Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall announces fall 2026 series

The Buffalo State Performing Arts Center presents iconic guitarist Jim Messina on Thursday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. An undisputed expert in the fine art of making hit music, Messina’s legacy of musical genius spans five decades, three super groups, a vibrant solo career and scores of producing and engineering credits. “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” “Angry Eyes,” “Danny’s Song,” “House of Pooh Corner,” and “You Better Think Twice” are just a few of his vast musical hits. While acting as producer/audio engineer for Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Buffalo Springfield, Messina ultimately joined the band as its bass player. When “the Springfield” disbanded in 1968, Messina and fellow bandmate Richie Furay formed Poco. With Messina on lead guitar, Poco defined a new musical genre: country rock. In November 1970, Columbia Records asked Messina to work with an unknown Kenny Loggins. While helping Loggins get ready for a record and touring, the two discovered that they worked well together and Messina agreed to sit in on Loggins’ first album. Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In was released in November of 1971, and an accidental duo was formed. Over the next seven years, Loggins and Messina released eight albums, had scores of hit songs and sold more than 16 million albums. They had become one of rock’s most successful recording duos. Since then, Messina has been releasing critically acclaimed solo albums and playing to audiences across the country. Messina recently released his latest live album Here, There & Everywhere, with his new band, The Road Runners.

Metamorphic Concerts presents Laurie Berkner: The Greatest Hits Tour on Sunday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. Recognized as “the queen of kids’ music” by People magazine, Berkner is a singer, songwriter, performer, author, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records, LLC. With more than 1.7 billion streams, an average of more than 22 million monthly streams, more than 578 million YouTube channel views, and millions of CDs and DVDs sold, Berkner’s songs have become beloved classics for children worldwide. As a leader and innovator in children’s music and entertainment for more than 25 years, Berkner has released 17 bestselling, award-winning albums, was the first recording artist ever to perform in music videos on Noggin and Nick Jr., appeared regularly on those networks’ Jack’s Big Music Show, and helped develop the short form animated musical preschool series Sing It, Laurie! on Universal Kids (formerly Sprout TV). Berkner also created two Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen series with Audible Studios, who released them as ten-chapter audio books through the Audible Originals brand. Berkner’s “Greatest Hits” solo show features her classic songs like “Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz),” “The Goldfish (Let’s Go Swimming),” “We Are The Dinosaurs,” and “Rocketship Run,” as well as newer hits like “Waiting for the Elevator,” “My Bunny Goes Hop,” and “Onyx the Octopus,” plus—as a special treat for fans—a few well-loved songs that are not often heard at her full-band concerts! Kids should plan to bring their dancing shoes and a stuffed animal (for their heads). The show runs approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

The Buffalo State Performing Arts Center presents The Robert Cray Band: All Amped Up Tour on Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. Blues icon. Soul man. Rock and roller. Robert Cray is all these things–and more. From forming a teenage garage band to striding the stage alongside several of the world’s greatest guitarists, Cray has sold millions of albums and countless concert tickets, won five Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and the recipient of the Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award, and has designed two signature model Fender guitars—but for him, what’s always mattered most is the music. Cray has shared stage and/or studio with the likes of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more. In 1978, he was cast (as a musician) in Animal House, the blockbuster comedy that made John Belushi famous. 1978 was also the year Cray recorded his debut album, Who’s Been Talkin’. Cray’s 1983 album Bad Influence established him internationally, and his 1986 album, Strong Persuader—released after he’d signed with Mercury Records—ensured he became the first blues/soul musician to breakthrough in the MTV era. That album led to Cray gracing the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, winning the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Recording in 1988, and supporting Tina Turner by joining her on stage every night and touring with The Rolling Stone. Across five decades, Cray has created richly inclusive American music, revitalizing both blues and soul while rocking hard with the very best. To achieve 50 years in the music industry and still be as fresh and committed as when starting out is an achievement few can boast of, but Cray can count himself among those few. He has released 19 studio albums, every one replete with extremely distinctive songs, won five Grammy Awards, and continues to make music that sounds like no one but Robert Cray.

The Buffalo State Performing Arts Center presents Celtic Superstars and power couple Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy on Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 p.m. The early 2000’s saw both Natalie and Donnell busy raising their seven children (all world class musical talents in their own right), running a fully operational farm, and building a thriving Farmers Market in Lakefield Ontario—all while still playing more than 75 shows a year in North America. With most of the children now in their early to late teens, it’s time to spread their wings again and bring their electrifying live performances to audiences everywhere. MacMaster’s virtuosic skill and effortless charm has seen her inducted into the Order of Canada in 2006, won her 2 JUNO Awards and 19 East Coast Music Awards, and allowed her to release three Gold Albums. Combine that with the energy and incredible stage presence of Leahy, whose leadership earned his acclaimed Celtic family-band “Leahy” Double-Platinum status, 3 JUNO Awards, and an Academy Award as the subject of the 1985 documentary “The Leahys: Music Most of All,” and you have the most exhilarating duo in Celtic Music! This powerhouse couple has sold out over 1000 shows in North America, and in their combined careers have recorded with a star-studded list of collaborators including Yo-Yo Ma, Micheal McDonald, Allison Krauss, Thomas Dolby, The Rankin Family, Rhiannon Giddens, Johnny Reid, Nickelback, and more. Each world class performers, both MacMaster and Leahy have found time to tour and perform with some of the biggest names in music including The Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, Don Henley, Béla Fleck, and more. Showing no signs of slowing down, this duo keeps up a tireless touring schedule and continue to build on their reputation as must-see live performers.

The season wraps up on Friday, December 11 at 8:00 p.m. with the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center presenting Swing into the Holidays with Caity Gyorgy and Christian Wiggs. 'Tis the season to be swinging as we take a trip down memory lane with an evening full of your favorite songs from holiday movies, traditional carols and more. Featuring three-time Juno award-winning vocalist Caity Gyorgy and acclaimed vocalist and bandleader Christian Wiggs, Swing Into The Holidays will take you to a “Winter Wonderland” while you “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The show will feature hits heard in popular films like "Baby it's Cold Outside" from Elf, "All I Want for Christmas is You" from Love Actually, and many more. Gyorgy is known for singing bebop and swing and her compositions have won multiple awards, including the grand prize in the jazz category of the 2021 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Wiggs is founder and CEO of Bandstand Presents, host of Jazz Tonight on PBS, and serves as musical/band manager for global icon Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. They unite for Swing Into The Holidays, which will feature sing-alongs and fun for the whole family during the most wonderful time of the year!