CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL JUNE 8-10, 2018 FEST RETURNS TO MILLENNIUM PARK Pritzker Pavillion stage photo: Roman Sobus The 35th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, June 8-10, 2018,  will feature both local and national act including headliners on the Pritzker Pavillion Stage: Mavis Staples, Kenny Neal, Fantastic Negrito, Selwyn Birchwood, Willie Clayton, Corey Dennison Band and Mississippi Heat with Billy Flynn and Giles Corey. There will be all-star tributes to Delmark Records 65th Anniversary and to Little Walter. Daytime stages include: The Budweiser Crossroads Stage, The Mississippi Juke Joint Stage, and The Front Porch Stage and the Rooftop Lounge at Harris Theater. The fest runs from 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. daily. Admission is FREE. For info: CLICK FOR WEBSITE CLICK to see a map of Blues Fest at Millennium Park

 Friday June 8, 2018

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Bob Koester checks stock in his record store back in the day

Delmark Records + Bob Koester

 65^th Anniversary Day

• 5:10-5:30pm

National Anthem: Melody Angel

Commissioner Mark Kelly

Video Tribute to Bob Koester, Delmark Records

Delmark Records Remarks

• 5:30–6:15pm - Corey Dennison Band
• 6:30–7:15pm - Mississippi Heat with Billy Flynn and Giles Corey
  
• 7:30–9:30pm - Tribute to Those Who Came Before and Bob Koester

                                    Gerry Hundt and Corey Dennison: Tribute to Sleepy John Estes

                                    Jimmy Burns: Tribute to Big Joe Williams

                                    Ken Saydak: Tribute to Roosevelt Sykes

                                    Shirley Johnson: Tribute to Bonnie Lee

                                    Guy King: Tribute to Willie Kent

                                    Billy Flynn + Linsey Alexander: Tribute to Jimmy Dawkins

                                    Lil’ Ed & Dave Weld: Tribute to J.B. Hutto

                                    Demetria Taylor and Tomika Dixon: Tribute to Big Time Sarah

                                    Mike Wheeler: Tribute to Otis Rush

                                    Steve & Lurrie Bell: Tribute to Carey Bell

                                    Jimmy Johnson and Dave Specter: Tribute to Magic Sam

                                    Omar Coleman: Tribute to Junior Wells

Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)

• 11am–Noon - Zora Young (Delmark)
• 12:15–1:15pm - Sharon Lewis (Delmark)
  
• 1:30–2:30pm - Rockwell Avenue Blues Band (Delmark)
  
• 2:45–3:45pm - Dave Specter (Delmark)
  
• 4–5:15pm - Linsey Alexander (Delmark)
  

Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (at North Chase Promenade)

• 11:15–12:15pm - Panel Discussion with Bob Koester, Delmark Records; Dick Shurman and Bruce Iglauer
• 12:30–1:30pm - Mickey Rogers & The Soul Blues Band
• 1:45–2:45pm - L.J. Echols & The Neckbone Band
  
• 3–4pm - Mr. Sipp
  
• 4:15–5:15pm - Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
  

Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)

• 11am–Noon - Blues in the School with Katherine Davis, Tim Gant, Tino Cortes, Alan Burroughs and Stone Academy
• 12:15–1:15pm - Jimmy Burns - Solo (Delmark)
  
• 1:30–2:30pm - Jimmy Johnson - Duo (Delmark)
  
• 2:45–3:45pm - Lurrie Bell & Eddie Taylor Jr. with The Bell Dynasty (Delmark)
  
• 4–5:15pm - Guy King - Solo (Delmark)
  
• 5:30–6:30pm - Tail Dragger (Delmark)
  
• 6:45–7:45pm - Rockin’ Johnny Burgin (Delmark)
  
• 8–9pm - Giles Corey (Delmark)
  

Rooftop Lounge (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

• 11am-12pm - Gerry Hundt's Legendary One-Man-Band (Delmark)
• 12:15-1:15pm - Oscar Wilson & Joel Paterson
• 1:30-2:30pm - Devil In A Woodpile
• 2:45-3:45pm - Rockin' Johnny Burgin (Delmark)
• 4-5pm - Matt Hendricks

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Saturday June 9, 2018

Millennium Park, Michigan Ave. & Columbus Ave.

Little Walter performs on Maxwell Street/ photo: Raeburn Flerlage You can see an exhibition of Mr. Flerlage's iconic blues photos, plus interactive blues activities and live blues shows at the Chicago History Museum's Amplified: Chicago Blues

(schedule is subject to change)

• 5:20-5:30pm

National Anthem: Jackie Scott

Commissioner Mark Kelly

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 5:30–6:30pm - Selwyn Birchwood
  
• 6:45–7:45pm - Willie Clayton
• 8–9:30pm - Tribute to LITTLE WALTER with Billy Branch, Corky Siegel, Rick Estrin, Sugar Blue, Magic Dick and The Sons of Blues featuring Billy Flynn + Sam Lay

Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)

• 11am–Noon - Dave Herrero
• 12:15–1:15pm - Jackie Scott
• 1:30–2:30pm - Chicago R&B Kings: Tribute to Gene Barge
• 2:45–3:45pm - Vieux Farka Touré
• 4–5:15pm - Sonny Landreth

Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (at North Chase Promenade)

• 11:15am–12:15pm - Panel Discussion on Little Walter Tribute with Scott Dirks & Marion Diaz-Reacco
• 12:30–1:30pm - Ben Payton
• 1:45–2:45pm - The Keeshea Pratt Band
• 3–4pm - Eddie Cotton, Jr.
• 4:15–5:15pm - Jam Session led by Eddie Cotton, Jr.

Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)

• 11am–Noon - Katherine Davis Quartet
• 12:15–1:15pm - Alvin Youngblood Hart
• 1:30–2:30pm - Jontavious Willis
• 2:45–3:45pm - Eric Noden and Joe Filisko
• 4–5:15pm - Bridges to the Blues with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
  
• 5:30–6:30pm - Kevin “B.F.” Burt
  
• 6:45–7:45pm - Chicago Wind featuring Deitra Farr and Matthew Skoller
• 8–9pm - Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
  

Rooftop Lounge (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

• 11am-12pm - Kevin “B.F.” Burt
• 12:15-1:15pm - Fernando Jones
• 1:30-2:30pm - Harmonica Hinds
• 2:45-3:45pm - Fruteland Jackson with James Bryant
• 4-5pm - Vino Louden

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Sunday June 10, 2018

Millennium Park, Michigan Ave. & Columbus Ave.

Mavis Staples/photo: Jennifer Noble

(schedule is subject to change)

• 5:15-5:30pm

National Anthem: Cristone "Kingfish" Ingram

Commissioner Mark Kelly

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 5:30–6:30pm - Fantastic Negrito
  
• 6:45–7:45pm - Kenny Neal
• 8–9:30pm - Mavis Staples
  

Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)

• 11am–Noon - Jamiah Rogers Band
• 12:15–1:15pm - Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience
  
• 1:30–2:30pm - Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
  
• 2:45–3:45pm - Diunna Greenleaf
  
• 4–5:15pm - Joe Louis Walker

Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (at North Chase Promenade)

• 11:15am–12:15pm - Rising Stars Fife & Drum
• 12:30–1:30pm - Nellie “Tiger” Travis
• 1:45–2:45pm - Johnny Rawls
• 3–4pm - Ms. Jody
• 4:15–5:15pm - Jam Session led by Eddie Taylor, Jr.

Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)

• 11am–Noon - Erwin Helfer
• 12:15–1:15pm - Cash Box Kings
  
• 1:30–2:30pm - Studebaker John
  
• 2:45–3:45pm - Blind Boy Paxton
  
• 4–5pm - Piedmont Blūz
• 5:30–6:30pm - Tommy McCracken
• 6:45–7:45pm - Diamond Jim Greene

Rooftop Lounge (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

• 11am-12pm - Studebaker John
• 12:15-1:15pm - Melody Angel
• 1:30-2:30pm - Piedmont Blūz
• 2:45-3:45pm - Mike Wheeler
• 4-5pm - Mississippi Gabe Carter

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