Music scene · Syracuse

Syracuse sits at a crossroads between Upstate New York and the Northeast corridor, giving its scene a restless, touring culture that favors jam bands and live rock improvisation. The Westcott Theater, a converted 1920s movie house, draws indie rock and punk crowds to the University neighborhood, while the Lost Horizon on the North Side hosts hard rock and folk acts. Funk N Waffles, near the downtown core, bridges the gap between the city's college audience and homegrown musicians.

Syracuse's music history began in the 1930s, when the Hotel Syracuse and the Onondaga Hotel's Rainbow Lounge hosted swing bands and jazz combos. Jimmy Van Heusen, who later penned standards for Frank Sinatra, started his career here. By the 1960s, rock bands like The Monterays were turning house parties into full shows.

The Westcott Theater, a converted 1920s movie house, draws indie rock and electronic crowds. Funk N Waffles on Clinton Street bridges college audiences and local musicians. The Lost Horizon on Thompson Road books hard rock and metal. The Landmark Theatre hosts national touring productions.

Artists such as Jimmy Van Heusen, the songwriter behind Sinatra classics, and Martin Sexton, who developed his folk sound in Syracuse before national acclaim, have ties to the city.

Newcomers should visit Funk N Waffles for regular all-ages shows. The Folkus Project at May Memorial UU Society hosts folk and Americana open mics. Syracuse Area Music Awards, or SAMMYS, offers an annual gateway into the local community.