M&T Bank’s Plaza Event Series to Return this Summer

Longest running free concert series of its kind resumes with 10 weeks of lunchtime concerts in Downtown Buffalo

M&T Bank announced the return of the Plaza Event Series for its 52nd season in Downtown Buffalo. From June 14 through August 18, the Buffalo-based bank will welcome the community for lunchtime concerts outside its headquarters, One M&T Plaza, every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The free concert series, the longest running of its kind, will feature local pop, jazz, rock, blues, comedy and dance artists with daily attendance by local food trucks.

“Since the Plaza Event Series was launched in 1969, it has always sought to fulfill a purpose beyond entertainment. Of course, we want people to have fun at the concerts, but it’s also about bringing neighbors together to connect, build relationships and foster a deeper sense of community,” said M&T Bank Western New York Regional President Eric Feldstein. “We are overjoyed to bring back 10 weeks of noontime concerts, with each performance serving as an opportunity for our community to come together to nurture the bonds that connect us as neighbors and celebrate the strength of the City of Buffalo.”

New this year, M&T plans to host “pop-up shops” that will feature local businesses during the lunch-hour concerts. This new effort will provide a platform for artists and small businesses to showcase their work and connect with new audiences and customers in the heart of Downtown Buffalo.

The 2022 lineup of performers welcomes back crowd favorites, such as Old School B-Boys, Terry Buchwald’s Tribute to Elvis, Beatlemagic, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and many others that have been performing on the Plaza Event Series stage for years. This season will also bring the debuts of first-time performers, such as Top Knotch, 716 Dance Band and Moe Badger and UP Team.

In addition to the concerts, the Plaza Event Series will feature local food trucks throughout the summer, including:

• The Cheesy Chick on Tuesdays
• Sun Roll on Wednesdays
• House of Munch on Thursdays

“One M&T Plaza has always been a fantastic gathering place for people who work, live and visit Downtown Buffalo to spend their lunch hour surrounded by the community and immersed in local music,” said Lynn Waclawek, M&T Bank employee experience program manager. “With its eclectic mix of performers, brand new pop-up shops and rotating lineup of food trucks, this year’s Plaza Event Series will offer memorable experiences that bring smiles to our faces and uplift our spirits.”

M&T is encouraging community members who attend the concerts to share photos, videos and other fun moments on social media using #PlazaEventSeries.

Beyond the Plaza Event Series, M&T Bank is also supporting live music and contributing to the vibrancy of the downtown community through its presenting sponsorship of the Thursday & Main concert series, which starts this month and runs through July with free concerts every Thursday at 5 p.m. M&T’s investment in the series builds on its long history as a patron and advocate for the arts in Western New York.

The full lineup of performers for the 2022 Plaza Event Series is listed below:

Country 106.5 WYRK Week
Tuesday, June 14th: SuperCharger
Wednesday, June 15th: West of the Mark: The Prime Project
Thursday, June 16th: Westminster Community Charter School

Buffalo Bisons’ Week
Tuesday, June 21st: McCarthyizm
Wednesday, June 22nd: The Rod Nickson Project
Thursday, June 23rd: The Kensingtons

7WKBW Week
Tuesday, June 28th: Breakaway
Wednesday, June 29th: Mark Mazur and “The Little Big Band”
Thursday, June 30th: Old School B-Boys

Power 93.7 WBLK Week
Tuesday, July 5th: Only Humen
Wednesday, July 6th: African American Cultural Center’s Dance & Drum Performance
Thursday, July 7th: Carnival Kids Street Orchestra

The Buffalo News Week
Tuesday, July 12th: Boys of Summer
Wednesday, July 13th: Beatlemagic
Thursday, July 14th: Top Knotch

Buffalo Toronto Public Media Week

Tuesday, July 19th: JJ Swing
Wednesday, July 20th: 716 Dance Band
Thursday, July 21st: Moe Badger and UP Team

Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Week
Tuesday, July 26th: Unity Band
Wednesday, July 27th: Anatara
Thursday, July 28th: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (Note: Begins at 11:45 a.m.)

The Breeze 96.1 Week
Tuesday, August 2nd: Colleen Williams & The Bobby Jones Trio
Wednesday, August 3rd: Caribbean Extravaganza
Thursday, August 4th:  Terry Buchwald’s Tribute to Elvis

Buffalo Business First Week
Tuesday, August 9th: Ramblin’ Lou Family Band from WXRL Radio
Wednesday, August 10th: Will Holton
Thursday, August 11th: Allykat

92.9 WBUF Week
Tuesday, August 16th:  Taylor Made Jazz
Wednesday, August 17th: The Tommy Z Band
Thursday, August 18th: LiTHIUM

About M&T: M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.

Media Contact:
Julia Berchou jberchou@mtb.com (716) 481-5981