New York State Blues Fest

The annual three-day musical festival that celebrates blues music as one of the largest free events in the Northeast.

New York State Blues Fest

The New York State Blues Festival is one of the largest music events in the Northeast. In 2024, the three-day annual festival is returning to provide music lovers with a fun and exciting blues experience. From June 13-15, mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience.

The festival invites blues artists to perform their music for crowds of fans at Chevy Court in the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York. This event is a must-see attraction for anyone who enjoys music and wants a fun weekend getaway. Aside from the festival itself, the event organizers prioritize using blues music as a form of community outreach with programs like Blues in the Schools and Blues Ignition. The festival strives to protect, preserve, and promote blues music and culture while educating on the role of blues in the development of popular music in the United States and around the world

Attending the Blues Festival

One of the largest free music festivals in the Northeast, this festival is open to the public and people of all ages. The event organizers seek to cultivate a fun experience for all visitors and festival-goers are allowed to come and go as they please. There are VIP Packages available that include a fully catered dinner each night, plus lunch on Saturday, beer and wine, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, and preferred seating during the festival. These VIP packages can be purchased here.

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/newyorkstatebluesfestival

Performance Lineup for the NYS Blues Festival

Thursday, June 13

• 4:30 pm, 6:45 pm: Mira Grimm

• 5:30 pm: Hanna PK & the Dynamic 88’s

• 7:15 pm: Bywater Call

• 9:00 pm: Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials

  Friday, June 14

  • 4:00 pm: The Shylocks

  • 5:00 pm, 6:45 pm: Colin Aberdeen

  • 5:30 pm: Matt Tarbell’s Built for Comfort

  • 7:15 pm: Mathias Lattin

  • 9:00 pm: The Record Company

   

  Saturday, June 15

  • 12:00 pm: Blues Ignition

  • 1:00 pm: Rattlesnake Trio

  • 1:40 pm, 3:00 pm: Tim Herron

  • 2:10 pm: Cinnamon Jones

• • 3:30 pm: Tom Townsley Band

  • 4:30 pm, 6:15 pm: Danielle Miraglia

  • 5:00 pm: Matt Schofield

  • 6:45 pm: Shemekia Copeland

  • 8:30 pm: Little Feat

Participating in the Blues Festival

There is much more than music available at the festival for attendees to enjoy. Aside from walking around Clinton Square and listening to the variety of bands performing, there are multiple food and drink vendors to check out. Rules for the festival include no pets, no skateboarding, no glass containers, no coolers and no unauthorized audio or video recordings. All of the rules are set to ensure the safety of all festival goers to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment.

Take Amtrak to New York State Blues Fest

Attend the Blues Festival via Amtrak to the Syracuse Station—Don’t forget to use the Amtrak See New York and Save 15% discount! The station is 2.4 miles away from Clinton Square, making it an easy and convenient option to get to the event.

Get picked up from the Syracuse Station and taken to your reserved NYTRAIN Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Click here to reserve your car or call the Syracuse office today at 315-423-0022.