One of the Northeast’s most premier live music events, the New York State Blues Festival, has announced its headliner and lineup for June 11-13, 2026. The free-admission event will feature a lineup of talented regional and national artists, headlined by Gary Clark. Jr.
The New York State Blues Festival is one of the largest blues events in the Northeast, and offers free admission. The three-day annual music festival highlights artists from across the nation and from multiple genres with each artist having roots submerged in tradition and vision.
The festival’s goal is to preserve, protect, and promote blues music and culture, and ultimately, educate on the influence of blues music in popular culture and music all over the world while offering entertainment and fun for attendees.
Gary Clark Jr., the festival’s headliner, is a global force in modern music. Clark is a four-time Grammy Award winner, one of which includes the Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Please Come Home” from his debut record Blak and Blu.
Clark has additionally received enormous attention with The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, which soared to new heights with “This Land” in 2019. “This Land” has been acclaimed by the New York Times, Washington Post, and Rolling Stone and won three Grammy Awards.
Clark has headlined at numerous iconic venues, including the Hollywood Bowl, and recently released his fourth studio album, JPEG RAW, in March of 2024 through Warner Records.
The festival begins on the Main Stage on Thursday, June 11th, at 4:00pm when the Gate Opens. JW-Jones will perform from 5:00pm to 6:30pm, followed by Rick Estrin & The Nightcats from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and finally Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will close out the night on the main stage from 9:00 to 10:30pm. Thursday will also include performances by the Golden Soul Revue at 4:15 and 6:30pm on the side stage.
The Festival continues on Friday, June 12th, at 3:00pm when the gate opens. The Joe Whiting Band will open the night on the main stage, performing from 4:00 to 5:00pm. Ray Fuller & The Bluesrockers will follow, performing between 5:30 and 6:45pm, and followed by Piper & The Hard Times from 7:15pm to 8:30pm. Finally, Grace Bowers will close out the night on the main stage, performing between 9:00pm and 10:30pm. Friday also features a performance on the side stage between 5:00 and 6:45pm by Raedwald Howland-Bolton.
The final day, Saturday, June 13th, begins at 11:00 am when the gates open. The first performance is with Blues Ignition on the main stage from 12:00pm to 12:45pm, followed by Damdog from 1:00pm to 1:45pm. All Night Boogie Band will also perform between 2:10pm and 3:00pm followed by Matt Tarbell Phil Petroff at 3:30 and 4:30pm. Vanessa Collier will perform from 5:00 to 6:15pm, and Eddie 9V will perform from 6:45pm to 8:00pm.
Saturday will also feature performances on the side stage with Buddy Manley at 1:45pm and 3pm, and Colin Aberdeen at 4:30pm and 6:15pm. Finally, headliner Gary Clark Jr. will perform, closing out the festival, between 8:30pm and 10:30pm.
The event is held at Chevy Court, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, and admission is free. For more information, visit the New York State Blues Festival’s website here. A list of the festival’s lineup and schedule can be found below.
2026 New York State Blues Festival Lineup
Main Stage
Gary Clark Jr.
Grace Bowers
Eddie 9V
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Vanessa Collier
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Piper & The Hard Times
JW-Jones
Ray Fuller & The Bluesrockers
Joe Whiting Band
Matt Tarbell Phil Petroff
All Night Boogie Band
Damdog
Blues Ignition
SIDE STAGE
Side Stage performances will feature:
Golden Soul Revue
Raedwald Howland-Bolton
Buddy Manley
Colin Aberdeen
New York State Blues Festival Daily Schedule
Main Stage
Thursday, June 11
4:00pm – Gate Opens
5:00pm – 6:30pm – JW-Jones
7:00pm – 8:30pm – Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
9:00pm – 10:30pm – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Friday, June 12
3:00pm – Gate Opens
4:00pm – 5:00pm – Joe Whiting Band
5:30pm – 6:45pm – Ray Fuller & The Bluesrockers
7:15pm – 8:30pm – Piper & The Hard Times
9:00pm – 10:30pm – Grace Bowers
Saturday, June 13
11:00am – Gate Opens
12:00pm – 12:45pm – Blues Ignition
1:00pm – 1:45pm – Damdog
2:10pm – 3:00pm – All Night Boogie Band
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Matt Tarbell Phil Petroff
5:00pm – 6:15pm – Vanessa Collier
6:45pm – 8:00pm – Eddie 9V
8:30pm – 10:30pm – Gary Clark Jr.
Side Stage
Thursday, June 11
4:15pm & 6:30 pm– Golden Soul Revue
Friday, June 12
5:00pm & 6:45pm – Raedwald Howland-Bolton
Saturday, June 13
1:45pm & 3pm– Buddy Manley
4:30pm & 6:15pm – Colin Aberdeen
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