fiesta mexico - america including los lobos
7:30pm, UB Center for the Arts, $27-$47 (ubcfa.org)
This concert is a celebration of the achievements and contributions of the Mexican-American community throughout United States history. The multiple Grammy Award winners Los Lobos highlight this new show, which includes a performance by dancers from the celebrated dance troupe Ballet Folklorico Mexicano. Originally from East Los Angeles, the members of Los Lobos got together in high school and after becoming disillusioned with Top 40 music they embraced their Latino heritage. Los Lobos has recorded twenty-one albums; the most celebrated was the soundtrack for the hit movie “La Bamba” depicting the tragic life of Rock n’ Roll Icon Richie Valens. The band re-worked and released the Richie Valens hit “La Bamba” and it rose to #1 on the charts driving the album to platinum. For over six decades, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano has presented dances in costumes that reflect their traditional culture of Mexico. Both groups will demonstrate their love and dedication to Mexican Folklore and Culture.
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John Witherspoon
7:30pm & 10pm, Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St (853-1211/heliumcomedy.com)
Veteran actor/comedian John Witherspoon has appeared in over 70 television and movie comedies. Witherspoon is probably best known for his role as Willie Jones on the television show Friday. He is also famous for appearing in the hit movie Boomerang starring Eddie Murphy. He portrays the ill mannered, foul-mouthed father of Eddie’s best friend. During the sixties and seventies, John began a successful career as a stand up comedian. He made many lifelong friends on the circuit including Robin Williams, Jay Leno, Richard Pryor and David Letterman. Letterman and Witherspoon became such good friends that Dave Letterman is the godfather of his two children. His critically acclaimed stand up appeared on cable television’s Showtime network. Enjoy John Witherspoon at the Helium Comedy Club where there is no mistaking his ability to bring the house down with uproarious laughter.
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Banners
7pm, The Leopard Lounge in the Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, $12/$14 (852-3900/townballroom.com)
The Town Ballroom is finally reopening the much-loved Leopard Lounge. The room’s been given a makeover worthy of a reality TV show–new stage, lights, ceiling, new floor, etc. For the room’s opening act, Michael Joseph Nelson, A.K.A. “Banners” arrives from Liverpool, England. He grew up singing in the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Choir. After singing in cathedrals and concert halls across Europe, Banners went to work on his own material. He signed with Island Records in 2015 and released his debut single “Ghosts” under the stage name Raines. His second hit “Shine A Light” was recorded under his current name “Banners.” The song rocketed up to #5 on the Canadian rock charts, causing Banners’ star to rise. On January 27th of this year, Banners made his network television debut on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show perfoming his hit song “Shine A Light.” Attend the concert and you will see why they named it the Leopard Lounge.
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Maria Doyle Kennedy
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave, $5 / free for members (882-8700/albrightknox.org)
Maria Doyle Kennedy is a Singer/Actress born in Dublin. She possesses a powerful voice and has performed with the likes of John Prine, Paul Brady and Damien Rice. Her career spans over two decades and she has performed all over Europe, Canada, and the United States. Maria and her husband Kieran Kennedy run a small independent record label, Mermaid Records, releasing seven albums under her name to date. Mrs. Kennedy is also a very accomplished actress. Her acting ability was best on display in the Masterpiece Theatre mega hit “Downton Abbey.” In the series, she portrays the awful Vera Bates. Maria’s character on the show is a bitter and vindictive woman who will stop at nothing to prevent her estranged husband’s happiness. An old adage about acting is if you can make an audience hate you, you have arrived as a actor. Come see friendlier side of this Masterpiece Theatre vixen when this versatile performer at takes the stage at Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s intimate theatre.
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Czech Portraits
3pm & 8pm, Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle (kleinhansbuffalo.org/885-5000)
The music of Czech composers Novak, Elgar and Swetana take you on an evocative trip of their beloved Czech Republic, one of Eastern Europe’s most beautiful countries. Rising star Nicolas Altsetaedt performs Elgar’s Cello Concerto. Nicolas Altstaedt is the winner of several international competitions, the Credit Suisse Young Artist Award and a Borletti Buitoni Fellowship. As a BBC New Generation Artist 2010-2012 he has performed with all BBC Orchestras. The German/French cellist is renowned worldwide for his creativity and versatility, delivering captivating performances on both modern and gut strings. He is collaborating with BPO conductor Jo Ann Falletta to feature. He has appeared in concert halls around the globe including Vienna, Tokyo, Berlin, Zurich, Melbourne and New Zealand.
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14th annual ladies first Jazz big band
12:30pm, Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St (second floor), $20/$25 (852-2860/tralfmusichall.com)
Jennifer May, Bassist and Bandleader, leads a sixteen piece all female jazz big band. The band originally was conceived in 1994 as the Ladies First Jazz Combo. Since then, the band celebrates Women’s History Month (March) annually with a new production of “Women of Jazz By Women of Jazz.” It’s a loving tribute to female jazz performers. The big band has performed to the delight of audiences everywhere from Jamestown to Rochester. Special guests for the Tralf performance are the Buffalo Dolls–an Andrews Sisters styled singing trio who swings the songs of the forties, fifties and the sixties. Join the ladies for a wonderful afternoon of music and to support a local organization, The Zonta Club of Buffalo, empowering women through service and advocacy.
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