New York State Blues Festival Bringing Guitar Legend Warren Haynes to Syracuse

The annual New York State Blues Festival returns this year from June 12 through 14 at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

band playing at the blues fest. Harmonica player in center with bassist, keyboard player and drummer in background Blues Festival warren haynes

The free admission festival celebrates over 30 years of blues at the NYS Fairgrounds, with a lineup this year of modern and classic blues artists.

The New York State Blues Festival will start on June 12 with The Three Kings featuring D.K. Harrell, Chris Cain and Albert Castiglia as the night’s headliners. The artists will pay tribute to classic blues pioneers like B.B. King, Albert King and Freddie King.

On June 13, Southern Avenue will bring their Memphis, Tennessee blues to New York. The Blues Music Award winning and GRAMMY-nominated family band fuse blues with modern soul and gospel-infused roots. On their new album Family, Southern Avenue explore their growth and evolution as a band and as a musical family.

lead singer, Tierinii Jackson of southern avenue Blues Festival warren haynes

June 14 will close out the festival with a packed lineup. Ruthie Foster, five-time GRAMMY winner conveys the sounds of Aretha Franklin and Bonnie Raitt with her expansive palette spanning from gospel to blues to folk to jazz. Jontavious Willis will follow Foster at the blues festival. Willis grew up in Georgia with traditional blues influences of Muddy Waters and Taj Mahal.

Headlining the festival this year, the Warren Haynes Band will take the Chevy Court stage Saturday night June 14. GRAMMY-winner, Warren Haynes, is a former long-time member of groups like Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule with electrifying guitar playing and soulful vocals.

warren haynes

Food and craft vendors will be onsite in a market style setup. For more information about the 2025 New York State Blues Festival, click here. For a full list of the lineup, see below.

2025 New York State Blues Festival Lineup

Thursday June 12
4pm — GATE OPENS***

Main Stage
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

Side Stage

4:30pm – 5:15pm/6:45pm — 7:05 – SKIP MURPHY & BIG D

Friday June 13
3:00pm — GATE OPENS***

Main Stage
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

Side Stage

5pm – 5:20pm/6:45pm – 7:05pm — TIM HERRON

Saturday June 14
11:00am — GATE OPENS***

Main Stage
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

1:40pm – 2:00pm/3pm – 3:20pm — TOM BARNES
4:30pm – 4:50pm/6:15pm – 6:35pm — SHYLOCKS DUO

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