New York State Blues Festival has announced today that the Warren Haynes Band will headline this year’s festival – June 12-14 – with a Saturday, June 14 performance at NYS Fairgrounds’ Chevy Court in Syracuse.
The annual 3-day New York State Blues Festival celebrates the far reaching influence that this genre has had on modern music by bringing together a complimentary line-up of diverse acts.

A FREE 3-day festival, the New York State Blues Festival will also feature Memphis based group, Southern Avenue in the Friday June 13 closer spot, along with support from Central New York legends, The Kingsnakes, Blue Avenue featuring Joanna Nix & Mark Doyle, and Ron Spencer’s Jumpstart 20th Anniversary.
The Three Kings featuring D.K. Harrell, Chris Cain and Albert Castiglia, will pay tribute to blues icons B.B. King, Albert King, and Freddie King in the Thursday night June 12 headliner spot, along with support from Virginia based Chris O’Leary Band and Florida’s Kat Riggins & Her Blues Revival.
A former member of the Allman Brothers Band and The Dead, along with Gov’t Mule, Haynes is a storied guitarist and vocalist is renowned for his soulful live performances. Also on Saturday, 2025 Grammy winner Ruthie Foster, and 2020 Grammy nominee, Jontavious Willis, will also add to the exciting mix, as well as great local area artists.

Rounding out the long running festival’s (est.1992) jam packed line-up will be sets from The Ripcords, The Westcott Jug Suckers and Jake Lozo Band. The festival’s student band, Blues Ignition kicks off Saturday’s performances with a noon time main stage set. Side stage acoustic acts will keep things rolling during main stage changeovers, and will include performances by Skip Murphy & Big D. Tim Herron, Tom Barnes and the Shylocks Duo.
A variety of food vendors will be onsite, and wine & beer will be sold. Retail & craft vendors will also be set up market style, for fest-goers’ shopping pleasure. A complete list of vendors will be provided at a later date.
The festival is FREE to attend, with all ages welcomed. Parking in the Fairground’s Brown Lot is available for $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle. ADA parking is in the Emerald Lot. Proceeds from the parking fees help to offset expenses including keeping the New York State Blues Festival admission-free. Lawn chairs are welcomed.
For those looking to enhance their experience, ProAct Blues Club VIP passes are currently available. Early Bird pricing is in effect through Sunday April 13. In addition, the festival is offering onsite camping at the Fairground’s Empire RV Park with two and three night packages available. Area participating hotels are offering discounted rates for festival attendees. For more information on VIP packages, RV sites, and hotel reservations, please visit nysbluesfest.com/vip-rv-hotels and nysbluesfest.com for more info.

2025 New York State Blues Fest Lineup
WARREN HAYNES BAND
SOUTHERN AVENUE
THE THREE KINGS ft. D.K. HARRELL, CHRIS CAIN & ALBERT CASTIGLIA
RUTHIE FOSTER
JONTAVIOUS WILLIS
THE CHRIS O’LEARY BAND
KAT RIGGINS & HER BLUES REVIVAL
THE KINGSNAKES
BLUE AVENUE ft. JOANNA NIX & MARK DOYLE
THE RIPCORDS
RON SPENCER’S JUMPSTART 20TH ANNIVERSARY
WESTCOTT JUG SUCKERS
JAKE LOZO BAND
BLUES IGNITION
SKIP MURPHY & BIG D
SHYLOCKS DUO
TIM HERRON
TOM BARNES
New York State Blues Fest Schedule
Main Stage
Thursday June 12
4pm – GATE OPENS***
5:30 – 6:45pm – KAT RIGGINS & HER BLUES REVIVAL
7:15pm – 8:30pm – THE CHRIS O’LEARY BAND
9:00pm – 10:30pm – THE THREE KINGS featuring D.K. HARRELL, CHRIS CAIN & ALBERT CASTIGLIA
Friday June 13
3:00pm – GATE OPENS***
4pm – 5pm – RON SPENCER’S JUMPSTART 20TH ANNIVERSARY
5:30pm – 6:45pm – BLUE AVENUE featuring JOANNA NIX & MARK DOYLE
7:15pm – 8:30pm – THE KINGSNAKES
9:00pm – 10:30pm – SOUTHERN AVENUE
Saturday June 14
11:00am – GATE OPENS***
12:00 – 12:40pm – BLUES IGNITION (STUDENT BAND)
1pm – 1:40pm – JAKE LOZO BAND
2:10pm – 3pm – THE WESTCOTT JUG SUCKERS
3:30pm – 4:30pm – THE RIPCORDS
5pm – 6:15pm – JONTAVIOUS WILLIS
6:45pm – 8:00pm – RUTHIE FOSTER
8:30pm – 10:30pm – WARREN HAYNES BAND
Side Stage
Thursday June 12
4:30pm – 5:15pm/6:45pm – 7:05 – SKIP MURPHY & BIG D
Friday June 13
5pm – 5:20pm/6:45pm – 7:05pm – TIM HERRON
Saturday June 14
1:40pm – 2:00pm/3pm – 3:20pm – TOM BARNES
4:30pm – 4:50pm/6:15pm – 6:35pm – SHYLOCKS DUO
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