Alexander Malofeev, the gifted 23-year-old Russian pianist, returns to Buffalo to open the 2025-26 season for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Music Director JoAnn Falletta conducts the program called “Malofeev Plays Tchaikovsky” at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 in Kleinhans Music Hall.
Malofeev has a special connection with BPO and Kleinhans: He made his U.S. solo recital debut at Kleinhans in 2021 and his U.S. orchestra debut with the BPO in 2022.
The new season also marks the debut of longtime BPO collaborator Ron Spigelman, the orchestra’s new principal pops conductor. He will lead “Showstopping Pops” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Buffalo natives and vocalists Jay Dref and Michele Ragusa will perform in the program that includes songs from “The Music Man,” “A Little Night Music,” “Les Misérables” and selections from “The Phantom of the Opera.”
“In this role, I look forward to having a deeper connection with Buffalo, the superb BPO musicians, the audience, and the orchestra’s world-class creative team to grow audiences and discover opportunities to bring even more diverse concert offerings – with excitement, joy, and humor accompanying all of it,” Spigelman said in a statement.
For information and tickets, visit bpo.org.
“Evil Dead” in Concert. 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22 at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: college students go to a secluded cabin and find an evil Book of the Dead. Of course, you know those horror tropes but were they ever done with more originality (and gore) than “Evil Dead,” the 1981 film directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell as our antihero Ash. This big-screen experience at The Riv features a live music ensemble performing the original score that has been expanded by the film’s composer Joe LoDuca.
Coltrane Celebration. 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday Sept. 27 at Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave.
The Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective celebrates the birthday of legendary saxophonist and composer John Coltrane at this two-day event. Each night starts at 7 with opening performances/reception with the Love Supreme School of Music Student & Faculty Band. Main performances start at 7:30 p.m. in the Tower Auditorium. On Sept. 26, it’s J.D. Allen with the George Caldwell Quintet (saxophonist Allen, pianist Caldwell, drummer Sean Jefferson, trumpeter Griffith Kazmierczak and bassist Joe Goehle). On Sept. 27, hear bassist Curtis Lundy and Umoja (drummer Jacob Smith, pianist Jordan Williams and tenor saxophonist Lawrence Clark).
Erie County Parks Fall Fest. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at Como Lake Park, 2220 Como Park Blvd., Lancaster.
Spend the day outside at this annual fall festival with free pumpkins, hayrides, Kester Farms Alpacas, face-painting, seasonal arts and crafts with the Lancaster Youth Bureau plus vendors, food trucks, entertainment and music. Avoid the traffic with free shuttles that run continuously from the William Street School (5201 William St., Lancaster).
Fall Fest at Canalside. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at Canalside.
This festival is downtown by the waterfront at Canalside where there will be a petting zoo, bounce house, Village Play Bus, goat yoga and storytime with Barb’s Book Buddies. The event is free to attend; the new Kids Pass ($5) includes a pumpkin, bubble wand, a pass to the Making Waves Decoration Station, a color page and crayons, plus a copy of the book “Home is Where You Hang Your Pupa” by Lisa Schrock. There will be vendors, and music is by the Alumni Band from 1 to 4 p.m. on the boardwalk.
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Gullo’s Fall Festival. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at Gullo’s, 4767 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.
There will be fun for the kids including hands-on toy excavators, plus local craft artisans, seasonal decor, pumpkins, food and entertainment.
Quick calendar
Music is Art Festival. 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at Outer Harbor at Terminal B.
Orchard Park Festival of the Arts Health, Fitness & Business Expo. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Sept. 20 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 in Parking Lot 7, Highmark Stadium.
Adam Sandler. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at KeyBank Center.
Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at Artpark.
David Byrne. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.
Roseanne Cash with John Leventhal. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 at Kleinhans Music Hall.
Finger Eleven with Alien Ant Farm. 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Town Ballroom.
Elbow. 7 p.m. next Sunday, Sept. 28 at Electric City.
Just announced
Kid Tigrrr. 8 p.m. Nov. 9 at the 9th Ward at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave. (TixR.com).
The Simon & Garfunkel Story. April 8-12 at the Avalon Theatre, Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, Ont. (ticketmaster.ca).
USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker). 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Town Ballroom (townballroom.com).
GenX The Takeover Comedy Tour. 7 p.m. March 7. University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, Mainstage Theatre, Amherst (ubcfa.org).
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