This year, M&T Bank celebrates the 50th season of the Plaza Event Series, believed to be the longest running free concert series of its kind in the United States. The 11-week run starts today (June 10) at noon with Western New York favorite, "Joyryde", and the "Hitmen Horns".

“Our plaza is a symbolic manifestation of the bank’s role in the community—joining, strengthening and enriching the central business district for visitors and residents alike,” said Rich Gold, M&T Bank President and COO. “However, strengthening a city doesn’t happen through building projects alone; it also takes experiences and events that bring the community together and cultivate connections. The Plaza Event Series has done exactly that throughout its 50 years, becoming part of the fabric of the downtown community.”

And to further celebrate the 50th Anniversary..., M&T Bank will be launching a used musical instrument drive to benefit local students. Instruments collected will go to Buffalo Public Schools for use by students who don’t have access to their own musical instrument.

If you are interested in donating an instrument please stop by the Plaza Event Series during the first week of performances or visit M&T’s branch on the ground floor of One M&T Plaza during regular business hours throughout the duration of the series, which runs June 10 through August 23.

M&T has also debuted a Spotify playlist that includes songs of the summer from the last 50 years, as selected by the M&T employees who organized this year’s series. It expands the community-building impact of the Plaza Event Series into the digital space, allowing Spotify users to connect with the series wherever they are.

To listen to the Spotify playlist, visit https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gfHexU2lAyLyROqext8bI.

Local food trucks will be onsite each week day, including Great Aussie Bite (Mondays), The Blend (Tuesdays), Cheesy Chick (Wednesdays), Caribbean Flava (Thursdays) and Dickey’s Barbeque Pit (Fridays).

While at the event Monday, stop and have a chat with 96.1 The Breeze Morning Host Joe Chille between 11am and 1pm.

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