NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest Paul LeClair performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com) NY State Blues Fest New York State Blues Fest The Brownskin Band performs during the New York State Blues Fest, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday June 17, 2023. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)

The New York State Blues Festival has opened applications for its annual youth scholarship program, offering $6,000 in prizes to Central New York performers between the ages of 12 and 19.

The Beginnings Credit Union KJ James Memorial Scholarship will award $3,000 to the first-place winner, $2,000 to second place, and $1,000 to third place.

Applications are due by May 15, 2026, and must be submitted to scholarship@nysbluesfest.com.

Awards may be used for instruments, lessons, music programs, studio time, competition fees or educational expenses.

Joey Trovato won first place in the 2025 scholarship competition, with Nova Spires placing second and Madison Humphrey taking third. Past recipients include Eamonn Hubert, Anna Fontaine, and Jett Collura.

The scholarship memorializes Kelly James, known as the “father of the blues scene” in Syracuse. James founded the area’s first blues festival on Burnet Avenue and performed with Triple Shot before joining Dr. Blue and the Kingsnakes. He toured nationally as a solo artist under the name Dr. Blue.

Musician Terry Mulhauser described James as a “blues activist” committed to elevating the genre.

“He always worked to raise the level of appreciation and respect for the music,” Mulhauser said.

The scholarship supports the festival’s youth development programs, including “Blues In The Schools” and “Blues Ignition,” which teach the cultural significance of blues music in American history.

Scholarship finalists will be notified by June 5, with awards presented on Saturday, June 13. More information about the scholarship is available on the festival’s website.

The New York State Blues Festival runs June 11-13, 2026.

Gary Clark Jr. will close out the music lineup Saturday, June 13, on the Chevy Court stage. Other scheduled performers include Grace Bowers, Eddie 9V, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Vanessa Collier, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Piper & The Hard Times, JW-Jones, Ray Fuller & The Bluesrockers, Joe Whiting Band, Blues Ignition, Golden Soul Revue and Colin Aberdeen.

Admission to the all-ages event is free. Club VIP passes and onsite camping options are also available at nysbluesfest.com.