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Arts & Culture

Reunion celebrates Buffalo's legendary Continental

WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley

Downtown Buffalo was hopping Saturday night. "The Nutcracker" was staged at Shea’s. There was the "World’s Largest Disco" at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. And the Town Ballroom hosted the third annual Continental Reunion.

Credit Photo by Eileen Buckley / WBFO News
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WBFO News
One of 13 bands performing at the Continental reunion

The Continental was a popular downtown club that featured punk and rock music of the 1980s and ‘90s. Bud Redding, who worked at the Continental for ten years, organized Saturday’s reunion. He said the Continental is fondly remembered by many.

"Everyone was welcome. It didn't matter who you were -- a Goth or a punk. We'd even let hippies in," Redding said. "It had a reputation of being dark and scary. But there was hardly any trouble."

Credit WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley
Bud Redding organized the reunion event

Redding said it was difficult finding some of the old bands that performed at the Continental because some musicians have died while other groups are no longer together. So, he featured some new bands Saturday night, pointing out that the Continental’s mission was introducing patrons  to new music.