Looking Back On Roots, Brews and Blues

all photos above: copyright 2008 Larry Hoyt

from the top:

-- Pete McMahon of the Kingsnakes;

-- Terry Mulhauser of the Kingsnakes

-- folks dancing in the second line

-- trumpet player from the Rebirth Brass Band

-- folks dancing on the "reflecting pool" after the rain

-- Clinton Square and the evening sky

(click on photo to enlarge image)

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This past weekend (from Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, 2008), Syracuse, New York was home to some of the very best blues and roots music to be found anywhere. The folks who organized and presented the New York State Blues Festival, and the Empire State Brewing & Music Festival, should be thanked and congratulated for doing such a fine job.

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In a previous blog entry I mentioned the excellent music and good-time atmosphere that pervaded the Inner Harbor Block Party on Thursday, with roots and blues music provided that evening by both the Fabulous Ripcords and Los Blancos.

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The highlight of Friday night's BrewFest was the lively performance by Donna the Buffalo, a veteran group from the Ithaca area, who deserve their national reputation as purveyors of upbeat, groove-filled dance tunes that are certifiable crowd-pleasers.

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Other performances in Clinton Square this weekend that I was able to enjoy while shooting lots of photos were the BluesFest sets of music by the Rebirth Brass Band, from New Orleans, and the Kingsnakes & Friends, from right here in Central New York.

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In my opinion, there's something incredibly beautiful about the mix of historic architecture in the buildings just to the east of Clinton Square. In the late evenings, during the many festivals that take place at Clinton Square during a Syracuse summer, these older buildings are often highlighted by the setting sun, making for an incredibly impressive cityscape vista.

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As I've pointed out in this blog before, and as I will point out again, Syracuse is far-and-away the music center of Central New York, and some might argue, the music center of all of Upstate New York (especially if you're a blues fan).

There's lot of excellent music going on in the clubs and bars and other venues here in Syracuse, 52 weeks a year, often 7 nights a week.

I just hope that more and more people become aware of this, and then make it a point to attend some of the high-quality live music taking place in this area.

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more photos by Larry Hoyt can be found at
www.flickr.com/newfolkfotos

videos by Larry Hoyt can be found at: www.YouTube.com/NewFolkNow

music by Larry Hoyt can be found at: www.cdbaby.com/cd/larryhoyt
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