Music in the ‘Cuse

Saturday’s  annual Juneteenth Festival in Syracuse kicked off with a parade featuring New York’s First Lady, Michelle Paterson and ended with an outrageous performance by local R&B band The Blacklites. In between, there was great food, informational booths, entertainment, voter registration, and even a health pavilion sponsored by SUNY Upstate Medical University.

The festival, which commemorates June 19, 1865, the day the last American slaves heard the news of their freedom, got a bad rap when violence erupted two years ago. Despite losing corporate sponsorships, churches, local businesses and individuals joined forces to raise enough money to save the event.

Saturday night’s crowd was older, but that didn’t mean they didn’t get in the groove as the Blacklites ripped out a set that included a tribute to James Brown and their new single, “Lookin’ for Love.”  The Blacklites will be performing on July 11 at the Fashion Extravaganza Cancer Fundraiser at the Palace Theater (2384 James St.).

The annual Jamesville Balloon Festival continues today at Jamesville Beach (4110 West Shore Manor, Jamesville). Gates open at 11 a.m. and the event runs until 9 p.m.  Admission is $5.

Orleans headlines today’s musical lineup. Here’s a schedule of events:

Balloon Field
5:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. - Pilot Weather Briefing
6:00 a.m.  - Balloon Launches (Weather permitting)
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.  - Balloon Walks
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Ballooning History Display
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Remote Control Balloon Demo
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  - Balloon Launches (Weather permitting)

Special Shapes Launch Area
6:00 a.m.  - Balloon Launches (Weather permitting)
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  - Balloon Launches (Weather permitting)

Bud Light Main Stage

1:30-2:30 p.m. - Radio Soul
2:45-3:45 p.m. - Shelly and the Barndogs
4-5 p.m. - Emerald City
5:15-6:15 p.m. - Whiskey Mae
6:45-8:45 p.m. - Orleans

Also today…

• Shaun Luu Horror Fest, featuring Architect, Blackss, Achilles, Mistletoe, Oak and Bone - Westcott Theater (524 Westcott St.)
• New Kids On the Block - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
• Soft Spoken Band - Spirit of Jubilee Park (100 South Ave.) 4 p.m., free
• Fritz’s Polka Band - Violet Festival (Dolgeville), 3 p.m.

At the Clubs

• The Boat House (1397 Route 49, Constantia) - A List, 4 p.m.
• Borio’s Restaurant (8891 McDonells Parkway, Cicero) – Frenay and Lenin, 4 p.m.
• The Cascade Grill (2846 Firelane 1, Moravia) - Sarah Horner and Greg Carroll, 4 p.m.
• Castaways (916 Route 37, Brewerton) - The Country Castaways feat. George Leija, 2 p.m.
• East End Steakhouse (630 East Main St., Little Falls) – Mike and Stan, 4 p.m.
• Harpoon Eddie’s (611 Park Ave., Sylvan Beach) - Los Blancos, 2 p.m.
• Lake Effect (7 Syracuse St., Baldwinsville) – Gary Haydu Unplugged, 6 p.m.
• The Mill (1417 W. Genesee St.) - Open mike with Johnny Rage, 7 p.m.
• Moondance Tavern (2512 Route 20, Marcellus) – The Villagers, 5 p.m.
• Mystic (1203 Milton Ave.) - Michael J Eldorado, 4 p.m.
• Pfohl’s Beachhouse (310 Park Ave., Sylvan Beach) – Saddletramp, 3 p.m.
• Quaker Steak & Lube (3535 Walters Rd.) - El Kabong, 6 p.m.
• Rooters (Valley Plaza, South Salina St.) – Soul Traders, 9 p.m.
• ShamROCKS! Rock and Roll Irish Pub (109 East Taft Road, North Syracuse) – Service Industry Night, 9 p.m.
• Shifty’s (1401 Burnet Ave.) – Charley Orlando, 7 p.m.
• Singer’s Karaoke Club (1345 Milton Ave.) - Karaoke with DJ Octane, 9 p.m..
• Station 58 (3504 Brewerton Rd., North Syracuse) - Chains of Honor, Satisfaction Guaranteed, Silicone Sky, Black Out, 3 p.m.
• Swifty’s (45 Perrine St., Auburn) - Tuff Luck, 6 p.m.
• Syracuse Suds Factory (320 S. Clinton St.) – Brian McArdell and Mark Westers, 8 p.m.
• Trexx Nightclub (319 North Clinton St.) - DJ Electric Jesus and Galder. 10 p.m.
• VFW (70 Culvert St., Phoenix) – The J.M. Danrick Band

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