Thursday & Main: An evening with Donna the Buffalo

Buffalo Place will produce the 9th Anniversary season of the free outdoor summer series, Thursday & Main, weekly from June 5th through July 31st (no event on July 3rd), at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Buffalo. Thursday & Main is presented by M&T Bank. The series continues to pay homage to the venerable Buffalo Place-produced summer tradition, Thursday at the Square.

This free, open-to-the-public happy hour concert series, presented on Thursday evenings at Fountain Plaza on Main Street (south of Chippewa Street), carries forward the mission of Thursday at the Square: to create awareness and drive spin-off business for Downtown restaurants, bars, and retailers. In 1987, Fountain Plaza hosted the first season of Thursday at the Park, produced and managed by Buffalo Place. Just one year later, the growing crowds necessitated a move to Lafayette Square, where the series was renamed Thursday at the Square. In 2016, Buffalo Place debuted a new version of the series – Thursday & Main – bringing the concerts back to their original home at Fountain Plaza.

Thursday, July 31st marks the grand finale of the season and an evening with Donna the Buffalo, the beloved roots-rock ensemble from Trumansburg, New York. Celebrated for their eclectic fusion of Americana, zydeco, folk, rock, and reggae, the band delivers groove-heavy, danceable music that resonates with audiences across generations. Led by founding members Tara Nevins and Jeb Puryear, Donna the Buffalo has been captivating fans since 1989 with their spirited live shows and community-driven ethos. Their devoted fanbase, affectionately known as “The Herd,” follows them from festival to festival, drawn by the band’s uplifting lyrics and infectious rhythms. As co-founders of the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival, Donna the Buffalo embodies the spirit of togetherness and celebration, making their performance a fitting and joyous conclusion to our 2025 season.

Attendees will enjoy a rotating roster of local restaurants. Bijou Grille, Fat Bob’s Smokehouse, and Jack Rabbit will be a part of the event each week with wonderful food items available for purchase.

Thursday & Main is made possible with the generous support of our official sponsor family. The series is presented by M&T Bank. Supporting Act Sponsors include: Crowley Webb, Big Ditch Brewing Company, The Buffalo News, Hyatt Regency Buffalo, Iroquois Construction Services, Katz Americas, Lawley Insurance, Lemur Studios, National Grid, Premium Parking, Try-It Distributing, Uber​ and VanDette Law PLLC.