Hardy, Great Northern Elevator, Main Thursdays and Returns, BPO Magic

Here are some of the highlights from next week’s events.

“The Life and Death of Buffalo’s Great Northern Elevator, 1897-2023.” Now open to the Buffalo History Museum.

The Great Northern Elevator was a piece of Buffalo history that, despite the best efforts of conservationists, could not be saved. After damage suffered in the winter of 2021, the 225-year-old building was condemned and then destroyed in early 2023. This is just the Cliff Notes version of what happened, but you can learn more in this short story exhibition which looks back on its history. with 17 photos that show “Great Northern in its functional youth, its dormant old age and during the long, brutal process of its demolition.” The photographs were taken by Bruce Jackson or come from the museum.

Thursdays and main. Opens at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6 at Fountain Plaza.

The groovy tunes of Organ Fairchild open the eighth season of this concert series in downtown Buffalo. The free concerts, which take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through August 1 (except July 4), include performances by Buffalo’s Willie Nile on July 18 and Canadian favorites Lowest of the Low on August 1. celebration of the album release. Opening is Diyene, a new soul, funk and pop-fusion band featuring singer Danielle A. Johnson, formerly of Farrow. There will be food at Fat Bob’s Smokehouse, Jack Rabbit and Bijou Grille. Here are the other concerts: June 13, The Strictly Hip with Erin Hoyle; June 20, Handsome Jack with Uncle Ben’s Remedy; June 27, Super American with Letter to Elise; July 11, Son of the Sun with A Safe Home for Tigers; July 18, Willie Nile with a potter’s field; July 25, Dwayne Gretzky; and August 1st, the lowest of the lowest with you insulators.

ROBUST. 6:45 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at Lake Darien Amphitheater, Darien Center.

Michael Wilson Hardy – known onstage as HARDY – was initially known for his behind-the-scenes talents as a songwriter for some of the biggest names in country. He wrote the hit “Simple” for Florida Georgia Line, “God’s Country” for Blake Shelton and several collaborative songs with Morgan Wallen. He went on to score his own hits, including his debut single “Rednecker,” “One Beer” and the 2022 duet with Lainey Wilson, “Wait in the Truck.” He was introduced to music as a child by his father in Philadelphia, Mississippi, a city of about 7,000 people who are never far from his mind. “I try to remember as much as possible where I came from and how I grew up. There are a million other cities like Philadelphia, but the more you are connected to these people and speak this language, the more you will resonate with the rest of the world. he told American Songwriter. Kip Moore and Travis Denning join him at Darien Lake.

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 8 and 9 along Delaware Avenue

The 67th Art Festival returns with more than 300 local and national artists and artisans lining Delaware Avenue with artwork, sculptures, paintings, jewelry and decorations. Demonstrations include metalsmithing and pottery as well as the Corning Museum of Glass. Food trucks will be present on Franklin Street and music will be present in front of Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural site.

Symphony of Illusions with Michael Grandinetti and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. Saturday June 8 at Kleinhans Music Hall.

We’ve seen movie magic happen on the big screen to the music of John Williams in film franchises like “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars.” But what would you like to see the magic unfold before your eyes with musical background from the Kleinhans stage? That’s exactly what you’ll see when master illusionist Michael Grandinetti performs his magic to BPO music. The program focuses on themes from Williams films such as “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” “Hook” and “Star Wars.” Also performed: the theme from “Mission: Impossible” by Lala Schifrin and “Back to the Future” by Alan Silvestri. Fernanda Lastra is the conductor; Amy Glidden is on violin. Visit bpo.org.

“The producers.” Opening Friday, June 7 at the Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster.

Max Bialystock from “The Producers” is one of those stage and screen characters that actors aspire to play. That includes David Bondrow, artistic and executive director of Lancaster Opera, who has wanted to play the down-on-his-luck Broadway producer ever since he saw Zero Mostel in the role in Mel Brooks’ 1968 film. “I auditioned for the original Broadway production when I was in college and was told ‘when you’re 35 you can play any of these roles,'” he recalled in a Facebook post announcing that ‘he would finally play the role. John Kaczorowski as Leo Bloom, the accountant who helps him develop a plan to produce a failure, with Kelly Copps, Steve Copps, Gregory Gjurich and Matt Rittler. It is directed and choreographed by Eric Deeb Weaver and musical direction is provided by Fran. Landis. The play runs from June 7 to 23. Get full schedules at lancasteropera.org. Tickets are $42 for adults, $40 for seniors (62 and older), and $25 for students.

Roycroft Chamber Music Festival. Opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7 at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, corner of Main and Maple Streets, East Aurora.

The 30th anniversary of this renowned festival and chamber music group features four concerts of new and familiar music under the theme of “Top 40 Classic.” The June 7 opening concert, “Dear England,” features Gerald Finzi’s “By Footpath and Stile” and the String Quartet in D Major Op. 71, No. 2. The second concert, June 9, “From Tango to Czardas,” includes performances of Corrado Maria Sagliettei’s Suite for Trombone and String Quartet, Rhiannon Giddens’s “At the Purchaser’s Option,” and Brahms string quartet. A minor, op. 51, No. 2. Chamber musicians from local high schools will perform before each concert. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and will take place without intermission. The concerts continue on June 14 and 15. Visit roycroftchambermusic.org for more details.