Warren Haynes Band to Headline 2025 Festival

Warren Haynes Band To Headline The Admission-Free 2025 New York State Blues Festival

The New York State Blues Festival is excited to announce that the Warren Haynes Band will headline this year’s festival with a Saturday night June 14 performance at NYS Fairgrounds’ Chevy Court (Syracuse). As a former member of the Allman Brothers Band and The Dead, along with his other group, Gov’t Mule, the electrifying guitarist and vocalist is renowned for his soulful live performances. 2025 Grammy nominee, Ruthie Foster, and 2020 Grammy nominee, Jontavious Willis, will add to the day’s exciting mix, as well as several great local area artists.

This 3-day FREE festival (June 12 – 14), will also feature Memphis based group, Southern Avenue in the Friday June 13 closer spot, along with support from Central New York legends, The Kingsnakes, Blue Avenue featuring Joanna Nix & Mark Doyle, and Ron Spencer’s Jumpstart 20th Anniversary. The Three Kings featuring D.K. Harrell, Chris Cain and Albert Castiglia, will pay tribute to blues icons B.B. King, Albert King, and Freddie King in the Thursday night June 12 headliner spot, along with support from Virginia based Chris O’Leary Band and Florida’s Kat Riggins & Her Blues Revival.

Rounding out the long running festival’s (est.1992) jam packed line-up will be sets from The Ripcords, The Westcott Jug Suckers and Jake Lozo Band. The festival’s student band, Blues Ignition kicks off Saturday’s performances with a noon time main stage set. Side stage acoustic acts will keep things rolling during main stage changeovers, and will include performances by Skip Murphy & Big D. Tim Herron, Tom Barnes and the Shylocks Duo.

A variety of food vendors will be onsite, and wine & beer will be sold. Retail & craft vendors will also be set up market style, for fest-goers’ shopping pleasure. A complete list of vendors will be provided at a later date.

For those looking to enhance their experience, ProAct Blues Club VIP passes are currently available. Early Bird pricing is in effect through Sunday April 13. In addition, the festival is offering onsite camping at the Fairgrounds’ Empire RV Park with two and three night packages available. Also, area participating hotels are offering discounted rates for festival attendees. For more information on VIP packages, RV sites, and hotel reservations, please visit our website at nysbluesfest.com/vip-rv-hotels.

The festival is FREE to attend, with all ages welcomed. Parking in the Fairground’s Brown Lot is available for $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle. ADA parking is in the Emerald Lot. Proceeds from the parking fees help to offset expenses including keeping the New York State Blues Festival admission-free. Lawn chairs are welcomed.

The annual 3-day New York State Blues Festival celebrates the far reaching influence that this genre has had on modern music by bringing together a complimentary line-up of diverse acts.

“The mission of the NYS Blues Festival is to preserve, protect and promote blues music and culture. The Syracuse, NY festival entertains while educating on the role of the blues in the development of popular music in the US and around the world.”

New York State Blues Festival is made possible through grants from Onondaga County, The Trust for Cultural Resources of Onondaga County, New York State Council on the Arts, CNY Arts along with support from Visit Syracuse and several business sponsors. Visit our sponsors at nysbluesfest.com/sponsors.

For media inquiries please contact:
Eric McElveen, Festival Director
818-212-9489 or nysblues@gmail.com