Buffalo has some really great festivals throughout the summer and this weekend is the 12th year of the Elmwood Festival of the Arts.  Elmwood Ave becomes crowded with people from all around the area to take part in the festivities.  Not only can you observe and purchase some amazing works of art, you can also eat great food (Lloyd's Taco Truck will be there!) and do our favorite activity... listen to local music.

The art fest has 4 stages set up to give you a full day of great music. Since there are so many options, we'll focus on the acts you absolutely must see during the next two days on these stages.  Click here to see the full schedule for all the music and performances during the art fest.

Start your morning today with a performance by Babik at the Wilson Farms Stage at 11 am.  They are Buffalo's best gypsy swing band and always put on an amazing show.  You can expect some amazing original music, as well as covers, and to be absolutely blown away by their talent.  Also at 11 am on the Lafayette Stage is one of Buffalo's most popular bands, Free Henry!.  Since the festival really isn't that big you can definitely stop by both shows. If you've got the kids with you today (or just like magic) then do not miss magician The Wizard: Robert Davis at 1 pm at the Kidfest stage. You can get funky and dance with Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams perform at the Lafayette Stage at 2 pm, followed by McCarthyizm, The Rockaz and The Albrights. I will not be missing the Outofar Trio Jug Band on the Wilson Farms stage at 4 pm just because Jug Bands are really cool. The main music all wraps up at 6 pm on Saturday but there is an After-Hours party at the Lafayette Stage featuring Left on Red and the Skiffle Minstrels.

Sunday's line up involves a lot more interactive events then just music like Saturday.  Starting at 10 am at the Dance Tent there is a Shakti Yoga class followed by a Cajun/Zydeco Dance workshop.  The workshop is perfectly placed right before LeeRon Zydeco & the Hot Tamales shake things up at 12. If you're not feeling the Zydeco dancing then maybe the Jama Jam African Drum & Dance show at 12 on the Lafayette Stage might be more entertaining for you. buffaBLOG favorites, The Screaming Jeans perform at 2 pm at the dance tent followed by Nelson Starr & The Benjamins. Closing up all the activities on Sunday is a Slow and Steady Snail Parade.... not sure what this is... most likely a slow parade? Will there be snails? I don't know for sure but I'll be there to find out.

There are so many other performances going on this weekend at the festival that I wish would be possible to see them all.  Don't be afraid to stop by and check out something you've never heard before. It's how you discover the your new favorite band or hidden talent.  Buffalo is full of extremely talented musicians and the Elmwood Festival of the Arts is one of the best places to discover them.  Most of the members of buffaBLOG will be attending the festival this weekend, as well as the Bidwell Indie 5000, so keep an eye out for our cards and special sidewalk art.