The New York State Blues Festival has revealed its lineup for the 2026 edition, set for June 11-13 in Syracuse. The free event will be headlined by four-time Grammy winner Gary Clark Jr. Performers include a mix of regional and national blues artists across two stages.
The New York State Blues Festival, one of the largest blues events in the Northeast, will take place June 11-13, 2026, at Chevy Court in the New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse. Admission is free, and the festival aims to preserve and promote blues music while educating attendees on its global influence.
Gary Clark Jr. headlines the event. A four-time Grammy Award winner, he earned one for Best Traditional R&B Performance with “Please Come Home” from his debut album Blak and Blu. His 2019 release This Land received acclaim from the New York Times, Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, winning three Grammy Awards. Clark recently issued his fourth studio album, JPEG RAW, in March 2024 via Warner Records. He has performed at venues like the Hollywood Bowl.
The schedule begins Thursday, June 11, with gates opening at 4:00 p.m. Main stage acts include JW-Jones from 5:00-6:30 p.m., Rick Estrin & The Nightcats from 7:00-8:30 p.m., and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers from 9:00-10:30 p.m. Side stage features Golden Soul Revue at 4:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, June 12, gates open at 3:00 p.m. The main stage lineup is Joe Whiting Band from 4:00-5:00 p.m., Ray Fuller & The Bluesrockers from 5:30-6:45 p.m., Piper & The Hard Times from 7:15-8:30 p.m., and Grace Bowers from 9:00-10:30 p.m. Raedwald Howland-Bolton performs on the side stage from 5:00-6:45 p.m.
Saturday, June 13, starts at 11:00 a.m. Main stage performances are Blues Ignition from 12:00-12:45 p.m., Damdog from 1:00-1:45 p.m., All Night Boogie Band from 2:10-3:00 p.m., Matt Tarbell Phil Petroff from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Vanessa Collier from 5:00-6:15 p.m., Eddie 9V from 6:45-8:00 p.m., and Gary Clark Jr. closing from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Side stage acts include Buddy Manley at 1:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and Colin Aberdeen at 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
Full details are available on the festival's website.
