Rough Frances with the Buddy Hollies

Thursday, August 7

In the days of the Motown era, there was a popular soul sound called the “Motown Sound.” Standing out from the “Motown Sound,” there was a band called Death. Playing garage rock and protopunk, the members of the band, the Hackney brothers—guitarist David, bassist Bobby, and drummer Dannis—have been credited as one of the first punk bands on the scene. Unsurprisingly, Bobby Hackney passed down his talented genes to three of the five members of punk band and Death descendents Rough Francis. Already involved in the punk and hardcore scene, the “new” Hackney brothers if you will, did not originally know of their father’s and uncles’ musical past. Inspired by their findings, the trio of brothers, Bobby Jr., Julian, and Urian, alongside their two friends, Paul Comengo and Steve Williams, created a tribute to Death. Soon after though, Rough Francis began recording their own music. With their own unique musical style inspired by 1960’s garage rock, Motown, and 1980’s hardcore, you can still hear inspirational echoes from their family roots: Death. This five piece will be making their way to Buffalo to play at Nietzsche’s next Thursday (Aug 7) with Buffalo stalwarts the Bloody Hollies. Also playing in support will be local band Fatal Figures and Rochester’s Total Fucking Bummer.

- sara ali

10pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $5.99

Through Sunday, August 3

More Infringement

The Infringement Festival is still going strong as the second week of the 11-day-long festival commences. As we move into August, there is still a lot of infringing to be done. On Thursday (July 31), head down to Buffalo Iron Works for some funktronic music by the Root Cellar, Blue Rootz, and RootsCollider (pictured). On Friday (Aug 1) make sure to stop into Babeville’s Ninth Ward for the Infringement Festival Friday Night Hootenanny with the Observers, Nickel City String Band, Folkfaces, and Allysen Callery. Participate in a drum circle in Delaware Park with Drums Along Hoyt Lake on Saturday (Aug 2) or bring your own piñata over to the Piñata Party at The Foundry, which will feature live music from Bipolar Coaster, Eraserhead’s Baby, One Way Terror, Bighorn Sheep, Apex Down, Chloroform, and Digital Afterlife. Then finally, on Sunday (Aug 3) the whole thing wraps up with the Closing Ceremonies and the Iffy Awards at Nietzsche’s at 8pm, but not before a block party in the Holley Farms Parking lot in Allentown, featuring a slew of street performers and bands (2pm-7pm). Long live Infringement Festival.

- cory perla

Various Locations (infringebuffalo.org)

Friday, August 1

Slow Roll Buffalo

Deep Thinka Records and The Good Neighborhood are joining forces to bring us Slow Roll Buffalo, a cycling tradition which originated in Detroit and has since been adopted by Cleveland and cities in Sweden and Iraq. Thanks to the hip hop label and the community music organization, Buffalo is now among the list of participants. The concept is a family-friendly cruise that promotes cultural appreciation of an urban landscape, just about the opposite of any race. Slow Roll Buffalo will begin and end at a different downtown spot each ride, beginning with Handlebar at 149 Swan Street this Friday (Aug 1) and followed by Resurgence Brewing (Sep 5) and Hydraulic Hearth (Oct 3). The ride is set to voyage up the East Side and pass through a variety of prominent historical landmarks, the Underground Railroad stop at Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, Kensington Expressway, and the Buffalo Science Museum being among them. The pace will be a brisk 8-10 mph and a code of conduct, which includes sticking together, staying on the right side of the street, and no littering, is expected to be adhered to. The ride will end in the same place it began and afterwards participants are welcome to celebrate at the soft-opening of Handlebar (a brand new gastropub and cyclist stop). Riders will meet at 6:30pm, roll at 7pm, and reconvene at 9pm for some beer and funky tunes by DJ Cutler. It seems as though all the variables are in place to partake in the first occasion of what should become a fresh and pleasant Friday evening tradition.

- jeanette chin

6:30pm Handlebar, 149 Swan Street (slowroll.bike)

Saturday & Sunday, August 2 & 3

Chalkfest

For the third year in a row, Chalkfest returns to the 500 block of Main Street in Buffalo. The family-friendly benefit for Theater of Youth (TOY), a non-profit theater group that concentrates on entertaining children and engaging with young actors, will take place this Saturday and Sunday (Aug 2-3). This year’s theme is “Dr. Seuss,” the legendary children’s author behind classic books like The Cat In The Hat, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, in honor of TOY’s 2014 opening Seussical. Chalk artist Michael Macaulay, known for his 3D chalk murals and street paintings will be on hand once again to evoke the spirit of Dr. Seuss in brilliant, yet temporary sidewalk colors. Artists Bridget Lyons and Katie Better will also join in on the fun. The festival will also include live music from the Steve Balesteri Trio, live storybook readings, and activities like hopscotch, face painting, and life-sized checker and tic-tac-toe boards. There will be a beer tent for the adults, and food trucks on site as well. Awards will be given out for the best chalk art, so prepare for a day of creativity on Main Street.

- cory perla

12pm to 6pm 500 block of Main Street. (860-1760 / chalkfestbuffalo.com) free

Saturday, August 2

Beer and Bacon Festival

If there exists a better combination than beer and bacon, this writer hasn’t found it. Now, if you’ve got a hankering for this epic combination, I happen to know the perfect place to go to satisfy it: The Beer and Bacon Tasting Festival, this Saturday (Aug 2) at Island Park (5565 Main Street) in Williamsville. It goes beyond just crispy, juicy, simmering strips of thick cut bacon and frosty mugs of frothing, refreshing beer though. Menu items like Nutella and bacon pizza, crawfish mac and cheese with bacon, bacon and beer meatballs, and bacon wrapped shrimp will be available to cater to your bacon craving from every angle from vendors like Apple Wood Café, J&L BBQ, Pizza, The Great Foodini, FallyMac, Village Sweet Shoppe and Sweet Hearth Food Truck. With a “Craft Beer Tasting Ticket” guests can sample up to 20 beers or hard ciders from breweries like Flying Bison Brewing Company, Ithaca Beer Company, McKenzie’s Hard Cider, Saranac Brewery, Community Beer Works, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Pearl Street Brewery, CB Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch, Hamburg Brewing Company, Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, Old First Ward Brewing Company, and Resurgence Brewing Company. If this all sounds like too much to handle, you could always run a few of those calories off by participating in the Beer & Bacon 5K. Million Dollar Trio and Strictly Hip will provide musical entertainment. To top it all off, the event is in support of Traci’s Hope, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people diagnosed with breast cancer.

- cory perla

Noon-10pm, Island Park, 5565 Main Street, Williamsville (beerbaconfest.com) $5 general admission, $30 online presale or $40 at the door for craft beer tasting

Sunday, August 3

WNY VegFest

For those that prefer something a little lighter than Beer and Bacon, on Sunday (Aug 3), visit Delaware Park at Hoyt Lake and the Marcy Casino and take part in WNY VegFest (not to be confused with Vaggie Fest, see music feature in this issue). The inaugural vegan and healthy living festival will feature renowned speakers including NHL veteran, animal rights activist and vegan Georges Laraque; TV chef, Mary Lawrence; holistic health counselor and inspirational speaker Victoria Moran; New York Coalition for Healthy School Food executive director Amie Hamlin, and more. There will also be exhibits, live music, and delicious health conscious food from a variety of vendors. Guests may participate in events from yoga demonstrations to the Tofurky Trot, a 5k run/walk around Hoyt Lake. The entire event will benefit Asha Farm Sanctuary, Farm Sanctuary, and Food Not Bombs, three organizations dedicated to the proper treatment of animals, education, reduction of food waste, and other vegan and healthy living goals

- meghan phelan

VegFest 11am-6pm Marcy Casino, 199 Lincoln Pkwy (wnyvegfest.com) free

Wednesday, August 6

The Show Must Go On: Tribute Concert for Larry Swist

On Wednesday (Aug 6) audio virtuoso, Larry Swist, will be the heart of a sound celebration at the acoustically remarkable, Tralf Music Hall. After dedicating 40 years to the music industry Swist, who did much of his work in Western New York and the surrounding areas, passed away earlier this year, leaving a deeply embossed thumbprint on modern music. With a keen ear for quality sound and acoustics, he launched Lawrence P. Swist Designs, a full-service, acoustical design firm, building world-class recording studios and studio monitors. Photographs of his work will be showcased at his tribute event.His studios span the globe, from Dubai to Santa Monica and Cologne to Time Square. The Guzauski-Swist GS3a, a collaborative effort between Swist and longtime friend, Mick Guzauski, was used to mix Daft Punk’s multiple-Grammy winning album, Random Access Memoires. Guzauski, who has worked with artists like, Eric Clapton and Michael Jackson, will be recording Swist’s tribute concert. 23 of Swist’s friends and colleagues will perform, including his son, Christopher Swist. Also joining Christopher are some of Larry’s fellow Buffalo Music Hall of Famers, including: his soul-stomping wife, Jessie Galante; Emmy-nominated composer, Grant Geissman; smooth jazz keyboardist, Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra; and, spit-fire guitarist, James Ralston. As Larry was a Type 1 Diabetic, all proceeds will go to the American Diabetes Association.

- kellie powell

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $20