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Cuomo vs. Teachers

An open letter to Governor Cuomo penned by seven recent New York State “teachers of the year.” It comes in response to the Governor’s astonishing criticism of teachers — not the teachers’ union, but teachers themselves — during his state of the state address in January.

Boléo

[CLASSICAL] The line between folk and classical chamber music is easily toed by Boléo. Featuring violinists Lazara Nelson and Miranda Scoma, cellist Katie Weissman, and Moshe Shulman on violin, viola, and bandoneon, the group captures the feeling of Renaissance chamber music, while casting a new light on the genre.

Snocore 2015

[ROCK] In 2014, hard rock band Flyleaf returned with their fourth studio album, Between The Stars; their first since original singer Lacey Sturm was replaced with Kristen May, formerly of Vedera. Despite the line-up change, the record picks up where the band’s 2012 record, New Horizons left off.

Kim Manning

[FUNK] Though not an original member of Parliment Funkadelic—the legendary funk band headed by George Clinton—singer and actress Kim Manning has been an indispensable figure for the group, adding beautiful soul vocals to P-Funk’s already soulful and funky sound. She says she joined the group shortly after a random encounter at a live show. Clinton brought her up on stage and “baptized” her in front of the crowd.

REEL Queer Film Series

[FILM] On Thursday, February 12 REEL Queer Film Series is screening Matthew Warchus’ 2014 feature film Pride at Hallwalls. Pride is based on actual events set in Thatcher’s England when a group of lesbian and gay activists raised money to assist with families affected by 1984’s miners’ strike. A foundational moment both for Britain’s gay community and the labor movement. After the screening, a paneled discussion will take place including the Buffalo News’ Colin Dabkowski, UB’s Dr.

Free Week At The Knox

[ART] Generously coinciding with many local schools’ mid-winter break, the Albright Knox Art Gallery is offering free admission this week. County Executive Poloncarz put it this way in a press release: “A week of free admission to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is reason for families to celebrate and make plans to come out and see the world-class art treasures that are housed here.” Indeed, a perfect time to catch up with an old friend, one who keeps the temperature at a perfectly archival 68 degrees.

Railroad Earth

[ROCK] Railroad Earth is a band some may not be familiar with, but the group has been steadily gaining popularity with the rise of bluegrass and its many dedicated festivals that have been cropping up in recent years. This isn’t your grandfather’s bluegrass though, as the band brings in other elements, rounding out their sound with a mix of Celtic, rock, jazz, and a good dose of improv.

Average White Band

[FUNK] Funk is making its way back into the mainstream with artists like Bruno Mars and others bringing that feel-good vibe to the forefront. Average White Band has been around since the 1970s and are one of those acts that everyone knows. They’re actually one of the most sampled groups in history, so even if you don’t know they’re songs directly, you’ve probably heard them through other artists like the Beastie Boys or Nas.

8th annual Mardi Gras Jam

[CAJUN] Music from New Orleans has always been well received here in Buffalo over the years. Whether it’s the music’s melding of the blues or just the way it makes us move through the winter, various acts have had good turnouts on their way through the Queen City. This Friday, February 13, the 8th annual Mardi Gras Jam will happen at Sportsmens Tavern.

Some Kinda Love 3: Private Writings Made Public

[LIT] This Valentines Eve, stop by the Ninth Ward in Asbury Hall to experience a unique live reading that will pay tribute to the sort of literature that is common yet discreet; the kind of writing we are all personally familiar with yet remain largely unaware of when it comes to others: private writings. The category includes everything from police reports and report cards to love letters and journal entries.

Red Rovers Roll

[SKATE PARTY] Themed for the couple’s choice skaters on Valentine’s Day, Red Rovers Roll is calling for skaters from every side of the city to roll to dance-heavy beats of DJ Reazon and Sike.

Alex Berkley & Sonny Baker

[FOLK] Berkley has made some local headway with his backing band, Atlanta Falcons, but lately he’s been launching a number of side projects that showcase his oddball sense of humor and knack for melancholy melodies. A set of holiday tunes surfaced late last year entitled Put Some Records On While I Pour performed by Alex & Kayleigh—worth it for the tune “Frosty vs.

Tiny Desk Contest Concert

[ROCK] The competition is fierce, in all respects: thousands of submissions, many of remarkable quality, have inundated the offices of NPR Music for their Tiny Desk Concert contest. The popular video concert series has featured everyone from classic singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne to current superstars, ala Adele, to any number of impressive indie stalwarts and up-and-comers alike.

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