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BEYOND THE BLUES FESTIVAL:
Chicago Blues Guide’s Top Choices
Here
are some staff suggestions on where to go to catch more great blues acts
outside of the huge Grant Park festivities, in some unexpected venues.
For a complete list of Chicago area blues clubs, see our blues club directory in The Guide section.
Lonnie Brooks/photo by: Jennifer Wheeler
REDHEAD PIANO BAR
www.redheadpianobar.com
16
W. Ontario, Chicago
No
Cover!
Tuesday, 6/3
(every Tuesday, 11:45 p.m. – 3:15
a.m.)
This
cozy River North piano bar is not a place you’d expect to hear Chicago
blues. Instead of singing along to Billy Joel’s hits, you can hear three
of Chi-town’s top players, all highly respected in their own right,
perform together. Ruby
Harris (“king of the blues
violin”), barrelhouse pianist
Phil Baron and guitarist Wil
Crosby (longtime Mavis Staples bandmate). (Sometimes it’s a duo, as
they alternate.)
HOUSE OF BLUES http://www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/chicago/
329
N. Dearborn (at Marina City), Chicago
312-923-2000 (box office)
Thursday, 6/5 --
Doors open 7 pm, show at 8 pm
Lonnie Brooks, Wayne Baker Brooks, Pinetop Perkins, Eddy “The Chief”
Clearwater, Lil’ Ed
and special guest Todd Park Mohr
(of Big Head Todd & The Monsters). The cream of Chicago’s blues crop
together on one stage, with a rare appearance by venerable piano legend
Pinetop; plus blues-rocker Todd (who moved to Chicago for a spell to
soak up our blues music).
$24.50; ages 17 and over.
BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS www.buddyguys.com
754
S. Wabash, Chicago
312-427-0333
Thursday, 6/5
–
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. There is
no cover; first come first serve. Doors open 11 a.m. After the
broadcast, at about 7 p.m, there is a $15 cover.
Buddy Guy, Otis Taylor
and Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
perform for WXRT (93.1 FM) Radio’s 11th Annual live broadcast
to kick off the Chicago Blues Festival. DJ
Tom Marker, host of the
BluesBreakers show, emcees.
Buddy Guy will co-host. When the radio show is over,
Louisiana Red takes the
stage at 7 p.m. backed by special guests
Bob Corritore,
Patrick Ryan and
Eddie Kobek.
At 10 p.m. guitarist
Larry McCray performs. Legends serves tasty authentic Louisiana
cuisine and other fare, so marathon blues fans won’t starve.
S.P.A.C.E. www.evanstonspace.com
1245
Chicago Ave. (at Dempster), Evanston, IL
847-492-8860
This
new performance space/recording studio and restaurant in Evanston offers
exciting line-ups throughout the week.
Wednesday 6/4
-- 92-year-old blues legend
Honeyboy Edwards, Dave Specter,
Barrelhouse Chuck, Eddy “The
Chief” Clearwater and host
Katherine Davis
Thursday 6/5
-- Jimmy Johnson joins
Dave Specter.
Friday 6/6
-- Jimmy Burns brings his
soulful voice and guitar to the stage.
Saturday 6/7
-- Syl Johnson (brother of
Jimmy Johnson) makes a rare appearance. This would be an opportune time
to hear soul legend live.
BLUE
CHICAGO (two clubs)
www.bluechicago.com
Chicago, IL
These River North sister clubs, only two blocks apart, offer blues fans
a great deal: two clubs with two bands on the weekend for only one cover
charge. Make sure the doorman stamps your hand for admission to both
places. Blue Chicago is known for its female vocalists.
536
N. Clark (at Ohio)
312-661-0100
Wednesday 6/4
– J.W. Williams Blues Band
with Patricia Scott
Thursday 6/5
– Shirley Johnson Blues Band
Friday 6/6 & Saturday 6/7
– Charlie Love Blues Band
with Nellie Travis
Sunday 6/8
– Shirley Johnson Blues Band
736
N. Clark (at Superior)
312-642-6261
(Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Friday 6/6 & Saturday 6/7
– Grana Louise & the
Troublemakers
REGGIE’S MUSIC JOINT
www.reggieslive.com
2105
S. State Street, Chicago
312-949-0120.
Reggie’s is not the usual stop on the blues pub crawl, but they have
booked some exciting acts for Blues Fest weekend and there is a free bus
from Monroe Street to the club that picks up on the hour from 7 p.m.
until 10 p.m.
Friday 6/6 -- blues legends Jody Williams and Eddie C. Campbell perform.
Saturday 6/7
-- Eddie C. Campbell returns
along with Cadillac Zack and
Elmore James Jr. (who
celebrates his new CD release). A
“get-well-soon” will go out to the ailing Little Arthur Duncan with a
set featuring Taildragger.
Byther Smith goes on at 12
a.m., followed by an All-Star Jam Session with many special guests
including Scott Dirks, Eddie Taylor, Jr., Twist Turner, Bob Corritore,
Dona Oxford, Smilin’ Bobby, Jesse Fortune, Pee Wee Hayes, Jimmy Dawkins
and more.
Sunday 6/8
-- Carlos Johnson
ROSA’S BLUES LOUNGE
www.rosaslounge.com
3420
West Armitage, Chicago
773-342-0452
B.L.U.E.S.
www.chicagobluesbar.com
2519
N. Halsted, Chicago
773-528-1012
Neighboring clubs B.L.U.E.S. and Kingston Mines have a great deal going
on Sundays. Pay your cover at B.L.U.E.S. and get in free at Kingston
Mines.
Friday 6/6 & Saturday 6/7
– Jimmy Johnson with
Chico Banks
Sunday 6/8
– Rodney Brown & the Hot Rods
KINGSTON MINES
www.kingstonmines.com
2548
N. Halsted, Chicago
773-477-4646
Chicago’s longest running blues club, The Mines is the place where
guitar goddess Joanna Connor got her start. Catch her this weekend with
ex-Chicagoan Magic Slim (now a Nebraska resident). Two stages, so the
music never stops.
Friday 6/6
– Magic Slim, Joanna Connor
Saturday 6/7
– Big James Montgomery, Joanna
Connor
Sunday 6/8
– Charlie Love & the Silky
Smooth Blues Band, Linsey Alexander
HARLEM AVENUE LOUNGE
3701
S. Harlem, Berwyn, IL
708-484-3610
The
cozy and casual Harlem Avenue Lounge presents two young turks of the
blues: on Friday 6/6 catch the dynamic
Toronzo Cannon and the
Cannonball Express and
Saturday 6/7 it’s Joe Moss
Blues Band.
BILL’S BLUES BAR
www.billsbluesbar.com
1029
Davis, Evanston, IL
847-424-9800
Saturday 6/7
-- Don’t miss this intimate club show by
Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
(who is busy headlining huge festivals) in Bill’s cozy bar.
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