To Kick off a month of blues programming in Chicago, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is collaborating with the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Park District to bring Chicago Blues Festival artists to various locations throughout the City.
As part of the popular LunchBreak Series each Tuesday and Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in the Randolph Café at the Chicago Cultural Center, a blues performance will take place for the month of May. Additional events in the Randolph Café will include a special Thursday evening performance at 5:30 p.m. throughout May.
Deitra Farr Thursday, May 2 – 12:15 p.m.
Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames Thursday, May 2 – 5:30 p.m.
Nellie “Tiger” Travis Tuesday, May 7 – 12:15 p.m.
Willie Buck Trio Thursday, May 9 – 12:15 p.m.
Omar and Friends Thursday, May 9 – 5:30 p.m.
Kevin Purcell Tuesday, May 14 – 12:15 p.m.
Jimmy Burns Thursday, May 16 – 12:15 p.m.
Peaches & the Groove Shakers Thursday, May 16 – 5:30 p.m.
Eddie Taylor, Jr. Tuesday, May 21 – 12:15 p.m.
Matthew Skoller and Johnny Iguana Thursday, May 23 – 12:15 p.m.
Demetria Taylor Thursday, May 23 – 5:30 p.m.
Michael Coleman and the Back Breakers Tuesday, May 28 – 12:15 p.m.
Jimmy Johnson and Leo Charles Thursday, May 30 – 12:15 p.m.
Holle Thee Maxwell Thursday, May 30 – 5:30 p.m.
The neighhood performances are:
Big Time Sarah will perform on Tuesday, May 7 at Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake St. at 12:15 p.m.
Billy Branch will perform at the Woodson Regional Library on the south side, located at 9525 S. Halsted St. at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.
Dented Trucks will perform at the Maxwell Street Market 800 S. Des Plaines St. on May 12 at Noon
Barrelhouse Chuck will perform at the Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave. on Saturday, May 25 – 12:15 p.m.
Donna Herula & Tony Nardiello will perform on Sunday, May 26 – Noon at the Maxwell Street Market 800 S. Des Plaines St.
Speakin’ of the Blues at the Harold Washington Library on Thursday, May 30 at 12:15 p.m. will feature a discussion on the 60th Anniversary of Delmark Records with a performance by Delmark recording artist Jimmy Burns. The event will take place in the auditorium of the library, located at 400 S. State St.
On Monday, June 3 – Noon, Nellie “Tiger” Travis will perform at the Daley Plaza 50 W. Washington St.
In November of 1981 at the Checkerboard Lounge on Chicago’s south side, Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones took the stage for a jam session of historic proportions. On June 4, blues fans can see Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones-Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, 1981 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The entertainment will begin at 5:45 p.m. with live music from the Rick Kreher, Rockin’ Johnny, Steve Bass Trio. The film begins at 6:30 p.m.
The Blues festival will take place June 6th through the 9th in Grant Park
“Rollin’ Up the River”
THURSDAY, JUNE 6 – Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park
6:30 p.m. – 6:50 p.m. Fernando Jones‘ Blues Kids of America
7:10 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. Jamiah On Fire & The Red Machine
8 p.m. – 9 p.m. Shemekia Copeland with special guest Quinn Sullivan
FRIDAY, JUNE 7 – Grant Park
Bud Light Crossroads Stage
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Dented Trucks
12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m. Toronzo Cannon
2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Mississippi Heat
4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Kevin Purcell and the Nightburners
Mississippi Juke Joint Stage
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Panel Discussion -The Mississippi Blues Trail with Alex Thomas, Jim O’Neal & Scott Barretta
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Terry “Harmonica” Bean
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Lightnin’ Malcolm
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Bill “Howlin Madd” Perry
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band
6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Kenny “Beedeyes” Smith Blues Jam
Pepsi Front Porch Stage
Noon – 1 p.m. Blues In The Schools with Stone Academy, Eric Noden, Katherine Davis
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Donna Herula and Tony Nardiello
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. The Jimmy Burns Band
4:30p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Cicero Blake
Petrillo Music Shell
6 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Earnest “Guitar” Roy
7:05 p.m. – 8:05 p.m. Irma Thomas
8:30p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Bobby Rush and his Blues Band
SATURDAY, JUNE 8 – Grant Park
Bud Light Crossroads Stage
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Bobby Slim James
12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m. Michael Coleman and the New Back Breakers
2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Peaches and the Groove Shakers
4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Mike Avery and West Side Soul
Mississippi Juke Joint Stage
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Panel Discussion (Pinetop Perkins 100th B-Day) with Pat Morgan, Barrelhouse Chuck & Kenny “Beedyeyes” Smith
1:00 p.m. – 2 p.m. The Peterson Brothers Band
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eddie Taylor, Jr.
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Castro Coleman
5:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Tribute to Howlin’Wolf featuring Eddie Shaw and friends
Pepsi Front Porch Stage
Noon – 1 p.m. Liz Mandeville and the Blue Points
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Khalif Wailin’ Walter
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Holle Thee Maxwell
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Larry McCray
Petrillo Music Shell
5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Ronnie Baker Brooks
6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Otis Clay and the Platinum Band featuring Uvee Hayes
8:10 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. The Memphis Soul Revue starring The Bar-Kays with special guests Eddie Floyd and Sir Mack Rice
SUNDAY, JUNE 9 – Grant Park
Bud Light Crossroads Stage
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Willie Buck
12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m. Dave Weld & Imperial Flames
2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Grana Louise & TroubleMaker
4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Linsey Alexander Blues Band
Mississippi Juke Joint Stage
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Panel Discussion – Delmark Records 60th withBob Koester and Steve Wagner
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Nellie Tiger Travis
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Vickie Baker
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Big Time Sarah and Mike Wheeler Blues Band
5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Jarekus Singleton
6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Blues Jam Session with Jarekus Singleton
Pepsi Front Porch Stage
Noon – 12:45 p.m. Fruteland Jackson
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Lurrie Bell’s Chicago Blues Band
2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. John Primer Trio & Michal Prokop Trio (Czech Republic)
4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Magic Slim Tribute featuring Shawn Holt & The Teardrops
Petrillo Music Shell
5:30 p.m. -6:15 p.m. Shirley Johnson
6:35 p.m. – 7:35 p.m. Jimmy Johnson Band
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Chicago Blues: Old School, New Millennium James Cotton, John Primer, Billy Branch, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Lil’ Ed, Deitra Farr, Demetria Taylor, Matthew Skoller, Billy Flynn, Johnny Iguana, Felton Crews, Kenny “Beedeyes” Smith
