No time to relax, Central New Yorkers.
This weekend’s downtown Syracuse opens up Clinton Square for the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival.
Funky Friday and Jazz Saturday have a new baby for all admire: Blues Sunday.
Funky Friday will be dedicated to the honor of Syracuse guitarist Jeff Huston, who performed at last year’s fest. Huston passed away earlier this year. Popular Syracuse party band Atlas will be the cornerstone of the night.
Chieli Minucci and Special EFX, at Jazz Saturday. (Photo courtesy of CNY Jazz)
Jazz Saturday will feature Chieli Minucci and Special EFX as headliners. Ithaca College graduate Minucci is a quiet force in people’s daily lives, scoring the theme music for many popular TV shows.
The newbie, Blues Sunday, will feature guitarist Duke Robillard as the headliner. Robillard is a multiple winner of the Best International Blues Artist Award.
The Stage of Nations Blue Rain Ecofest runs Friday and Saturday at Hanover Square, one block over from Clinton Square. I interviewed fest founder and co-producer Irv Lyons Jr. for my Mark It Up community column on Syracuse Public Media site waer.org. If you’d like to read my story, click the link below.
http://waer.org/post/stage-nations-blue-rain-ecofest-shares-haudenosaunee-culture-hanover-square
Here’s the full schedule for the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival.
Funky Friday
Pomco Main Stage
6:30 p.m. — Nuf Said
8:15 and 10 — Atlas XXXV
Mardi Gras Pavilion
5, 7 and 9 — Formula 5
World Beat Pavilion
5, 7:30 and 9:15 — Brownskin
Jazz Central
11 — Late Night Jam Session
Jazz Saturday
Pomco Main Stage
Scholastic Festival
Noon — Stan Colella Parks & Rec All-Star Big Band
12:45 — CNY Jazz Alumni
Battle of the Community Jazz Bands
1:30 — Rhythm-Airs
2:45 — Tradewind
4:00 — Easy Money Big Band
National Acts
6:30 — John DiMartino Trio with Harry Allen
8:15 — Janis Siegel’s Requinte Trio
10:00pm — Chieli Minucci and Special EFX
Mardi Gras Pavilion
5, 7:30 and 9:15 — Joshua Breakstone
World Beat Pavilion
5, 7:30 and 9:15 –Skiffle Minstrels
Jazz Central
11 — Late Night Jam Session
Duke Robillard, at Blues Sunday. (Photo courtesy CNY Jazz)
Blues Sunday
Pomco Main Stage
2 — Los Blancos
3 — Dr. Killdean
4 — Matt Tarbell & Against All Odds
6 — Mississippi Heat
7 –Davina & The Vagabonds
9 — Duke Robillard
RED CROSS PAVILION WINE TASTING SCHEDULE
Friday 7-10
Saturday 3-5
Saturday 7-10
Which would you most likely attend, Funky Friday, Jazz Saturday or Blues Sunday, and why? Which one event catches your eye the most, and why? Would you be tasting the red or tasting the white, and which ones most specifically?
Mark Bialczak 
How cool!
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You betcha. 🙂
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i’d be there on jazzy saturday, but i’m sure i’d love every one of those days. i’d be tasting pinot noir of the reds or dry, cool whites.
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Good and good, Beth.
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Syracuse needs to make you their community planner MBM. 🙂
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It’s all planned already, MBC. 😉
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You need to be the city’s Bard then. 🙂
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What a great weekend!! Enjoy Jazz, but gotta love the blues 😉 Can’t wait to read about it, and I’ll bet you’ll get some great pics!
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Thanks, Sadie. 🙂
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Jazz and wine sound heavenly! I’m a wee bit jealous, Mr. B:). Enjoy it for me too!
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No need to be jealous, Kay. 🙂
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Looks like you will have a blast! ❤
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My community has loads to do, Colleen. 🙂
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Hi Terp long time no hear! So, I’ll be tending my swimming pool and 5 babes! Enjoy yourself! Gatorette
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You have a grand weekend, Gatorette. I will be visiting your place. 🙂
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Ok Mark See YOU then!
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I love the idea of the battle of community jazz bands Mark. We have a place here in Calgary that has multiple pianos and they do what they call Piano Duels! Hey, I could look it up but, it’s easier to ask you, how far is Syracuse from NYC? ❤
Diana xo
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Syracuse is about 220 miles from New York City, Diana. Coming our way soon? ❤
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Oh man, if I could, I’d visit in a heartbeat!
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Wow, Mark, no shortage of events for you over there! You know I’ve never been much of a fan of jazz or funk fan although, especially with funk, there’s a lot of cross over with rock. All the same, I’ll take the blues please. Just no denying the influence it’s had on rock music.
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Blues for Marissa. I will remember always, my freind. ❤
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Well thank you! And when the do those 1, 4, 5 shuffles I’ll be there in spirit.
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Hermano! Let’s meet up at the beer gardens. My treat. Just tell me a story about your favorite artist in return and we will plan the next family reunion. xoxo
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Dealio, hermana. xoxo.
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Oh definitely the Blues Sunday – sounds like a great time. Me love the Blues!!!!! Wish I lived over there in the summer, sounds like so much going on.
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Something every weeked, S.D. Every night, really. Come on over. 🙂
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Jazz, Blues AND wine? Sounds like a heavenly Saturday to me MB!
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I can imagine the photos you would find, DE.
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Yeah, blurry drunken dancing ones….
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I would try to check out as many as I was able too.Picking and choosing to take advantage of the earlier times. As for the wine tasting I would try to hit two of them One red for types I know and enjoy and one for white to try and find one I could like. Wine and music. What a combo. I trust there would be food vendors.
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Yes, food vendors as well, Benson. People can go and never leave. Porta-potties, too. 🙂
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Shoot I’d bring a sleeping bag
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That might be a tad uncomfortable on the concrete, though …
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Wow, that’s a lot of music. Sounds like a great time Mark.
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It’s a lot of opportunity, Paul, you are so right.
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