Syracuse & Central New York Concerts & Live Music

From Syracuse’s lakeside amphitheater to Turning Stone’s year-round stage

The Sound of Central New York

Central New York draws fans to two powerhouses: the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater in Syracuse and Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona. But it’s the people who make this region’s scene worth knowing — the Turning Stone crowd who travel from across the state for an intimate night with a legacy artist, the families spreading out on the Empower lawn on a July evening, and the regulars at Beak & Skiff who’d rather hear great music surrounded by apple trees than in any arena in the country.

The Empower FCU Amphitheater’s lakeside setting on Onondaga Lake makes it one of the most scenic outdoor venues in the Northeast — a natural bowl that sounds as good as it looks. Turning Stone’s Event Center offers a more intimate, climate-controlled experience with top-tier production across rock, country, comedy, and more. And then there’s Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette: a working farm that has quietly become one of Central NY’s most beloved live music destinations, hosting summer concerts in a setting that feels genuinely unlike anywhere else.

Central NY is where big tours meet an audience that genuinely shows up — and the combination of lakeside amphitheater, resort entertainment, and farm-country charm makes it one of the most distinct regional music scenes in Upstate New York.

Venues

Empower FCU Amphitheater

6,500-seat hilltop amphitheater overlooking Onondaga Lake. Syracuse's summer shed.

Turning Stone Event Center

5,000-seat casino resort event center in Verona — the surprise big room between Syracuse and Utica.

JMA Wireless Dome

49,000-seat domed stadium on the SU campus. Arena-scale concerts in Central New York.

Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards — LaFayette, NY

Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards

5,000-cap apple orchard turned outdoor concert venue. Cider and live music south of Syracuse.

Landmark Theatre

2,908-seat 1928 movie palace — Syracuse's most stunning theater, with acoustics to match.

Stanley Theatre

2,963-seat 1928 Mexican Baroque theater in Utica — jaw-dropping interior, exceptional sound.

Westcott Theater

700-cap Syracuse club in the Westcott neighborhood — independent spirit, dedicated regulars.

Adirondack Bank Center

5,000-seat Utica arena — Central NY's mid-size room for hockey and touring concerts.

Point Place Casino

1,000-seat casino showroom near Oneida Lake. Easy Thruway access, solid mid-size room.

Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater

2,111-seat Syracuse theater at the Oncenter — touring Broadway, comedy, and concert acts.

The Song and Dance live music venue in Syracuse NY

The Song & Dance

200-cap Syracuse club — eclectic booking from indie rock to hip-hop and everything between.

Funk 'n Waffles

200-cap funky brunch-and-music spot — waffles by day, live shows by night in downtown Syracuse.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Syracuse

300-cap BBQ joint with a bar stage — live blues and roots in Armory Square, Syracuse.

Middle Ages Beer Hall

400-cap beer hall and music venue in Syracuse — craft brews and live bands under one roof.

Center for the Arts of Homer

400-seat community arts center in Homer — Cortland County's live performance hub.

Lakeside sunsets and sold-out summer nights

Upcoming Shows in the Central NY

Sun, Jul 12, 2026 Magoo at Funk ‘n Waffles
Thu, Jul 16, 2026 Corpse Pile at The Song & Dance
Fri, Jul 17, 2026 Spaced at The Song & Dance
Sun, Jul 19, 2026 311 and Dirty Heads at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Sun, Jul 19, 2026 311 and Dirty Heads at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Mon, Jul 20, 2026 Heavy//Hitter at The Song & Dance
Tue, Jul 21, 2026 Phish at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Fri, Jul 24, 2026 Lauren Alaina at The Showroom at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 Toto at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Sun, Jul 26, 2026 Five Finger Death Punch at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Thu, Jul 30, 2026 Menstrual Tramps at The Song & Dance
Fri, Jul 31, 2026 Tim McGraw at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Fri, Jul 31, 2026 The Head and the Heart at Beak and Skiff
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 Usher Raymond & Chris Brown at JMA Wireless Dome
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 Night School at The Song & Dance
Mon, Aug 3, 2026 Tori Amos at Landmark Theatre
Wed, Aug 5, 2026 Lake Street Dive at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Cole Swindell at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Lakeview at The Haven of the Wild
Fri, Aug 7, 2026 The Outlaws at The Showroom at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Fri, Aug 7, 2026 Fetty Wap at Landmark Theatre
Sat, Aug 8, 2026 The Marshall Tucker Band at The Haven of the Wild
Fri, Aug 14, 2026 Home Free: Highways and High Seas Tour at Turning Stone
Fri, Aug 14, 2026 Home Free at Turning Stone Event Center
Sat, Aug 15, 2026 Billy Idol at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 Slightly Stoopid at Beak and Skiff
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 The Band Perry at The Haven of the Wild
Sun, Aug 23, 2026 Indigo Girls at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
Mon, Aug 24, 2026 Crickets & Cicadas at Funk ‘n Waffles
Wed, Aug 26, 2026 Pitbull at Empower FCU
Thu, Sep 3, 2026 Goo Goo Dolls at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Tue, Sep 8, 2026 Ray LaMontagne at Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater
Fri, Sep 11, 2026 Parmalee at The Haven of the Wild
Thu, Sep 17, 2026 Charles Wesley Godwin at Landmark Theatre
Fri, Sep 18, 2026 Jason Aldean at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Fri, Sep 18, 2026 Danny Worsnop at The Song & Dance
Fri, Sep 18, 2026 Suzy Bogguss at The Showroom at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Sat, Sep 19, 2026 Edwin McCain at The Showroom at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Sat, Sep 19, 2026 Pop Evil at The Song & Dance
Sun, Sep 20, 2026 Scoochie Boochie at The Song & Dance
Thu, Sep 24, 2026 Treaty Oak Revival at Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
Fri, Sep 25, 2026 Martina McBride at Turning Stone Event Center
Fri, Sep 25, 2026 Dan + Shay at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Sat, Sep 26, 2026 Dermot Kennedy at Empower FCU Amphitheater
Sat, Sep 26, 2026 Dermot Kennedy at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Tue, Sep 29, 2026 PIG at The Song & Dance
Wed, Sep 30, 2026 Thousand Below at The Song & Dance
Fri, Oct 2, 2026 Mike DelGuidice at The Showroom at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Fri, Oct 2, 2026 Rodrigo Teaser at Landmark Theatre
Sat, Oct 3, 2026 Diamond Rio at The Showroom at Turning Stone
Tue, Oct 6, 2026 Nevertel at The Song & Dance
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 The Black Keys at Turning Stone Event Center
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 Jamey Johnson: Traveling Truebadour Tour at Turning Stone
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 Bert Kreischer at Landmark Theatre
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 Jamey Johnson at Turning Stone Event Center
Fri, Oct 16, 2026 Melvin Seals and JGB at The Stanley Theatre
Fri, Oct 16, 2026 Wednesday 13 at The Song & Dance
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 Alana Springsteen at The Showroom at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Tue, Oct 20, 2026 The Phil Collins Story at Stanley Theatre
Wed, Oct 21, 2026 Carsie Blanton at The Song & Dance
Thu, Oct 22, 2026 Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers at Funk ‘n Waffles
Sat, Oct 24, 2026 Jordan Davis at Turning Stone Event Center
Sat, Oct 24, 2026 The Price Is Right Live — Stage Show at Stanley Theatre
Sat, Oct 24, 2026 Texas Hippie Coalition at The Song & Dance
Thu, Oct 29, 2026 The Vampire Circus at The Stanley
Sat, Nov 21, 2026 The New York Bee Gees at Stanley Theatre
Tue, Dec 1, 2026 Straight No Chaser at Landmark Theatre
Thu, Dec 10, 2026 The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight at Stanley Theatre
Sun, Dec 13, 2026 Sal Valentinetti at Stanley Theatre
Wed, Feb 24, 2027 The Magical Music of Harry Potter – Live in Concert at Stanley Theatre
Fri, Feb 26, 2027 Joe Bonamassa at Landmark Theatre
Fri, Mar 5, 2027 Sonic Live in Concert at Landmark Theatre
Tue, Apr 6, 2027 The Who’s Tommy at The Stanley
Wed, Apr 7, 2027 The Who’s Tommy at Stanley Theatre

Exploring the Central NY

Before & After the Show

Syracuse’s Armory Square is the go-to for pre-show dining and drinks — a walkable district with breweries, farm-to-table restaurants, and cocktail bars. For Turning Stone, the resort itself has multiple restaurants, a spa, and a golf course if you’re making a weekend of it.

Getting Around

I-90 (Thruway) and I-81 cross in Syracuse, making it one of the most accessible cities in the state. Empower FCU Amphitheater is on the Inner Harbor, minutes from downtown. Turning Stone is 30 miles east on Route 365 near Verona. Beak & Skiff is 20 minutes south of Syracuse in Lafayette.

Best Time to Visit

The amphitheater season runs June through September. Turning Stone books shows year-round. Beak & Skiff peaks in fall when the apple harvest and live music collide — but their concert series starts in summer. Syracuse itself is a college town, so the vibe picks up when SU is in session.

Plan Your Visit

Getting Here

By car: I-90 (Thruway) east-west and I-81 north-south converge in Syracuse. All three venues are within 30 minutes of downtown.

By air: Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is 10 minutes from the amphitheater.

Parking: Free at Empower FCU Amphitheater. Turning Stone has massive free lots. Beak & Skiff has on-site parking (arrive early for fall events).

Insider Tips

Empower FCU: Lawn seats have great sightlines — bring a blanket
Turning Stone: Stay at the resort and avoid the drive back
Beak & Skiff: Try the 1911 hard cider while you’re there

Dining & Nightlife

Syracuse — Armory Square: The city’s best dining district, walking distance from downtown venues. Breweries, wine bars, and global cuisine.

Turning Stone: On-site options from steakhouses to casual dining — no need to leave the resort.

Lafayette / Tully: Farm country restaurants near Beak & Skiff for a true Central NY experience.

Explore Other Regions

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