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"It was a hot, muggy afternoon when the 2012 New York State Blues Festival kicked off in downtown's Clinton Square on Friday, July 13. The dense, moist air foreshadowed the downpours that would follow, but it didn't deter blues fans from Hamilton, Buffalo, Pennsylvania and Florida, to name a few.

President and producer of the fest Todd Fitzsimmons opened the show at 4:30 p.m. by recognizing the intelligence of the small crowd that came out early for a rare acoustic set from Anders Osborne and his New Orleans neighbor Johnny Sansone. "We brought in some New Orleans weather," Osborne joked as Fitzsimmons duct-taped a red-and-white-striped umbrella behind the triple-threat guitarist/singer/songwriter to help shade him from the sun. "It's hotter here than in New Orleans," he revealed. Go figure.

The relaxed, comfortable duo, also accompanied by Osborne's "upright" bassist (he propped his electric bass like an upright), Carl Dufrene, opened with "Summertime in New Orleans," an appropriate tune of raw, bare and beautiful simplicity. Though on Osborne's 2007 album Coming Down (M.C. Records) the same song enjoys similar stripped-down qualities, with a stark piano and light drums, with only Osborne, Sansone and Dufrene, the song took on different qualities, leaning on the sturdy, but emotional vocals of Osborne and carefully intermittent additions of Sansone. Though the two joked that even as neighbors in NOLA, the only way they see each other is when they play a festival in New York, they complemented each other naturally.

Within the first song, feedback became an issue, but it was quickly resolved and as Osborne pushed through it and came to the bridge, he hit a moment of silence as an ambulance siren went blaring by. He stopped, looked around and cracked a smile, letting the audience onto his sense of humor."

From Jessica Novak's article "Blues Festival Wrap-Up" in the Syracuse NewTimes
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/newyork/article-5950-blues-festival-wrap-up.html

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"Osborne started the set with an homage to our current steamy weather as well as his hometown.
"Summertime in New Orleans" was sweet and tasty, with Sansone's layered harmonica work adding to the sultry mood. The sound system went through a first-song squeal. Osborne sang on. Immediately after, an ambulance siren bounced through downtown Syracuse. Osborne stopped. Smiled. Picked right back up singing, "and sweet. blooming magnolia trees. Gorgeous."

From Mark Bialczak's blog in the Post Standard, titled: "Anders Osborne, Johnny Sansone start New York State Blues Festival with gorgeous acoustic set"
http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2012/07/anders_osborne_johnny_sansone.html

"Anders' versatile talent and unique style stem from his musical beginnings at age 16 when his thirst for travel and adventure sent him hitchhiking around the globe for the next four years. He was inspired by life experiences in his travels to Europe, Africa and Asia, where he wrote songs and perfected his high-energy performances.

In 1985, he hitchhiked one last time to New Orleans, and finally found a place to call home. Oddly enough, Anders learned that he wasn't the first in his family to fall in love with the Crescent City. He discovered that his grandfather, a sailor, lived in New Orleans for many years. Through shared memories and photographs, Anders felt an instant connection.

Soaking up the Big Easy's musical atmosphere, Anders began developing his sound. Following the completion of his first two albums for independent New Orleans-based Rabadash Records, Anders was offered a major deal with Sony's Okeh imprint in 1995. Today, Anders continues to channel his unique energy and spirit, whether in the studio or on the stage."

From Amanda Galster's "2012 Blues Fest Program" in the Syracuse NewTimes
http://npaper-wehaa.com/syracusenewtimes/2012/07/11/#?article=1623062