Events

[INFRINGEMENT] Can you believe it’s been 11 years? The Infringement Festival, Buffalo’s annual 11-day long underground art festival—a “decentralized arts explosion” to which artists of all kinds are invited—has surpassed the decade mark without the help of any corporate entities or sponsorships. This year’s festival begins on Thursday, July 23 and runs through Sunday, August 2, which means this weekend will be loaded with great Infringement Festival events. Here, we’ve highlighted six must-see events happening this weekend.

 INFRINGEMENT FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONIES 
Thursday, July 23 / 9pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St.

Ah, the Opening Ceremonies: This is the one event you can count on finding at Infringement’s unofficial headquarters—Nietzsche’s—year after year. For beginners, it’s a jumping-off point—there are more than 94 venues included in this year’s festival and 400 plus artists, so this is a good place to start—and for veterans it’s the meeting place. This year’s opening ceremonies include artists and musicians like Aurora Borealis, Greg Barresi, Recess, Jimyn the Singing Mime, Erica Wolfling​, David Adamczyk, Marbin, Gabrielle Anello, and Lazy Ass Destroyer. It all begins this Thursday, July 23 at Nietzsche’s, and as always, it’s pay what you can.

 RHINOCEROS 
Thursday, July 23 through Saturday, July 25 / 8pm
Manny Fried Theatre, 225 Great Arrow Dr.

In a preview of RHINOCEROS, actor John Vines dressed in a polo shirt and khakis, took a few deep breaths before attempting to transform into a rhinoceros on stage. As he huffed and snorted, slowly lowering down to his knees while jerking his back into a reverse arched position over the course of about 45 seconds, he went from man to beast. It’s this kind of abusrdist theater that Subversive Theatre Collective is known for, and they’ll continue with the “universal farce” that is RHINOCEROS, this Thursday through Saturday at 8pm at the Manny Fried Theatre.

 WHO INFRINGED YOU 
Friday, July 24 / 10pm / Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St.

“Who Infringed You?” is another way of asking “Who inspires you?” Artists will answer that question by dressing up as their favorite actor, comedian, writer, artist, or musician for Who Infringed You Rock and Costume Party, this Friday, July 24 at Nietzsche’s. Acts include Twin Lions, Juliana Masic/Kicking Classy, Dirty Smile, Skyepilot, and Dark Eyes 55.

 BROADWAY MARKET ROOFTOP PARTY 
Saturday, July 25 / 10am / Broadway Market, 999 Broadway St. 

The brilliance of the Infringement Festival comes out with events like the Broadway Market Rooftop Party. Not only will 14 notable underground music acts perform—from funky indie-rock trio Science Lion to post-rock band TOMOREAUX, and soul artist Randy Niles— but it’ll take place on the rooftop of one of Buffalo’s most historic places, the Broadway Market. See our city from a different perspective on Saturday, July 25 at this one-of-a-kind show.

 PIPE DRAGON MEMORIAL EXPO 
Saturday, July 25 / 8pm / Mohawk Place, 47 East Mohawk St.

In the mid 1980s a bunch of artists, musicians, and students got together to open an underground club in Buffalo, which they called the Pipe Dragon. This underground club located on Ellicott was a precursor to alternative venues like Soundlab and the Vault, and for this reason local artists and musicans today still pay homage to the Pipe Dragon. On Saturday, July 25 for the third year, Mohawk Place will host the Pipe Dragon Memorial Expo-this year featuring Pam Swarts, Twin Speak, Terry Klein, chloroform, Double Memory, Ish Kabbible, and Lazy Ass Destroyer.

 BUSKFEST 5000½ 
Sunday, July 26 / 11am / Cafe Aroma, 957 Elmwood Ave.

To busk is to play music on the street for donations. This is not a lowly act; some of the most talented people in the world—people like Robin Williams, Beck, and Tracy Chapman—started off busking in subway stations and outside of coffee shops. On Sunday, July 26 from 11am to 8pm some of Buffalo’s most talented buskers will set up shop outside of Cafe Aroma in Bidwell Park for a day-long busk-a-thon called Buskfest 5000½.