The annual New York State Blues Festival returns to the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse this weekend, June 12, 13, and 14. The free three-day event features a host of national, regional, and local blues acts, along with various artisans and food vendors from across Central New York.
The annual event first launched in 1992, then dubbed the “Central New York Blues Festival”, in nearby Armory Square before later taking over nearby Clinton Square. Since its inception, the event has grown in size and notoriety each year, with previous headliners including Warren Haynes, Buddy Guy, Little Feat, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and Dan Aykroyd, and many others. It found its current home at the fairgrounds in 2021.
This year’s lineup stacks up with the best of previous years. Famed blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr. serves as the event’s headliner, and will perform Saturday at 8:30 P.M.
Saturday’s line up also includes Eddie 9V, Vanessa Collier, Colin Aberdeen, Matt Tarbell & Phil Petroff, All Night Boogie Band, Buddy Manley, DAMDOG, and Blues Ignition.
Vanessa Collier may be this year’s can’t miss act. The blues saxophonist turned singer caught the attention of Blues Fest attendees in 2021, so much so that she was invited to return to the stage in 2022. It was said at the time that she was the only act to ever be invited to perform at the festival on back to back years. She again turned in a blistering performance in 2022 and has sold out the 443 Club in Syracuse on countless occasions, since. Collier will take the stage at 5 P.M. on Saturday.
Rising star Grace Bowers headlines Friday’s sleight of acts, taking the stage at 9:00 P.M. Friday’s schedule includes Piper & the Hard Times, Ray Fuller, Raedwald Howland-Bolton, and the Joe Whiting Band.
Thursday’s performances include Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, JW-Jones, Golden Soul Revue, Rick Estrin & the Nightcaps.
Music starts at 4:15 P.M. on Thursday, 4 P.M. on Friday, and 12:00 P.M on Saturday. General admission is free. VIP tickets remain available and can be purchased here.
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