with the new “Hard Rock at the Falls Presents” series of free concerts. The concerts will be held on Old Falls St., adjacent to the Hard Rock Cafe. Shows will start at 6 p.m. and are all ages events.
*July 3rd – Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie and his solo band, the Country of Miracles, play the opening show of the series, with Joshua James and Alison Pipitone.
*July 10th – 80s ska-pop from the English Beat, with Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Floozie, and the Rockyas.
*July 17th – the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra plays the music of Pink Floyd; the show also features Scott Celani.
*July 24th – Soul Asylum plays the Hard Rock stage, with the Incurables, DoDriver, and A Potter’s Field.
*July 31st – Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm takes the stage, along with McCarthyism and eXit!
*August 7th – Tonic finishes the six-week series, along with Ryan Star, More Than Me, and Ten Cent Howl.
All shows will benefit Music Is Art. A limited number of VIP reservations (21+) are available for each show – visit the Hard Rock Cafe’s Niagara Falls USA website for more information.
