Syracuse welcomes BareRoots Festival, a new community and music tradition

Syracuse’s Thornden Park came alive on Saturday with the city’s newest music and art celebration: the BareRoots Festival. From 3 to 8 p.m., the park’s amphitheater featured performances ranging from psychedelic rock to indie folk, attracting hundreds of students, families and residents alike to the free city event.

The lineup reflected Syracuse’s diverse music scene: bands like Pop Culture blended funk, jazz and prog, while psychedelic rock band Vaporeyes had the crowd on its feet; Honey for the Bees added a folk-rock vibe and Glass Image played alt-rock. Ruha closed the evening with a genre-bending mix of Americana and electronica.

For performers, the festival felt as meaningful as it did for the audience: “It means so much to be able to gather with music, art and community lovers,” said Ruha singer Charley Orlando. “It’s the future of life to be able to accept everyone for who they are and see the beauty in it always!”

“It felt like coming home, but better,” said Vaporeyes vocalist Jonas Reddy-Nicholson. “Old neighbors, friends, and colleagues all joined in a beautiful amphitheater to the tune of great music, great food, art and vendors. It’s tough to ask for much more, especially when it’s free entry.”

Reddy-Nicholson added that “the setup was wonderful, and the sound team absolutely was stellar.”

Between music sets, food trucks served wood-fired pizza, sandwiches and dumplings, while rows of tables displayed artwork, handmade crafts, band merchandise and antiques. Some attendees paused to talk with local artists selling jewelry or paintings, while others browsed for vintage items.

“I came with a couple of friends just to check it out,” said Meghan Lenis, a Syracuse University freshman. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s amazing. The music’s great, but it’s also cool to see people our age mixing with older residents. It feels like everyone’s just hanging out together.”

Thorden Park added to the festival’s charm; the sloped amphitheater gave everyone a clear view of the musicians. Kids danced in the grass, and older couples relaxed in chairs, swaying to the music. Many hope this is just the beginning of a tradition, including event organizer Noah Corrado.

“When I lived in Florida, I worked at a nightclub where we’d have 2,000 people coming through every Friday and Saturday night,” said Corrado. “Being part of that taught me a lot about putting on large-scale events, and I wanted to bring those skills back home to Syracuse. The goal was to create something meaningful for the community I grew up around — something that felt like ours.” 

That sense of ownership and place ran through every aspect of the festival.

“It’s completely built by and for Syracuse,” said Corrado. “The artists, vendors, volunteers, and partners are all part of the local fabric. It’s about celebrating what’s already here, reclaiming public space, and highlighting the diversity and talent of this community.” 

Looking ahead, Corrado hopes that BareRoots will leave a lasting impression.

“I hope people walk away feeling inspired and connected. If someone discovers a new favorite band, makes a new friend, or just feels proud of their city, then we’ve done our job.”