You sure can have a wicked case of the blues with the sun shining, temperatures in the 70s and bands doing their best on the big stage non-stop in front of you.

Food trucks at few steps away, too.

Friday at the 23rd edition of the New York State Blues festival in downtown Syracuse’s Clinton Square was very, very good.

Starting with a before-Happy Hour set by Central New Yorkers spreading their wings, Castle Creek, and unwinding to a reunion blast by the Syracuse band that soared its way everywhere for a glorious 10-year stretch that started in the 80s, The Kingsnakes, the first of two days of this free-admission event obviously kept thousands of people who toted their portable chairs from home happy. Very happy. Hundreds more, that number growing as day gave way to night, chose to dance in the wings.

Phil Petroff on guitar leads Lenny Milano on drums and Greg “Creamo” Liss on bass.

Not everybody could get there in time to catch the first set of the day. Even on a sunny Friday, other work projects could stretch out past that 4 p.m. hour. But Petroff was a hospitable host to his hometown during the 5 o’clock set, which included a bittersweet interlude and tribute to family ties to his always solid blues.

The Natural Fact plays above the photo to honor guitarist Phil Petroff’s brother-in-law, Kyle “Hawk” Shirley, who passed away in April.

Petroff was on stage while his sister-in-law Mary and nephew Jeremy accepted a Blues Archive hall of fame trophy in honor of Kyle “Hawk” Shirley, who died of a heart attack at the age of 62 in April. Mary told of her love for her husband, the South Side blues lover and harp blower who co-founded this fest, with a voice cracking from what she admitted was still raw emotions. But then they turned around and handed a similar hall of fame trophy to Petroff as well.

Petroff explained how Mary Shirley’s sister took him, at the age of 13, to Mary’s house, where he first met Kyle, the man who introduced him to the blues. It changed his life. “Check this out. That’s how I was hip to everything,” Petroff told the crowd. “Long live the Hawk. Thank you, baby.”

Petroff then invited another brother-in-law, Matt Tarbell, to join his powerful trio on stage, to blow the harp and add vocals. Very sweet, indeed.

Dawna Zahn sings and Austin John adds guitar as they return to Syracuse with their Nashville band The Highjivers.

The Highjivers continued the cool with a Syracuse-Nashville hybrid sound. Last year, singer Dawna Zahn and guitarist Austin John moved south to test their blues talents there.

Bingo.

Adding an upright bass and drummer — Hank Miles and Aaron Milasko from Seattle — to create The Highjivers’ hipness was genius.

Hank Miles and Aaron Milasko complete the cool quartet.

Zahn has it going on as a front woman, comfortable as can be, with originals and well-chosen covers. She obviously dug pointing out her family in the crowd, and they beamed right back at her. John’s song “Whiskey and Gin” was a highlight.

From Kansas City with baby, comes Nicole Marie.

Nicole Marie continued the cool with a set thick with fine touches and tight vocals.

Onondaga County Legislature chair Ryan McMahon noted in his introduction her decication to the craft because he spotted her backstage beforehand with her 5-week-old daughter. Danielle Schnebellen has earned her way in the music world with the Kansas City band Trampled Under Foot, winning many awards. The bass player and singer started this own project.

Nicole Marie doesn’t get trampled by anybody’s work these days.

She’s written with blues standout Anders Osborne for the latest album, and on this stage, their writing work is good. Very, very good.

Pete McMahon leads the Kingsnakes, with Terry Mulhauser on guitar, left, and Steven T. Winston on bass.

The Kingsnakes also received their trophy as new members of the Blues Archives Hall of Fame, and front man Pete McMahon and guitarist Terry Mulhauser took it before they were formally introduced by former state legislator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann and hoisted it high.

And then, joined by fellow founders Len Milano on drums and Jerry Neely on keyboard from the delirious stretch that started with live shows and a first record in 1985, the Kingsnakes reunited with flash and dash and panache. Old songs and their songs and whatever the hell they wanted to do, like invited their great friend Mark Doyle to join them because he played a pivotal role producing and playing in the studio back then, and adding Joe Carello and Frank Grosso on horns. Steven T. Winston of Los Blancos was a foundation on bass.

Digging the Throwback from the Kingsnakes in Syracuse, N.Y.

McMahon sang and blew his harp, and Mulhauser played his guitar and sang. They had fun with tons of energy. The crowd danced and remembered when and appreciated now. And it was good.

Stand by your band.

Nancy Larraine Hoffmann introduces the Kingsnakes.

Terry Mulhauser and Pete McMahon are famous bluesmen.

Stealing a set list.

Night, she’s a coming to Clinton Square.

The second stage keeps it solid.

Listening to Miss E on the second stage is my dear wife Karen.

Sundown over downtown.

Me and MDW smiling at the blues.

Something I don’t expect at a blues fest.

Judge Gazza entertains with guitars he crafted in his kitchen.

Where they store the important sound stuff.

Chris Eves of Castle Creek greets his mom after his set.

Click on any gallery photo for a description. Click and hold on the bottom right photo for an enlarged slide show.

Here are four video performances I shot at the fest.

The festival continues today with wall-to-wall music in Clinton Square.

What’s the last festival you attended, and how was the experience? What’s your favorite photo, and why? What’s your favorite YouTube clip, and why?