Blues In The Schools

Blues In The Schools (BITS)

Education is a huge part of the mission of the New York State Blues Festival and we are happy to share the importance of the blues in American culture with children in CNY schools. The school districts that participated in our 2024 Blues in the Schools (BITS) program last year included East Syracuse-Minoa, West Genesee, Syracuse City Schools, Jamesville-Dewitt and Liverpool Schools.

Colin Aberdeen, a long-standing blues player based in Syracuse, NY and front-man for the genre-defying roots rockers Los Blancos, leads students on this blues journey. When he’s not armed with an electric guitar for shows with the band, Colin transforms into a down-home solo performer of original and traditional blues. His combination of interest in the origins of the music, its history and the characters who formed one of the most dynamic American art forms, Blues and RnB music, are represented in the stories surrounding the songs, which contributes to the passed-along, spoken tradition of the genre. He plays an extensive repertoire of delta slide and piedmont blues while engaging audiences with soulful vocals and a stage presence of wit and charm all his own, making him the perfect fit to teach youth about this important genre in our Blues in the Schools program. Students discover the history of the blues, hear various styles of blues and write their own blues lyrics that Colin masterfully then puts to music.

Response to BITS has been outstanding and we are currently booking dates for spring of 2025.

Many thanks to Colin Aberdeen, our Youth Education Team and the many music educators who supported this, as well as the sponsors who help make this happen.

BITS is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during April, May and through June 12, when the festival begins. Please fill out the form on this page for more information.