This past Saturday, the South Washington Street Parabolic Bridge transformed into a music festival for the 25th-annual Blues on the Bridge. A large crowd of onlookers gathered around the stage, many relaxing in lawn chairs and on blankets, enjoying the day’s perfect weather. With live music filling the streets from 1 to 8 p.m., the festival was a fantastic tribute to the city’s vibrant music scene.

Vendors opened earlier, kicking off festivities around noon. Set up in Memorial Park, stands sold shirts and Blues on the Bridge-themed merchandise, offering things from boozy ice cream to henna tattoos. A diverse array of food trucks occupied more of the space. The crowd varied in age but was consistent in fashion sense, forming a sea of funky sunglasses and fringe tops.

For 23 years, creator and organizer Donny Wilkins of Kirkwood, NY, worked with his good friend and partner Tommy Martinos to bring the festival to life. When Martinos suffered a stroke last summer, Lori Fadale-Wilkins, studio and jewelry artist and Wilkins’ wife, took over his role to keep Blues on the Bridge going.

Wilkins discussed how his partnership with Martinos helped kickstart the tradition.

“He had all these ideas, which were great ideas, and by the third year, man, we were smoking, with vendors and stuff,” Wilkins said. “I mean, he grabbed it, it just became his life, it was just wonderful. And so I handled the music and the production end of it, and he handled the vendors and the front end of it, and we both shared a little bit doing the publicity and promotion and everything. It was a partnership and a friendship that worked out really well. We are still good friends and I miss working with him.”

The festival is always free, with about 40 vendors and a beer tent adding to the celebration. Wilkins noted how Blues on the Bridge helps showcase local musicians to an enthusiastic and diverse audience.

“We get thousands of people to see these bands that otherwise wouldn’t get exposed,” Wilkins said. “Every band that’s played Blues on the Bridge has gained fans, and they see the results like a couple of weeks afterwards. They come back to Binghamton and play a gig, or play a gig that next week, there’s more people there. Everybody knows how important this is to their band and their reputation to get on that stage. So, I’m pretty proud of that. We made something that’s really cool and, you know, we raised a standard as far as, you know, musicianship and festivals here in Binghamton.”

The event was presented by Blues on the Bridge, LLC and the City of Binghamton. Popular community staples such as Strange Brew Cafe and Music City sponsored the event, uniting the music scene with local businesses. Audience members sang and danced along with the upbeat blues tunes and impressive backing brass instruments. The stage was set in front of the backdrop of the historic green iron Washington Street parabolic bridge.

Bold vocals and lively instrumentals lit up the cloudy afternoon. Blues bands like the Nate Gross Band performed, drawing in eager audiences. Blues and roots rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Nate Gross, of Oxford, NY, described his approach as a “modern musical take on traditional American blues.” Gross, who has been touring nationally for over two decades, has become a respected voice in the contemporary blues scene and shared his experiences with the festival with Pipe Dream.

“As the festival grows, it’s now attracting a larger audience from outside the Binghamton area,” he wrote. “These new festival-goers are filling the streets, bars, cafes, restaurants and stores in the community.”

Unfortunately, the festivities were cut short by rain after a day of bright performances keeping the gloom at bay. One band, Junkyard Heights, was set to perform around 6 p.m. but was rained out.

Brian Swan, the band’s lead and rhythm guitarist and South Side resident, wrote in an email about his experiences performing in years prior.

“One of my favorite parts of playing blues on the bridge is the chance to perform for a large crowd that might not know who we are,” he wrote. “Also, a chance to play for family and friends, who otherwise might not be able to catch us live.”

Despite the unpredictability of the city’s weather, Blues on the Bridge was a prime example of the creative talent found in the city. From hours of music to local vendors, the event’s organizers, featured musicians and enthusiastic audience all worked together to create a fantastic 25th-annual rendition of the festival.

“As with all ‘Blues Festivals,’ the best part is the Diverse Audience in attendance,” Gross wrote. “The Blues Community is full of true music fans who appreciate a wide range of genres, all which trace back to the blues roots.”