Fri. Jul 4th, 2025
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: New York Blues Festival begins 27th year with sought after headliner

Madison Hricik: So crowds of over 15,000 people are expected to start trickling through these gates right about now for the annual summer Syracuse Blues Festival here at the fairgrounds. And while blues is in the name, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the only thing that’s going on over the next three days celebrating music from the past, present and future. The New York State Blues Festival has become a staple in Syracuse summers.

Eric McElveen: Syracuse has a real blues scene. It’s been going on very strong and healthy since the 1980s and early 1980s and not every city can, can claim that.

Hricik: Eric McElveen is heading into his 10th year as the festival director, and he says this event has grown every year since he took over. He’s seen fans come from all across the state and even all across the world.

McElveen: We go through our zip codes each year, and it gets more and more impressive. Last year we had folks from Scotland, of course, people from Canada. You know, they made it a special trip from Scotland. They’re like, we were their destination. And it’s not just like they happen to be here. This was the destination was come to New York State Blues Festivals.

Hricik: The festival is also an opportunity for local vendors to get involved. Some businesses sign up almost a year in advance to have their spot on the ground.

Lori Tape: We take our time and get all the paperwork in and building that relationship. And then when they get out here, you know, to see all of the people enjoying a lot of people like to eat a lot of food.

Hricik: And this year, McElveen says the headline performer is one he’s been trying to bring to this festival for a long time.

McElveen: I’m not gonna lie. I love Warren Haynes. You know, he’s one of my favorite artists of all time, and he’s been on, you know, we worked for 10 years related to get him here.

Hricik: Well, Warren Hayes is expected to perform on Saturday night, and McElveen and Tape both said that this festival will go on rain or shine, so we do see a 31st weekend of rain here in Syracuse. Bring your ponchos and umbrellas, because the artists are not letting it rain on their parade live in Syracuse, Madison, Hricik, NCC News.

SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News) — Bring out the bright colored basses and old-school posters, or even a few multi-colored guitars.

The annual New York State Blues Festival opened at the New York State Fairgrounds on Thursday afternoon, kicking off a three-day event featuring local and big-man artists.

“Syracuse has a real blues scene,” Festival Director Eric McElveen said. “It’s been going on very strong and healthy since the 1980s and early 1980s and not every city can can claim that.”

McElveen is in his 10th year as the festival director, but has been a musical aficionado for most of his life. He’ll scout musical acts over a year in advance at times, but tries to find a balance of local and non-local musical acts.

He’s spent almost his entire time as a director trying to secure this year’s headline performer: Warren Haynes Band.

“I’m not gonna lie, I love Warren Haynes,” McElveen said. “You know, he’s one of my favorite artists of all time, and he’s been on, you know, we worked for 10 years, really, to get him here.”

Nearly ever person involved with the festival is a volunteer, usually hopping on Zoom meetings once a month leading up to the summer. From there, it’s twice a month and increasing to once a week before the move-in trucks finally park at the fairgrounds Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, vendors that help sell food, drinks and gifts are all Syracuse-based companies. Much like the musical acts, the vendors sometimes wait up to a year before getting to participate — and every year there are more.

“We take our time and get all the paperwork in and building that relationship,” vendors director Lori Tape said. “And then when they get out here, you know, to see all of the people enjoying a lot of people like to eat a lot of food.”

Last year, the Blues Festival had roughly 15,000 people attend over the course of those three days. McElveen and Tape both agree, it’s possible they’ll see those numbers again this year.