BLUES ON THE FOX FESTIVAL

June 13 & 14 in Aurora, IL

Starring: Elvin Bishop, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Hubert Sumlin, Eddy Clearwater, Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette, Corey Harris and more

  Elvin Bishop by: Jennifer Wheeler

AURORA, IL -- Blues on the Fox, the intimate free Blues festival hosted by the City of Aurora Illinois, celebrates its 12^th anniversary with an exceptional entertainment lineup on Friday, June 13^th and Saturday, June 14^th as part of the summer-long Downtown Alive festivities.  The festival will take place at the intersection of Galena Boulevard and Stolp Avenue (“Blues Alley”) in downtown Aurora along the Fox River.

Friday night’s entertainment will be anchored by the internationally-renowned Elvin Bishop (“Fooled Around and Fell in Love”). Festivities will begin with a performance by Chicago blues favorite Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater at 6:45 p.m.

At 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, the Hix Brothers’ Junior All-Stars will kick off the day of performances featuring young Aurora students of the Blues.  Acoustic blues artist Corey Harris will take the stage at 3:00 p.m. Next up with be the dynamic Marcia Ball bringing her boogie-woogie, New Orleans-flavored piano. 2008 Grammy nominee and Detroit legend Bettye LaVette will take the stage next to belt out blues and soul.  Capping off a terrific evening of entertainment will be blues guitar-shredding Kenny Wayne Shepherd.  As a special treat, long-time Howlin’ Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin, showcased at last year’s Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival will perform with Kenny Wayne Shepherd.  Performances will conclude at 10:00 p.m. each night.

Each year the City of Aurora celebrates the rich music history of the RCA Bluebird recordings that were made in the 1930’s at the Leland Hotel in downtown Aurora. In the famous Sky Club, literally hundreds of songs were recorded by John Lee ‘Sonny Boy’ Williamson, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, Big Joe Williams, Roosevelt Sykes, Yank Rachell and others.  These recordings were groundbreaking and set the tone for the early urban Blues that later became so popular and formed the backbone for modern day Rock ‘n Roll.  The Blues on the Fox festival commemorates these recordings.

The scenic Aurora downtown acts as a very pleasant backdrop to a two-day festival that provides great music, food, beverages, music vendors and a relaxed atmosphere for the whole family.  The festival is free. 

For the festival schedule, artists’ biographies and other important information visit the festival’s Website at www.BluesOnTheFoxAurora.com or call 630-844-4731. 

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