Your Complete Guide to the Chicago Blues Scene
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Your Complete Guide to the Chicago Blues Scene |
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BEYOND THE BLUES FESTIVAL 2012
We’ve been waiting patiently all year for the warm weather that finally
has arrived and now it’s onto the biggest free blues festival in the
world! The Chicago Blues Festival takes place in Grant Park June 8-10
and festival hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. The blues clubs
haven’t even begun to heat up when the fest closes for the night. There
are events before, during, and after the fest all over town.
Here
are some suggestions for places to go hear live blues beyond the Blues
Fest .
For
a complete list of Chicago area blues clubs, see our
club directory in The Guide section.
See
you in Grant Park and all over town!
Chicago Blues Fest Update
For
your convenience, we have published the entire schedule for the Chicago
Blues Festival 2012 (see link below). For the third year, the Windy City
Blues Society has announced that it will again host the WCBS Street
Stage featuring top acts like
Jimmy Dawkins, Steepwater
Band, Cash Box Kings, Rob Stone w/ Chris James & Patrick Rynn, Liz
Mandeville & Donna Herula, Harry Garner, Bob Stroger & Billy Flynn, Bob
Riedy & Bob Corritore and more.
TO
SEE ENTIRE CHICAGO BLUES FEST SCHEDULE,
CLICK HERE
Chicago Blues Fest Preview Shows: FREE!!!
Navy Pier
600
E. Grand Ave., Chicago
Wednesday, June 6
– Rev. K.M. Williams from 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 7
– Deitra Farr from 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Daley Plaza
50
W. Washington, Chicago
Monday, June 4
– Chick Rodgers, Deitra Farr & The Blues Machine at Noon.
Blues Heaven Foundation/Chess Records
2120
S. Michigan, Chicago
Thursday, June 7
–
The Howlin’ Wolf Foundation, Inc.
presents: Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang, Billy Branch, Jackie Scott, Debra
Jackson, Eddie Taylor, Jr., Tail Dragger, Big Time Sarah, Carlos
Johnson, Little Howlin’ Wolf and more!
Time: 2 – 7 p.m. There will be scholarships and awards presented
by the foundation, along with a Howlin’ Wolf birthday cake and other
food. FREE! Donations are welcome.
Blues Fest Kickoff Events at
Buddy Guy’s
Buddy Guy’s Legends will host a
variety of special events during Blues Fest week in Chicago.
Wednesday, June 6
– The Chicago chapter of N.A.R.A.S., the organization which awards the
Grammys, will host its annual fundraiser and Blues Fest Kickoff Jam
2012. This ticketed event includes
an all-star concert lineup, including: Billy Branch, Shemekia
Copeland, The Brooks Family Blues Dynasty (Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie & Wayne
Baker Brooks), The Chicago Blues Divas: Deitra Farr, Peaches Staten and
Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Lurrie Bell & Matthew Skoller and Lil’ Ed
Williams. The event will be hosted by Big Llou Johnson, the voice of
B.B. King’s Bluesville radio.
Tickets are $10 - $30, reserved tables for 4 are $200. For tickets call
312-786-1121 or email:
Chicago@grammy.com
Thursday, June 7
–
WXRT radio will broadcast live from
Buddy Guy’s Legends for a FREE
concert. There will be performances by
Shemekia Copeland, Ronnie Baker
Brooks, Joe Louis Walker and
Billy Branch. The annual show, which is in its 15th year,
will be emceed by DJ Tom Marker and Shemekia. The event is from 6 p.m. –
7:30 p.m. Get there early!
Delmark’s Annual Blues Brunch at the Jazz Record Mart
27
E. Illinois (at Wabash), Chicago, IL
Phone: 312- 222-1467
Sunday,
June 10
10
a.m. - Noon
Delmark Records’ annual Blues Brunch at the Mart is always FREE to early
risers. This year don’t miss
Mississippi Heat w/ Inetta
Visor and special guests:
Eddie C. Campbell, Tail Dragger, Rockin’ Johnny, Toronzo Cannon, Dave
Weld and Grana’ Louise.
The Blues Clubs
536
N.
Chicago, IL
Phone: 312-661-0100
This
cozy River North club is very tourist friendly and provides a warm
atmosphere with female vocalists belting out good-time blues.
Thursday June 7
– Shirley Johnson Blues Band
Friday, Saturday June 8-9
– Big Time Sarah & the BTS Express
Sunday, June 10
– Peaches Staten
2519
N. Halsted, Chicago
Phone: 773-528-1012
This
famous little club, known as “Blues on Halsted,” on the North Side has a
great atmosphere where the blues drips off the walls seven days a week.
Thursday 6/7
– Bob Corritore & Tail Dragger CD release party
Friday 6/8 –
Jimmy Johnson
Saturday
6/9 – ??
Sunday 6/10 –
Ronnie Hicks & Masheen Co.
700
S. Wabash,
Phone: 312-427-1190
The
music runs all day. A short
walk from Grant Park, this is always a nice option to catch blues either
during or after the Blues Festival.
Tasty authentic Louisiana cuisine will keep your stomach happy,
and the blues music will feed your soul.
Fri., June 8
–11 am: Guy King (acoustic), all ages
3 pm: Linsey Alexander, all ages
6 pm: Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
9 pm: John Primer
11 pm: Billy Branch and Sons of the Blues
Sat., June 9
– 11 am: Blues Brunch w/ Eric “Guitar” Davis, all ages
3 pm: Matt Skoller, all ages
6 pm: Nu Blu Band
9 pm: Jimmy Burns
11 pm: Larry McCray
Sun., June 10
– 11am: Blues Brunch w/ Harmonica Hinds, all ages
3 pm: Cash Box Kings, all ages
7 pm: Jimmy Johnson
8:30 pm: Dave Specter & the Bluebirds
10 pm: Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials
520
S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL
Just
across from Grant Park and the Fest, many out-of towners will be staying
at this historic hotel.
Friday, June 8
– Dented Trucks (female blues band), 9:15 pm, FREE
645
Joliet Rd (I-55 & Rte. 83)
Willowbrook, IL
Phone: 630-325-0780
Sat., June 9
– Bob Riedy Blues Band w/ Sam Lay, Bob Corritore, Harry Garner
6615
W. Roosevelt Rd.
Berwyn, IL
Phone: 708-788-2118
This
roadhouse style venue always has a fun eclectic lineup.
Friday, June 8
– Ronnie Baker Brooks
Phone: 708-484-3610
The
cozy and casual Harlem Avenue Lounge has very special lineup this
weekend.
Friday 6/8
– Nigel Mack & the Blues Attack
Saturday 6/9
– Toronzo Cannon & J.C. Smith Band
329
N. Dearborn (at
Phone: 312-923-2000
The
Back Porch Stage at HOB is on the ground floor of the Marina City
multi-storied venue and offers dinner and a late night menu plus live
blues acts and more seven days a week. Sundays features the venue’s
famous gospel brunch.
Friday 6/8
– 6:30 p.m. Studebaker John
9 pm Funky MojoDaddy
Sunday 6/10
– 9 p.m. Nick Peraino
2548
N. Halsted, Chicago
Phone: 773-477-4646
Chicago’s longest running blues club, The Mines puts the “fun in funk.”
Two stages, so the music never stops, seven days a week. The club
stays open ‘til 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturdays.
Friday 6/8
–
Magic Slim & the Teardrops, Joanna Connor
Saturday 6/9
–
Vance Kelly, Joanna Connor
Sunday 6/10
–Charlie Love & the Silky Smooth Band, Linsey Alexander
7401
South Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-493-3477
Friday 6/8
– Mz.
Peaches & the Casanova Band
Saturday 6/9
–
Shorty Mack
Sunday 6/10 –
Super Percy & the Soul Clique Band
REGGIE’S MUSIC JOINT &
REGGIE’S ROCK CLUB (2 in 1 venue)
Phone: 312-949-0120
Photo by Airshots Photography
Friday, June 8
– Second Annual Chicago Women in
the Blues with Holle Thee Maxwell, Peaches Staten, Shirley King,
Vivian Vance Kelly, Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Tracee Adams, Ramblin’ Rose,
Dia Madden, Sweet Bev Perron, Dawn O’Keefe Williams, Liz Mandeville &
Donna Herula, Joan Gand and the Blue Road Band.
Time: 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10. Purchase advance tix:
HERE (highly
recommended as this show sells out).
Saturday, June 9
– Delmark Records’ Chicago Blues Fest After-Party with Rockin’ Johnny,
Studebaker John & The Maxwell Street Kings, Jimmy Burns, Eddie Taylor,
Jr. Time: 9 p.m./Doors: 8 p.m. $15 cover.
3420
W. Armitage, Chicago
Phone: 773-342-0452
Rosa’s is a great place on the near West Side to hear the blues.
Chicago’s “friendliest blues bar” has a stellar lineup for the
fest weekend:
Friday,
June 8 – Eric “Guitar” Davis
Saturday,
June 9 – Lil’ Ed & the Blues
Imperials
1804 W. Division, Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-772-6656
Blues, BBQ and brews, Smoke Daddy offers all three in spades. This
Wicker Park bar and eatery smokes its own meats daily, while top live
bands “smoke” onstage nightly.
June
7
– Nick Moss
June
8-9
--
Billy Flynn & Friends (varies each night) w/ Jodi Williams, Bob
Corritore, Milwaukee Slim and more.
June
10
–
Special 20s Blues Fest Wrap Up Party w/Billy Flynn, Kenny Smith, Bob
Corritore
1245
Chicago Ave (at Dempster)
Evanston, IL
Phone: 847-492-8860.
Wednesday, June 6
– Dave Specter’s Adventures in Guitar w/ John Primer
Thursday, June 7
– Charlie Musselwhite, Harry Garner opens
Friday, June 9
– Joe Louis Walker w/ Murali Coryell, Steepwater Band
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