New York State Blues Festival is BACK — and It’s FREE!
In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Erik McKelvin, Executive Director of the New York State Blues Festival, to talk about one of Central New York’s most beloved annual events. Blues Fest returns June 11–13 at Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds — and the best part? Admission is completely free.
Erik breaks down everything you need to know about this year’s festival, including a headlining performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Gary Clark Jr. on Saturday night. But the conversation goes far deeper than just the festival lineup. Erik shares the heart behind the organization — a nonprofit with a mission to preserve and promote blues music and blues culture for generations to come.
We dive into the New York State Blues Festival’s powerful youth education programs, including Blues in the Schools, which brings blues history and songwriting into elementary and middle school classrooms across Central New York. Erik explains how blues music — with its deep roots in African and European tradition — is uniquely positioned to teach kids how to play together, improvise, and express themselves in ways that formal music education often misses. Unlike reading notes off a page, blues teaches students how to jam, how to listen to each other, and how to make music that travels with them beyond the classroom.
We also hear about Blues Ignition, a student band program for young musicians ages 12–19 that gives kids hands-on experience playing in a combo setting, learning groove, feel, soloing, and the art of listening — skills that traditional school music programs rarely develop. Blues Ignition kicks off the Saturday of the festival at noon, and they’ll also be performing at Taste of Syracuse.
Erik also announces the Beginnings Credit Union K.J. James Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to young musicians in the area, with prizes of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000. The scholarship honors K.J. James, a Syracuse blues legend whose influence helped shape the regional blues scene through the ’80s and ’90s.
The conversation takes a thought-provoking turn when Erik reflects on the decline of live music in Syracuse and across the country — painting a picture of what a Friday night in Central New York looked and sounded like in the early 1980s, and making a passionate case for why live music still matters and why communities need to protect it. He draws inspiration from cities like New Orleans, where music is a neighborhood institution, not just an industry, and shares his vision for building that same culture right here in CNY.
Whether you’re a lifelong blues fan or someone who’s never seen a live show, this episode will leave you inspired to get out there, discover something new, and maybe even pick up an instrument.
Chapters
0:00 — Intro & Welcome
0:27 — Introducing Erik McKelvin & Blues Fest
0:42 — Festival Dates, Location & Lineup
2:03 — Free Admission & Community Accessibility
3:21 — Reaching New Audiences Beyond Blues Fans
4:59 — Youth Programs Overview
5:14 — Blues in the Schools Program
7:55 — Blues Ignition Student Band
11:34 — The K.J. James Memorial Scholarship
15:40 — The Decline of Live Music
17:37 — Why Blues Is Perfect for Informal Playing
21:03 — The Problem With School Music Education
22:34 — Drawing Inspiration From New Orleans
23:16 — Festival Logistics & Final Details
24:22 — Blues in the Schools in Your School
25:12 — Closing Thoughts
🔗 Links & Resources
New York State Blues Festival: NYSBluesFest.com
Good News York: www.goodnewsyork.com
ClickStream Studios: www.ClickStreamStudios.com
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Good News York is produced by ClickStream Studios, located in Central New York. We’re sharing the positive stories, people, and organizations that make CNY a great place to live. Subscribe for new episodes every week!
