Rising Central New York star Sydney Irving took to the stage at Spiedie Fest in Binghamton on Sunday Aug. 6, providing direct support to headliner Gavin DeGraw. It was the last day of the annual three-day festival, which showcased great food (including spiedies, of course), hot air balloons, arts & crafts, as well as musical performances from acts such as John Waite, Tommy DeCarlo, Scotty McCreery, and Cooper Greer.
At just twenty years old, Sydney Irving has already proven that no stage is too big. The 2022 Syracuse Area Music Award winner for best new artist has already performed on the main stage at Spiedie Fest on two other occasions; in 2019, opening for Starship feat. Mickie Thomas and again in 2021, opening for Martina McBride. On Sunday she was joined by her band, The Mojo, feauring Luke Hart (guitar), Evan Tennant (drums), Randy Tennant (bass guitar), and Carl Stokking (guitars, vocals). They have quickly become a mainstay on Syracuse’s Locals Only radio, with the recent release of their single “I Don’t Wanna Fight You.”
Concert goers on Sunday could not have been greeted with more perfect summer weather, as warm temperatures and sunshine greeted fans as they arrived. Fans filled the concert area long before the advertised start time and a quick scan of the audience along the stage barrier showed a mixture of Gavin DeGraw and Sydney Irving t-shirts.
Just after 4:30 pm Irving and her bandmates took to the stage and immediately launched into their track “Seasons Change.” The catchy and upbeat pop-rock track released by the band in 2021 set the stage for what was to come on this afternoon. Irving quickly grabbed a captive hold of the audience, a feat often difficult to achieve by most performers at larger festivals. She worked the stage with the charisma and stage presence like she was a 20-year veteran, engaging the crowd in sing a longs, dances, and synchronized claps. The band took the party atmosphere to another level by kicking oversized beach balls into the crowd.
Through out the band’s sixty minute set, they intertwined cover songs with their own original music, with the band paying homage to the musicians they attribute to their own songwriting style. They got the crowd up and dancing on Taylor Swift’s “You Belong To Me,” and Irving and her bandmates put their own spin on the Dolly Parton classic, “Jolene.” Guitarist Luke Hart also put his talents on display with a blistering guitar solo during Tom Petty’s “Running Down a Dream.” However it was the band’s original tracks that were the true highlights on this afternoon. Songs like “Don’t Want to Fight You” and “You Can’t Forget About Me” showcased Irving’s talents as a songwriter and fit in the setlist flawlessly, alongside the cover tracks.
As the set wound to a close, Irving and her band mates performed the Ramones classic “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The high energy track had the crowd singing and clapping along, and left those in attendance highly energized as they awaited the evening’s headliner.
If you missed Sydney Irving & the Mojo’s set at Spiedie Fest, don’t fret. The band have a slew of performances scheduled, including on Aug. 19 at the Dreamland Theater Music & Arts Festival in Utica. See the band’s full sleight of shows here.
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