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Syracuse Jazz Fest 2025 brings rock legends and jazz icons to Clinton Square

A photo realistic black and white image of jazz instruments set up on stands in the style of a stock photograph. Include saxophones lined up, amps, guitars, trumpets, and use depth of field to highlight an old 1950s style microphone in the foreground.
Kat Kollins with Microsoft Copilot AI
The annual Syracuse Jazz Fest will feature a slew of big names this year. The event runs June 25th through the 29th with the main events in Clinton Square.

The Syracuse Jazz Fest returns June 25–29 at Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse, showcasing an exciting mix of rock legends and jazz icons. This year’s lineup includes Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Spinners and Todd Rundgren, alongside jazz greats Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Steve Slagle Quartet, and Sweden’s Queen of Swing Gunhild Carling.

The festival kicks off Wednesday evening with performances across multiple downtown venues before moving to the JMA Wireless Stage at Clinton Square from Thursday through Saturday. Sunday concludes with a Gospel Jazz Service at Hendricks Chapel on Syracuse University’s campus.

Performance Highlights:

  • Thursday: Headlined by The Spinners (9:30–11 p.m.), known for hits like "I'll Be Around" and "The Rubberband Man."
  • Friday: Trombone Shorty brings his genre-blending style to the stage at 9:30 p.m.
  • Saturday: Todd Rundgren closes out the main stage performances at 9:30 p.m., following Gunhild Carling's energetic show at 8 p.m.
  • Sunday: A Gospel Jazz Service provides a soulful finale from 12:30–2:30 p.m.

Gunhild Carling returns after her crowd-pleasing performance last year. Renowned for her mastery of multiple instruments and lively stage presence, she continues to captivate audiences worldwide as Sweden’s Queen of Swing.

For updates on schedules, tickets, and more information about Syracuse Jazz Fest 2025, visit syracusejazzfest.com..