Hanover Thursdays Music Series

Written By John Tierney

Think of a summer night, a cool breeze blowing through the trees in a historic public square, the neon lights of the bars and restaurants providing a glowing backdrop under the stars that hang seemingly no higher than the top of the majestic skyscraper at the top of the square. Imagine music playing, music from some of your favorite bands, or bands you haven’t heard but soon will be your favorites. People dancing, laughing, visiting the stands of the local artisans. Artisans that make one-of-a-kind statement jewelry, or fabric art, or graphic artists. Families gathering to take it all in, friends enjoying each other’s company in the festive evening among some truly breathtaking architecture.

There is a city going on.

Before long you realize this is not just any summer night, this is a Syracuse summer night and it’s happening in Hanover Square every Thursday in August.

The idea for a downtown music series in Hanover Square came to Joe Driscoll in 2019, and although COVID derailed his plans for a couple years, it didn’t derail Driscoll. He was looking to create a music series for a long time. When people think of live music at a large scale in downtown Syracuse people think of Clinton Square but Driscoll had a different idea for Hanover. “We can create a much more intimate critical mass in that space, plus I used to do a residency at the old Bull n Bear on Thursdays while Manhattan’s had Dark Hollow every week so I always had Thursdays in Hanover in the back of my mind.”

If week one was any indication the series is already a huge success as people braved humidity, heat and the chance of rain (which never showed up) to see Los Blancos and Hard Promises. “It felt packed and warm and intimate, it was great.”

But it’s more than just a music series, it’s a community event, “the first thing we did was get buy in from the bars and restaurants, get them involved. I told them, this isn’t MY music series, this is YOUR music series.”

With Sophistafunk and The Blacklights on the 11th, Root Shock and The Brownskin Band on the 18th and finishing the series on the 25th with Pearly Baker’s Best and The Old Main, weather permitting, the square should be packed every week as people come to see some of Syracuse’s best talent. But merely drawing a crowd wasn’t the only goal of Driscoll, and the event’s music booker Charley Orlando. “We wanted to put bands together whose built in fan base maybe never saw the OTHER band but would more than likely enjoy them and hopefully build more fans.”

Folks attending will also be able to visit a dozen or so local arts and crafts booths featuring some of the areas best visual artists and craftspeople coordinated by Michael John Heagerty.
It’s events like this that can change the perception of a city. It’s events like this that can change the civic self-esteem. If nothing else, you will have a good time. The music will be amazing.

“A family came up to me and said, ‘this was fun we never go to Downtown Syracuse at night.’” Driscoll said “Bring em down, this is a warm family friendly event”

The Hanover Thursday’s Music Series continues this Thursday with Sophistafunk and The Blacklights. I’m a major fan of both bands, trust me, It will be a party. See you there.