Let’s hear it for the Summer of 2010, it’s not gone yet, but it’s getting close. School is just around the corner for those young enough and things are winding down. Labor Day is only a couple weeks away. Thursday at the Square and the Molson Canal Concerts are done, but a few good shows are left and a couple festivals to finish things off with a bang.
 |
| From Big Sugar |
Last week’s Canal Concert with Big Sugar was, in my opinion, the best of the season. I was happy with the opening acts, but Big Sugar stole the show with a outstanding set. As I warned you, they were LOUD! but gave a great performance with songs representing all of their catalog. They really fed off the audience’s energy and fed it back in a long show going to at least 10:30pm.
The attendance was somewhat lower than the previous week. I don’t know why, maybe weather uncertainties, or other events, but a very respectable sized crowd nonetheless. It was a fitting turnout for the band without being excessively crowded and I got some good photos. I put my earplugs in and moved up as people were moving back because of the loudness!
Here’s next week’s lineup:
Monday: Artpark - Sara Evans, Amanda Nagurney Tuesday: Artpark - The Trews, Aqueos Tuesday: Gateway Harbor - No Excuses, Hit N Run Friday: Artpark Main Stage ($) - Bachman-Turner Friday: Pine Ave. Pavillion - Amanda Nagurney, Mason-Dixon Band (7-9pm Niagara Falls) Friday-Saturday-Sunday: Hamburg Fairgrounds - Buffalo Irish Festival Saturday: Ulrich City Center (Lockport) - NYS Rock & Blues Fest - Savoy Brown, Square Circle Triangle, Terranova Band, Wanted By The FBI, Flyin' Blind Blues Band, more Saturday-Sunday: Elmwood Ave. Festival of the Arts - 3 stages, over 20 bands each day! Plus the festival!
Boy, I’m late getting started on this, even by Al time, so here’s the schedule, you pick your own best show. (I know, that’s what you do anyway, I just try to give you a little more info to do that each week.)
[Left: Jeremy Hoyle Band/Strictly Hip at Finnans in 2006]
Tuesday: Artpark: Foreginer, Free Henry! Wednesday: Artpark: Sloan, David Nolf Wednesday: Gateway Harbor: Dreamland and That ’80s Hair Band Friday: Gateway Harbor: Bleeding Hearts Friday: Canal Concerts Lockport: Big Sugar, Johnny Nobody, Beggar's Best, Jeremy Hoyle Band Saturday: Amherst Scottish Festival (Amherst Museum): ($10 admission to festival) Penny Whiskey, Celtic Circle Ceilidh Band, Stone Row, Harpbeat, Hobson's Choice, Step in Time, more
[dewplayer:http://gritzmacher.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/BluesTraveler-awesome.mp3|http://gritzmacher.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Blues-Traveler-intro.mp3|http://gritzmacher.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/BluesTraveler-fuckin-awesome.mp3]
Last week’s shows were pretty much can’t miss. Hope you got out and attended those you wanted to. I had a great time at the Lockport Canal Concert again seeing my old friends Free Henry. I got there too late to hear Bearhunter, but talked with them at the merch booth and picked up a couple CDs. Automaton was a pleasant surprise and I hope to see more of them.
Anyway, here’s what’s on tap for this week:
Tuesday: Artpark (outdoor) George Thorogood & The Destroyers,
Tom Hambridge & the Rattlesnakes
Wednesday: Gateway Harbor - Wide Right, Boogie Monsters
Wednesday: Artpark - John Browns Body, Little Mountain Band
Thursday: Lafayette Square - Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Friday: Lockport Canal Concert - Rik Emmett, Wanted by The FBI,
Friendly Fire
Friday: Gateway Harbor - Widow Maker (probably not the Dee Snider band!)
Saturday: Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor ($) - OAR, Citizen Cope
Saturday: Hard Rock NF - Lou Gramm, Free Henry, McCarthyism and eXit!
Sunday: Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor ($) - Slightly Stoopid,
Cypress Hill