The Jonas Brothers, Nas, Wiz Khalifa: The biggest comeback story in pop this year, a hip-hop legend and a slightly-past-his-prime rapper are just a few of the many acts taking the stage in Buffalo this summer.
Just because students can finally take a break doesn’t mean Buffalo’s music scene needs to. The Spectrum compiled a list of some of the hot music events coming up during the warm summer months.
Thomas Rhett- Darien Lake
Friday, July 19
Country music fans can be excited for Thomas Rhett’s 2019 “Very Hot Summer Tour.” The singer-songwriter is making his way to the Darien Lake Amphitheater to celebrate the summer this July. The tour will also include country singers Dustin Lynch, Russell Dickerson and Rhett’s own father, Rhett Atkins.
Rhett’s most recent album, “Life Changes,” was released two years before the tour took off and features songs like “Marry Me,” “Craving You" and “Drink a Little Beer.” Rhett is also known for his hit songs “Die A Happy Man” and “T-Shirt.”
Wiz Khalifa- Darien Lake
Sunday, July 21
Wiz Khalifa performs at Spring Fest 2017.
Wiz Khalifa announced his 2019 North American summer tour, “The Decent Exposure,” during his set at weekend two of Coachella 2019. The rapper’s Buffalo fans can rejoice because the tour will stop at the Darien Lake Amphitheater in July.
The performance will also feature special guests French Montana, Playboi Carti, Moneybagg Yo, Chevy Woods and DJ Drama. Khalifa, UB’s 2017 Spring Fest headliner, is known for songs like “Black and Yellow,” “Young, Wild & Free,” “Roll Up” and “See You Again.” On April 20, Khalifa released his newest mixtape “Fly Times Vol. 1: The Good Fly Young,” featuring artists like Problem, Curren$y, THEMXXNLIGHT, Ty Dolla $ign, Chevy Woods, Young Deji and Sosamann.
Brit Floyd - Pink Floyd Tribute - Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, July 30
Tribute bands can also bring out entertaining performances this summer. Brit Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute band, will be performing at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in late July. The live show tries to emulate the sights and sounds of an actual Pink Floyd gig.
The band formed in 2011 in Liverpool, United Kingdom under Damian Darlington. Darlington had been a part of “The Australian Pink Floyd Show” for 17 years, but wanted to create a show that paid more attention to the details and emotion behind Pink Floyd’s performances.
The show features covers of Pink Floyd’s hits like “Another Brick In the Wall (Part I),” “Another Brick In the Wall (Part II),” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V)” and “Comfortably Numb.”
Jonas Brothers - KeyBank Center
Tuesday, Aug. 27
Though this concert is technically on the second day of classes, it would be a crime to ignore one of the most highly anticipated events in Buffalo.
After reuniting six years after their 2013 split, the Jo bros released their new album “Happiness Begins,” their first in ten years. Now, the brothers are going on tour in support of the album.
“Happiness Begins” features hit songs like “Sucker,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “Cool.” Fans are truly “Burnin’ Up” through the summer, waiting to see the brothers perform live together again.
Nas - Canalside
Friday, Aug. 30
The genius behind 1994’s “Illmatic” is taking the album’s 25th-anniversary tour to Buffalo’s Canalside on the first week of classes.
Nas, one of hip hop’s greats, is touring after last summer’s “Nasir” album dropped, exclusively produced by Kanye West. While the show will be geared more toward older fans, as Nas will play through ‘94 hits like “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” and “The World is Yours,” fans may be able to catch a few tracks from the new record.
Nasty Nas has some tough concert-week competition in the Jo Bros, but regardless of who you plan on seeing, Buffalo has some pretty solid shows this summer.
Julianna Tracey is the senior arts editor and can be reached at julianna.tracey@ubspectrum.com and on Twitter @JTraceySpec
Julianna Tracey is a freshman music theater and history double major. She’s excited to explore all that the Buffalo arts scene has to offer.
