Music Is Art
Annual Celebration in Buffalo, Sept. 20

By Kate Bartlett

    Saturday, September 20 marks the 23rd annual Music is Art Festival at the Buffalo Outer Harbor (Terminal B) from 11am-11pm. MIA attracts thousands of people to WNY as the festival aims to showcase art in numerous forms. As always, the festival is free to attend and will feature many family-friendly attractions including a Kids’ Village, Instrument Zoo and a variety of food and beverage vendors.

    Founded by Buffalo native Robby Takac of the multi-platinum band Goo Goo Dolls, Music is Art, a 501c3 non-for-profit that aims to promote music and the arts through various programs in the Buffalo area throughout the year. The festival was founded as a way to celebrate music and the arts 23 years ago, and has grown to be one of the biggest Music and Arts festivals in the region. “We originally began the festival to help prop up underground artists and musicians within the community,” recalls Robby. “It has grown to be so much more.”

    This year’s festival features 250 performers across 20 stages. While some performers have gained national attention, about 98% of the musicians are local with ties to the Western New York region.

Well known pop-band Shonen Knife from Japan making a stop on their US Tour.  A few local bands include Fallow, Miller & the Other Sinners, The Cheshire Cat, Falconeers, Tom Sthal and the Dangerfields, Canela, Brother Nature, Ryan Kaminski, Ian McCuen, Cameron Markott and many, many others. VIP Performances will include Robby Takac, Trever Stribing (of PA Line), TJ Zindle, Mike & Dave of Aqueous. “We love the support we receive from our local musician artists, and really work to make this a celebration with and for them,” says Tracy Fletcher, Executive Director for Music is Art.

    The event will be held at Buffalo Outer Harbor for the second year. “We’re excited to do this again for the second year at the Outer Harbor,” says Tracy. “We learned a few things last year and believe it’ll be even better this year.” The space allows for larger crowds as it can accommodate a large amount of people, spread out, with beautiful Lake Erie in the background.

    As always, the festival will feature kid’s activities and more live art than ever before, including a busker’s alley, and a hip-hop cypher to close out the Lakeside Lawn stage. The festival will feature various forms of art including sculptures, DJs, painters, roller skaters, wrestlers, dancers and more. “We are so proud to host such a variety of unbelievably talented local artists and musicians. We aim to promote the creativity in various forms and give the community an outlet to display their particular brand,” says Robby. “It’s about getting the community together in celebration of expression and the arts.”

     Robby is grateful for an amazing staff of hardworking individuals and volunteers who make this festival possible. “Hat’s off to an amazing team of volunteers, musicians and attendees to make this festival what it is. We have such an incredible volunteer base and a small, tight-knit hardworking staff. It’s going to be another great year.”

    As always, the Music is Art festival is free and family-friendly and will take place on Saturday, September 20 from 11am- 11pm. For full event schedule visit https://www.musicisart.org/ and follow on social media for event updates.