When Tommy Castro takes the stage, the blues gets a transfusion of pure energy. The man has been a force on the blues circuit for decades, delivering the kind of performances that leave audiences drenched in sweat and grinning from ear to ear. He’s bringing The Painkillers to Syracuse for a NYS Blues Fest Fundraiser, with Nate Gross opening — and if you care about the blues in this state, this show is personal.
About Tommy Castro & The Painkillers / Nate Gross
Tommy Castro is a blues and soul guitarist and singer whose career spans over three decades of touring, recording, and electrifying audiences worldwide. He’s a multiple Blues Music Award winner whose sound draws from blues, soul, rock, and R&B, delivering it all with a ferocity and joy that’s impossible to fake. The Painkillers — his backing band — are every bit as tight and explosive as the name suggests. Nate Gross, a pillar of the Central New York blues scene, opens the evening. The show serves as a fundraiser for the New York State Blues Festival, meaning your ticket directly supports the future of blues in the region.
The Venue
Middle Ages Beer Hall in Syracuse is a 400-capacity brewery venue that’s going to be electric for this show. Tommy Castro in a room this size is an experience — the energy has nowhere to go but through you. The intimate setting means every guitar lick, every vocal growl, every drum hit lands with full force. For a blues show of this caliber, you couldn’t ask for a better room.
Tickets & Details
NYS Blues Fest Fundraiser featuring Tommy Castro & The Painkillers w/s/g Nate Gross takes place at Middle Ages Beer Hall on Sunday, April 27, 2026. Doors at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $41. Get tickets.
This show is about more than one night of great music — it’s about investing in the future of blues in New York State. Tommy Castro is the real deal, Nate Gross is Central NY family, and the cause is one that matters to anyone who believes the blues deserves a stage. Forty-one dollars puts you in a 200-seat room with one of the best in the business and supports the festival that keeps this music alive in our community. That’s money well spent.