Kleinhans’ Mary Seaton Room is the place this Friday (May 30) for a celebration of the strength and courage of Margaret Roblin. Roblin. A longtime WNY community volunteer and philanthropist, Roblin was struck without warning by ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that eventually leaves a person paralyzed and is ultimately fatal. Instead of simply dealing with the struggle of her own diagnosis and personal fight with ALS, Roblin—along with her husband Dan—has become a tireless fighter raising awareness and funds for research of the disease. The 7pm concert at Kleinhans on Friday is a lead up to the June 25 gala event “Dancing In The Rain” at the Statler. The concert is an eclectic bill featuring self-described poet/philosopher and folk/blues storyteller Bass Reeves, singer/songwriter Maria Sebastian (pictured), and pop rockers Innocent Bystanders.

The Blues Society of Western New York’s annual SUPERJAM will be held on Sunday (June 1) at the Creekside Grove, located at William and Union in Cheektowaga. This year’s event features the Mark Winsick Band (pictured), JJ Moscato & Blue Avenue, Willie Haddath & Sue Kincaid Band, Cruizin Deuces, Eloise Laguerre, Jack Civaletto, Stevie B & the Rhythm Rockers, Gregg Juke & the Mighty No Stars, Big Tobacco, Donna Rose & Jimmy Wozniak, Paul Ianello & Lissy K, Todd Eberwine Band, Lynn Fredericks, Shaky Ray, Double Take Blues Band, and John Rose. SUPERJAM 2008 is an all-day family event with food, refreshments, and great live music from 1-9pm. Proceeds benefit the B;lues Society in its continued effort to promote local music and musicians.

Prog-metal band Baroness comes to us from their home in Savannah, Georgia, though all members originally hail from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Lexington, Virginia. Perhaps this background lends a southern gothic element to the band’s massive, mournful sound. Theirs is a heavily ambient kind of music that’s been referred to as “sludge metal” among post-rock terminologists, a fusion of doom, punk, and hardcore, often with a southern influence. This style has landed Baroness on stages opening for Municipal Waste, Torche, Alabama Thunderpussy, and the Holy Mountain, during a touring season that has seen them play nearly 250 shows in a year. Their debut, Red Album, is due out on Relapse Records in September. Baroness plays at Soundlab on Sunday (June 1), at 9pm, with support from La Cacahouette and Trystero

Creative HOPE presents “Rock the Bike 2008” on Sunday (June 1), an all-day music and motorcycle show to raise funds for community art and creative outreach programs. The event will begin at 1pm at Club W (and outsidethe Club, on Delaware Ave., between Chippewa and Huron) with a “trick riding” show and an XBOX360 “rock band” competition. There will be food and motor sports vendors, and scheduled bands are the Stone Hearts, For What its Worth, Michael Bly, Double Eagle Standard, Born Again Rebels, Aqueous, Beggars Best, and Mechatama. Tickets are $20, which includes four drink vouchers, three stunt riding shows, two audience competitions, and refreshments. Visit www.rockthebike08.com for details.

Club owner Dwane Hall refers to the Private Party Series at the Sportsmen’s Tavern as the “Snooze & You Lose” series because of the constantly sold out status of the intimate events. It’s common for music lovers from all around to snatch up the advance sale tickets, leaving disappointed fans standing on the sidewalk, listening to the great music coming from inside the packed venue. Case in point: Monday night’s Monte Montgomery show has been sold out for three weeks. Drag. But wait! A second show has been added for Tuesday (June 3) for all the snoozers among us. Tuesday’s show starts at 8pm, and tickets will be $20 at the door. If you don’t know what a rare chance this is to see one of the hottest guitarists going, check him out on YouTube. Then, pick your eyeballs up off the keyboard and get down to the Sportsmen’s to experience it live, in person.

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