If you think you'll be sitting through four separate acoustic performances, think again as the night's format will be similar to a round robin, with each artist taking their turn to perform a song and tell their story before passing it on to the next. Having experienced this format myself at ASCAP's I Create Music Expo (where Buffalo's own John Rzeznik took part), I can say that it makes a world of difference. Rather than each artist being isolated, they naturally have small discussions between each performance in which common ground is found among styles that may seem unrelated.

The opening night of the monthly series features Brandon Barry and Joe Donohue (both of The Albrights and Erie Lackawanna Railroad), and Katie Panfil (Stone Row, Erie Lackawanna Railroad) and Andrew Reimers, both of the Andrew J. Reimers Country-Punk Extravaganza. Considering the open-mindedness of the four artists, I'm sure the stories told will be eye-opening, innovative and humorous as the four actually know each other. If that's not enough to entice you to check it out, the event also benefits Music is Art with an instrument drive and raffle featured at each month's installment. With local artists supporting a local not-for-profit in a local revived neighborhood, it doesn't get much more Buffalo than this.

The showcase begins tonight at 7 p.m. with a $5 cover at the door.