Buffalo NY Best of WNY Band, Music and Entertainment Event News

2/12 - 10:30pm - Jeremy Hoyle
Croc Bar 88 W. Chippewa Buffalo NY

2/13 - 10:00pm - Party of Nine
Club Paradise 3950 McKinley Parkway Buffalo NY

2/18 - 9:00pm - The Doyle Bros.
Finnans 1191 Lincoln Ave. Lockport NY

2/18 - 8:00pm - An Evening with Grammy Nominee Chrisette Michele
The Tralf Music Hall 622 Main St Buffalo NY

2/19 - 10:00pm - Maria Sebastian & The Visitors
Root 5 4914 Lakeshore Rd Hamburg NY

2/19 - 9:30pm - The Doyle Bros.
Center St. Smokehouse 20 Center St Batavia NY

2/19 - 10:00pm - Bareback Jack
Buckin' Buffalo Saloon 294 Franklin St Buffalo NY

2/20 - 9:30pm - Carl Motyka
Dwyers 65 Webster St N. Tonawanda NY

2/20 - 10:00pm - The Doyle Bros.
Trattoria Aroma 311 Bryant St Buffalo NY

2/20 - 8:30pm - J-Ride
Sonoma Grille 5010 Main St Snyder NY

2/20 - 8:00pm - Little Mountain Band w/ Rogue Science, Charity Nuse, and The Drive
The Tralf Music Hall 622 Main St. Buffalo NY

2/20 - 9:30pm - Hot Daddy Rocks
PJ's Pub 1269 Erie Ave No. Tonawanda NY

2/21 - 12:00pm - Chris Campos
Trattoria Aroma 311 Bryant St Buffalo NY

2/25 - 9:30pm - Maria Sebastian and Marty Nightengale
Finnans 1191 Lincoln Ave Lockport NY

2/27 - 9:30pm - Reign of Kindo
Trattoria Aroma 311 Bryant St Buffalo NY

2/27 - 10:00pm - The Doyle Bros.
Tabbo 80 Main St Lockport NY

2/27 - 9:30pm - Scott Celni
PJ's Pub 1269 Erie Ave No. Tona. NY

2/27 - 9:30 - Hot Daddy Rocks
Dwyers 65 Webster St N. Tonawanda NY

2/28 - 12:00pm - Stuart Fuchs
Trattoria Aroma 311 Bryant St Buffalo NY

2/28 - 9:00pm - Via Audio and Pattern is Movement
Soundlab 110 Pearl St. Buffalo NY

WHEN: Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

TIME: 7:00 - 9:00 PM

WHERE: Hands-On Therapeutic Massage
42 S. Warsaw Street, Depew, NY

WHY: Evaluating Your Supplements by Dr. Jen Williamson, Naturopathic Medicine
All supplements are not created equal! Come and learn how to choose the quality products for yoru health.
Bring your vitamins and supplements to get a personal evaluation!

HOW MUCH: $15.00 pp

CALL TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT at 913-8370 or 908-2693
Light refreshements served!

50th Edition Lockport Exchange Charity Ring Circus
There will be clowns, extreme trampoline group, jugglers, and many local groups will also be performing for this annual charity ring circus.

WHEN: Friday, February 26th , 2010 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 4:00pm

WHERE: The Kenan Arena
Lockport, NY

COST: Adult $4.00
Children $2.00

Presale Tickets are available at Spalding Ace Hardware and Kenyons

Local Jewelry Artists will participate in a one day only SHOW and SALE. That's right, an art show for just jewelry! All artists create handmade pieces that are unique and one of a kind. Hundreds of FABULOUS baubles will be available for your selection. A portion of the proceeds benefit Gilda's Club WNY, a cancer support community for those living with cancer, their families and friends.

The event named "THE JEWELRY SHOW" will be held at Gilda's Club WNY, 1140 Delaware Ave, Monday, March 15. Hours are 11am-7 pm, with free admission. Light refreshments will be available.

Bring a friend that loves the "hunt" for that special new piece of jewelry to add to your wardrobe. There is NO other sale like this! All artists will be present to assist with your questions.

More information about Gilda’s Club WNY is available here: http://www.gildasclubwny.org/

2/4/2010 - 9:00pm J-Ride
Finnans
1191 Lincoln Ave Lockport NY

2/5/2010 - 8:00pm - Reign of Kindo
Batavia Downs
8315 Park Road Batavia NY

2/5/2010 - 10:00pm - Jeremy Hoyle/Strictly Hip
Finnans
1191 Lincoln Ave Lockport NY

2/5/2010 - 10:00pm - 90 West
PJ's Pub
1269 Erie Ave North Tona. NY

2/5/2010 - 9:00pm - Party of Nine
Verbena Grille
930 Maple Rd Amherst NY

2/6/2010 - 10:00pm Jeremy Hoyle Band
Crazy Jakes
26 Webster St North Tona. NY

2/6/2010 - 8:30pm - Off The Cuff
Sonoma Grille
5010 Main St. Snyder NY

2/11/2010 - 9:00pm - Jeremy Hoyle
Center Street Smokehouse
20 Center Street Batavia NY

2/11/2010 - 9:00pm - Joe Squared
Finnans
1191 Lincoln Ave Lockport NY

2/12/2010 - 8:30pm - Wakos
Sonoma Grille
5010 Main St. Snyder NY

2/12/2010 - 9:30pm - A-List
Root 5
4914 Lake Shore Road Hamburg NY

2/12/2010 - 8:30pm - Just The Gigolos w/ Sue Kincaid
Salvatore's Italian Gardens
6461 Transit Rd Depew NY

2/12/2010 - 9:00pm - Maria Sebastian w/ Zach Ward
Center Sreet Smokehouse
20 Center St. Batavia NY

2/13/2010 - 8:30pm - Joe Squared
Sonoma Grille
5010 Main St Snyder NY

2/13/2010 - 9:00pm - Carl Motyka
PJ's Pub
1269 Erie Ave North Tona. NY

2/13/2010 - 9:30pm - Hot Daddy Rocks
Root 5
4914 Lake Shore Rd Hamburg NY

2/13/2010 - 10:00pm - Jeremy Hoyle
Taboo
80 Main St Lockport NY

2/18/2010 - 8:00pm - An Evening with Grammy Nominee Chrisette Michele
The Tralf Music Hall
622 Main St Buffalo NY

2/20/2010 - 8:00pm - Little Mountain Band w/ Rogue Science, Charity Nuse & The Drive
The Tralf Music Hall
622 Main St. Buffalo NY

MEMPHIS, TENN. Jan. 12, 2010 – Jimi Jamison, recording artist and former lead singer of the band Survivor, is hosting a special concert and live auction benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Saturday, February 20, 2010, 7:30 p.m. at Minglewood Hall, 1555 Madison Ave. Jamison, a native Memphian, is well known for hit songs “Eye of the Tiger,” “Burning Heart,” “I Can't Hold Back,” and “I'm Always Here.”

Jamison will perform fan favorites, as well as songs from his new CD, “Crossroads Moment.” He will be joined on stage by Memphis group, The Will Tucker Band, as well as Rock and Pop Masters, featuring John Cafferty of the Beaver Brown Band and Joe Bouchard, formerly of Blue Oyster Cult. Larry Hoppen, of Orleans and Edgewood, a Memphis-based band featuring Buddy Davis, Jamison's former bandmate from the band Target will also perform. Jamison’s daughter, Amy Jamison, will make an appearance with the performer and his band.

Jamison met St. Jude founder Danny Thomas years ago, and has been a supporter of the organization since their conversation. “His words lit a fire inside me to visit the hospital and do whatever I could to help. I started out by simply visiting the hospital . . .and singing for the kids at Christmas to sharing whatever humble talent I might have to help raise money whenever I can,” said Jamison.

Tickets to the event may be purchased online at www.minglewoodhall.com or at the Minglewood Hall box office 901-312-6058. General admission tickets are $75 (table seating), and $25, VIP tickets (which include a meet-and-greet with band members) are $200. There are also Gold ($3000) and Silver ($2500) level sponsorships available (sponsorships include a table for 10, a meet-and-greet with the musicians, and a light buffet served before the event).

Steve Conley of 93.1 will emcee the concert. A live auction, which will be held during the band changeovers will include a violin/fiddle signed and donated by Charlie Daniels, a Gibson guitar donated by Don Felder of the Eagles, and a Dasani bicycle contributed by Coca-Cola. Net proceeds will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Details about the event and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Sally Irwin at 713.449.1283, by emailing sally@jimijamison.com or by visiting www.jimijamison.com. Additional information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital can be found by visiting the hospital’s website, www.stjude.org.

WEDNESDAY February 10, 2010 - 7:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Sweet Home High School
1901 Sweet Home Rd, Amherst, NY 14228

This show will sell out shortly so if you are planning on attending you need to order tickets right away. Once the show sells out, there will be no way to
attend the show. Order your tickets TODAY.

This is a one time chance to see BackBeat'64 with the Sweet Home
Symphony Orchestra, Choruses and Wind Ensemble.

Tickets are only $5.00 Contact: Jim Marone at (716)250-1346
or Email: jmarone@shs.k12.ny.us

(Buffalo, New York) - Teens are most at risk of making poor choices between the weekday hours of 3-6 pm. In response, schools and youth centers have developed a variety of after-school programs, the best practices of which blend academics, recreation and socialization as productive ways to fill those less supervised hours. Engaging kids is challenging when competing with the world of seductive media saturated with pop icons behaving badly. Programs need to be equally provocative, meaningful and push the creative edge.

Buffalo, New York is leading with a new model.

The newly organized “Play it forward partnership”, described as ‘A WNY collective of teaching artists & organizations empowering students with the love, lessons and legacy of careers in the creative arts’ has booked an impressive series of top talent to teach students about unique and emerging professions in the media industry, while stressing the value of post-high school education. The series began on January 13, a weekly, 20-session after school-program, Music & Media – career coaching, after-school (“M&M” program) will launch the program with a team of 15 high school students attending The Valley Center in South Buffalo. Additional sites are being prepared. The new program has the attention of education leaders in Albany.

The “M&M” idea grew out of the 2 recent “tunes4food” Food Bank of Western New York benefit events that united students and veteran artists in a community service setting – raising over 14,000 pounds of food. James, who is a state-certified student leadership trainer, organized that collaboration as a next step in an 11-year effort that started with a “musicians-united” safe school benefit & awareness raising CD. Entitled, “War is Over”, the CD was released on April 9, 1999, 2 weeks before the Columbine High School tragedy captured the nation’s attention.

“The status-quo approaches to motivating students to learn and grow need to be replaced”, states Dr. Felicia Watson, Director of New York State’s 21st CCLC State-wide Technical Assistance Center (that provides professional development to over 500 after-school sites and 2,000 programs in New York State, collectively funded by $120,000,000 each year. “For years Bob James [of Student Voices] has been a source of pioneering new ‘best-practice' models of just how to move past the tired and old with something that is alive, real and student-centered. This is an awesome way to kick-off the new decade with this creative, grassroots, community-wide approach - perfectly perched to serve both kids and organizations!”

The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame will assist in coordinating the growing partnership which includes, CEPA Gallery, the MINE group from GCR Audio (Music Industry Network Events), Squeaky Wheel, Ciurczak & Co., program evaluators, Linda Appleby’s Buffalo Select Chorus, Buffalo’s Business First, many of the “tunes4food” musicians, local media businesses and several others. “Performers make great teachers”, states Anthony Casuccio, Vice President of the Hall of Fame. “This is a perfect opportunity for the talent and life stories of our inductees to inspire and inform kids about career options in the arts industry.”

Working artists set to share their career stories and perform for the students include: guitarist, Doug Yeomans; band leader, Joyce Wilson Nixon; Free Henry!, Lee Ron Zydeco, The HEADERS, Nelson Starr, Tim O’Shei, Managing Editor from Business First, filmmaker Jax Deluca, and songwriter, Grace Stumberg. Designing the project with local talent and resources helps control costs, keeping the program affordable and expandable to additional sites. “The Valley Center is proud to be the first site for this – like a private concert series. Kids are excited”, states Brian Pilarski, youth director at the Valley Community Association. “It will be great to watch this evolve.”

The new program’s first series will wrap on June 9th, with a large event open to the community.

For complete schedule, go HERE and contact Bob James above.

1/21/2010 - 9:00pm - Mo Porter
Finnans
1191 Lincoln Ave Lockport NY

1/22/2010 - 9:30pm - Reign of Kindo
Center Street Smokehouse
20 Center Street Batavia NY

1/22/2010 - 8:00pm - Nick Battistella
Salvatore's Italian Gardens
6461 Transit Road Depew, NY

1/22/2010 - 10:00pm - Carl Motyka Band
Finnans
1191 Lincoln Ave Lockport NY

1/23/2010 - 9:30pm - Bareback Jack
PJ's Pub
1269 Erie Avenue No. Tona.

1/23/2010 - 8:30pm - Gretchen Schulz/Doug Morgans
Sonoma Grille
5010 Main St. Snyder NY

1/23/2010 - 9:30pm - Joe Squared
Taboo
80 Main Street Lockport NY

1/24/2010 - 2:00pm - Gretchen Schulz/Doug Morgans
The Glenn Park Tavern
5507 Main St Williamsville NY

1/24/2010 - 12:00pm - Chris Campos
Trattoria Aroma
307 Bryant St Buffalo NY

1/25/2010 - 8:00pm - The Buffalo Shuffle
Featuring Mick Hayes, Doug Yeomans, And More - Guest Artists Weekly
Tralf Music Hall
622 Main St Buffalo NY

1/28/2010 - 9:00pm - The Doyle Brothers
Finnans
1191 Lincoln Ave Lockport NY

1/28/2010 - 9:00pm - Jeremy Hoyle/Strictly Hip
Center St Smokehouse
20 Center ST Batavia NY

1/29/2010 - 9:30pm - The Doyle Brothers
Center St Smokehouse
20 Center St Batavia NY

1/30/2010 - 8:30pm - Disco Duck
Salvatore's Italian Gardens
6461 Transit Road Depew, NY

1/30/2010 - 8:00pm 97Rock Presents Jessie Galante
The Tralf Music Hall
622 Main St. Buffalo NY

1/30/2010 - 9:30pm - Mo Porter
PJ's Pub
1269 Erie Ave North Tona.

1/30/2010 - 10:00pm - The Doyle Brothers
Trattoria Aroma
307 Bryant St. Buffalo NY

1/30/2010 - 8:30pm - Wakos
Sonoma Grille
5010 Main St Snyder NY

1/31/2010 - 2:00pm - The Doyle Brothers
Glenn Park Tavern
5507 Main St Williamsville NY

1/31/2010 - 12:00pm - Chris Campos
Trattoria Aroma
307 Bryant St Buffalo NY

2/1/2010 - The Buffalo Shuffle
Featuring Mick Hayes, Doug Yeomans, And More - Guest Artists Weekly
Tralf Music Hall
622 Main St Buffalo NY

Event: THE SUBDUDES
Place: The Tralf Music Hall - $22.50 presale / $25 day of
Event Date: Thursday March 18th, 2010
Event Time: 8:00pm

With their warm and sultry vocals, light acoustic instrumentation and minimalist percussion, these Bayou rockers boast a uniquely balmy, bouncy sound. The songs are beautifully crafted, built around Tommy Malone and John Magnie’s strong lead vocals and superb harmony arrangements for their band partners. Acoustic strings and accordion provide the instrumental accompaniment, with no solos except on the instrumental coda, and only the bass amplified throughout."

In 1987, four musicians got together for what they envisioned would be a one-time performance at Tipitina’s in New Orleans. It was a night of mostly acoustic music – sparse instrumentation with a strong emphasis on song-writing and vocal harmonies. The show far exceeded expectations, and on that March night The Subdudes were born. Nearly 10 years later, after five well-received albums and several years of hard touring, the Subdudes called it quits. Spinoff projects ensued, as did the occasional reunion show. Finally, in February of 2002, three of the four original band members decided to get back together. They recruited additional longtime friends to fill out the sound and called themselves the Dudes, but the music was still unmistakably the Subdudes. Today, they are once again the Subdudes. And there’s still nobody in the world that sounds like them.

The Subdudes continue to tour, harder than ever, and are winning over a new generation of fans who missed out the first time.

“There’s a genuine spirit of creativity,” Malone says today. “It’s fun, it’s exciting. It’s truly fun. We enjoy making music together, we’re enjoying writing together. It’s fun as hell to me.”

So, welcome back to BUFFALO NY - The Subdudes: Tommy Malone, John Magnie, Steve Amedée, Tim Cook and Jimmy Messa at the Tralf Music Hall: Thursday March 18th, 2010

Bio info source: http://www.subdudes.com/

Presented By ESI Events. http://www.esieartists.com/ . 716-835-3500

Tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster Locations. Charge by Phone 1-800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/

Event: WILLIE NILE
Place: The Tralf Music Hall - $23 presale / $27 day of
Event Date: Saturday March 6th, 2010
Event Time: 8:00pm

Nile is a songwriters’ songwriter. No less a personage than Lucinda Williams has said of him, “Willie Nile is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I’d be opening up for him instead of him for me.” And he’s never been more eloquent than he is here. Lou Reed hails Streets of New York as “a great album,” while Graham Parker calls it “a real gem—stirring melodies, passionate vocals, intriguing lyrics…every track a winner.” Says Ian Hunter, “Willie’s from the big-hearted downtown alleyways of NYC (New York commitment). Well done!” Little Steven adds, “Willie Nile is so good I can’t believe he’s not from New Jersey!”

Nile grew up in Buffalo, New York, part of a bustling Irish Catholic family with what he calls “an open-door policy.” For as far back as Willie can remember, his parents welcomed house guests from around the world for extended stays, and “the cosmopolitan nature of the world kind of rubbed off,” he says. (Willie will be playing with local musicians who happen to be friends and family on March 6th.) After studying philosophy at the University of Buffalo, he headed for Greenwich Village, determined to make a name for himself as a latter-day troubadour. That he did throughout the ’70s, becoming a fixture in the Village folk and rock scenes and getting tabbed as the next big thing to come out of that long-thriving artistic community. Writing in The New York Times, the great rock critic Robert Palmer called him “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years.”

He made his recording debut in 1980 with his acclaimed self-titled LP on Arista Records, following it a year later with Golden Down. He also opened the Who’s North American tour at the personal request of the band. In 1982, he signed to Geffen Records but got caught in record-biz limbo and didn’t manage to release another record until 1991, when Columbia issued Places I Have Never Been. With the EP Hard Times in America in 1992, which became a cult favorite throughout Europe, Nile finally managed to jump off the major-label hamster wheel. Gathering together his resources over time, he managed to put out his first self-released album, Beautiful Wreck of the World, just before the end of the century.

Willie, his youthful energy unflagging, and he’s never sounded more committed to the themes he’s tackled. Please welcome Willie Nile to The Tralf Music Hall, Saturday March 6th, 2010!

Bio info source: www.willienile.com/bio.php

Presented By ESI Events. www.esieartists.com . 716-835-3500

Tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster Locations. Charge by Phone 1-800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com

1/11/2010 - 8:00pm - The Buffalo Shuffle feat. Mick Hayes, Doug Yeomans, and Friends (weekly) @ The Tralf Music Hall 622 Main St Buffalo NY

1/16/2010 - 11:00pm - Strictly Hip @ Croc Bar 88 W. Chippewa Buffalo NY

1/16/2010 - 11:00pm - Kings of Gonzo @ Buffalo Sports Garden 2945 Southwestern Blvd Orchard Park NY

1/17/2010 - 5:00pm - The A-List Band @ Water St. Landing 115 S. Water Street Lewiston NY

1/18/2010 - 8:00pm - The Buffalo Shuffle featuring Mick Hayes, Doug Yeomans, And Friends - Guest Artists Weekly at the Tralf Music Hall 622 Main St Buffalo NY]

1/20/2010 - 8:00pm - Jeremy Hoyle @ Uno 4125 Maple Rd Amherst NY

1/22/2010 - 11:00pm - Kings of Gonzo @ Croc Bar 88 W. Chippewa Buffalo NY

1/23/2010 - 10:00pm - Party of Nine @ CLub Paradise 3950 McKinley Pkwy Buffalo NY

1/25/2010 - 8:00pm - The Buffalo Shuffle featuring Mick Hayes, Doug Yeomans, And Friends - Guest Artists Weekly at the Tralf Music Hall 622 Main St Buffalo NY]

1/30/2010 - 10:00pm - Party of Nine @ Shadow Lounge 1504 Hertel Ave Buffalo NY

1/30/2010 - 8:00pm - Ransomville @ Buckin' Buffalo Saloon 294 Franklin St. Buffalo NY

Due to hazardous weather conditions, The opening night of The Tralf Music Hall's "The Buffalo Shuffle- defining the Buffalo Sound" - will be postponed until Next Monday (Jan 4, 2010)

All tickets for tonight will be honored Next Week. MONDAY JAN 4 2010
We are sorry for the inconvenience and we encourage continued support of this fantastic Buffalo Event.

We're Bringing Buffalo's best music, But Buffalo's best weather has postponed the Shuffle.

The Buffalo Shuffle"- Defining the Buffalo Sound
Monday December 28th 2009 - 8pm & every Monday night
Tralf Music Hall Buffalo Theater District 622 Main St.
www.tralfmusichall.com

Like many other aspects of the Queen City, Buffalo has always been under-appreciated as a music city. To a certain extent, it can’t be helped. The nerve centers of the music industry are elsewhere, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville. And then there’s the Buffalo Mentality; that secondary market syndrome that contends that something or someone from out of town is better than something or someone from here (except for Chicken Wings, and occasionally the Sabres and Bills).***

Fifty some odd years ago, a Rock and Roll, boogie woogie blues style band called Stan and the Ravens started playing the local bar circuit with a sound influenced by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and Ray Charles . Many local musicians worked with the pianist and band leader, Stan Szelest, following his pounding left hand. When Stan and the Ravens broke up, bassist Tommy Calandra and drummer Gary Mallaber joined a band called The Rising Sons with vocalist Tony Galla, guitarist John Weitz, and pianist/keyboardist Jimmy Calire. This line up became Raven.

Many Musicians have followed in the footsteps of these players, all recognizing the feel, the sound, and the energy that is The Buffalo Sound. Sometimes referred to as the Buffalo Shuffle,
the drum beat is a shuffle best described by drummer Gary Mallaber:

“If you boil a shuffle down to something you go to a Jimmy Reed record. That’s what I go to, or I go to the song Honkey Tonk by The Bill Dogget Quartet. Between those two, anything Jimmy Reed does and “Honkey Tonk,” you have the absolute shuffle the way it should be. If you play it the right way, that's Buffalo and it’s gusty, earthy.

There’s a geography, it’s true to itself. There’s a Texas shuffle. There’s a Chicago shuffle. There’s a New York City way of playing a shuffle. There’s almost a California way of playing the shuffle. However, much like our signature food, we as Buffalonians refer to it as a chicken wing, the rest of the country calls it a “Buffalo Wing.” This is about rediscovering another identity that is truly our own.

“The Buffalo Shuffle” every Monday night at The Tralf Music Hall will showcase the development and foundation of the Buffalo style of traditional rhythm and blues. We welcome musicians young and old to take part in the ongoing development of the Buffalo Sound. The house band each Monday will be featuring local Buffalo Musicians Doug Yeomans, Mick Hayes, Pete Holquin, Jim Ehinger, Steve Sadoff, and Al Monti with special guest musicians weekly. (More detailed information on individual musicians below)

***Patti Meyer Lee &
Gary Lee - “Don’t Bother Knockin’...This Town’s a Rockin’”
Buffalo Sound Press. Buffalo, NY 2001

Jim Ehinger: After leaving Buffalo to find his fame and fortune in L.A., Jim Ehinger was the keyboardist of choice to play on albums and/or tours with musical greats such as Coco Montoya, Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, George Harrison, Steven Stills and Bob Weir. His rendition of "Rhapsody in Blue" opened the 1984 Olympics in LA and he served as Dennis Quaid's piano coach for the movie "Great Balls of Fire."

His performance on "At This Moment" with Billy Vera and the Beaters helped propel the tune to be a million selling number one record.

Ten more years in NYC saw Jim serve as musical director for B.B. King's Blues Club & Grill and for the Mayer Theater in addition to his playing with other greats.

Jim now can be heard playing in local clubs in the WNY area along with our top blues or R&B talent.

Mick Hayes: Mick is the quintessential young front man the music industry was built on! With his sharp dressed attitude and his “born lucky charm” he is sculpting the sound of contemporary blues and R&B today with powerful

vocals and the cleanest home grown skills that pass through all of the blues sub-categories in one night! Within the last year the multi-award winning guitarist/vocalist/songwriter has opened for: Robin Trower, Dave Mason, Dickey Betts & Pete Frampton.

Mick joined the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame group Only Humen at the ripe age of 20, and it was with this band where he began to learn his trademark showmanship and a 4 gig per-week worth ethic. As a member of Only Humen, he opened for Marshall Tucker and Molly Hatchet, and contributed on four songs of Only Humen’s release, Slightly Twisted Fiction. After three years with Only Humen, Mick decided to form the Mick Hayes Band in 2003. Acclaim arrived quickly in the Trio’s first year, with Mick earning a People’s Choice Award for Best Blues Guitarist, and placing 10th in the USA International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Mick’s passion and conviction on stage has done more than sold thousands of copies of his CD it’s opened up the eyes of some of the industries most recognized artists who cite Mick as:

“Mick Hayes is the real thing! Awesome voice, great groove--What
we need more of in this world!”

Billy Sheehan - Legendary Bassist

David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Steve Vai

Mick Hayes plays the blues like it wants to be played. I gotta' find out what amp he's running through. The coolest stuff I've heard in a while.

Feels real good. Love it,

Bill Champlin - Grammy Award Winning B3 Organist Chicago and Sons Of Champlin

Doug Yeomans: Guitarist-Vocalist- Songwriter

“…a tasty single-stringed soloist, wields a mean slide; a voice stuffed with character.” -Blues Review Magazine Oct/Nov 2003 First Flight Review

“Yeomans’ greatest trait – in addition to his ample chops and considerable musicianship – may well be the heart he brings to his songs. He’s a world-class player whose mastery makes him a Buffalo treasure.”

- J. Miers – Buffalo News

As A Performer Doug Yeomans plays a hybrid style of Rock & Roll, Blues, Country, and Bluegrass. His career has taken him from New York to California, with stays in Nashville, Toronto, and Austin with many other stops in-between. He plays concert stages, festivals, clubs, private functions, theater shows, studio dates, guitar clinics and is a teaching artist in schools.

Awards:

2004 Inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame

2001 & 2003 Best Blues Guitarist by the Buffalo Music Awards

2003 and 2004 representative of the Blues Society of Western New York in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN.

2002 and 2003 Listener Awards for Best Acoustic Blues and Best Bluegrass Act

2001 North American Rock Guitar Champion at the Buffalo-Niagara Guitar Festival

1990 Best Country Guitarist Buffalo Music Awards

1988 – 1994 Toured with Award winning Coppercreek Bluegrass Band, Creekbend

As An Educator:

Doug Yeomans is an experienced clinician. He has lead workshops at the Mayville Bluegrass Festival yearly since 2003; Guitar Center, Tonawanda, NY; Jackson Music, Grand Island, NY; Wellsville Creative Arts Center, Wellsville, NY; Guitar Summit, Jordan Ont.; Melodee Music, Leesburg, VA: Generations Guitar Society Master Clinician, Bradford, PA. and is facilitator of a popular Bluegrass Guitar Club.

Doug has been a contracted clinician with Young Audiences of Western New York since 1997, each year sharing his talents and knowledge with thousands of elementary to high school children. Workshops include Blues to Bluegrass;, Erie Canal History; Stringmen; and Just Guitar.

Twice chosen as a feature performer on the Robby Takac (Goo Goo Dolls) and University of Buffalo produced television series: Music is Art – Live

Pete Holguin of The Soul Invaders

BMHOF Class of 2006

The Soul Invaders (now known as The Billy McEwen Band) have been Western New York's leading Rhythm and Blues band for over a decade.

Led by "Buffalo Music Awards" Hall of Fame vocalist Billy McEwen, they punch out a crowd pleasing mix of Classic Blues, Funk, Rock 'n' Roll, R&B and Originals.

Over the years, this award winning band has shared the stage with acts such as Muddy Waters, James Cotton, John Mayall, The Neville Brothers and The Average White Band.

The Billy McEwen Band are guitarists Jay Dzina and Ed Bores, drummer Pete Holguin, bassist Jim Brucato, and Al Monti on saxophone. All members contribute both lead and background vocals which, when combined with the gritty vocals and aggressive harp playing of Billy McEwen, produce the biggest and most distinctive R&B sound in the Western New York area.

Al Monti - Saxophone

Al Monti joined The Hitmen Horns in 1992. He was voted Best Blues Saxophone Player in 1982, 1986, 1994 and 2003. Saxophone for Stan Szelest and the Ravens

Al is also a Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductee

Steve Sadoff- Session bass player and sideman for numerous local artists, Steve's style has been critically acclaimed for the accuracy of sound to his mentor Tom Calandra.