City of Chicago Announces 2025 Chicago Blues Festival Lineup, June 5–8, Featuring Mavis Staples, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Bobby Rush and More

Apr 17, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

Four Days of Free Performances Across the City Including Millennium Park, Ramova Theatre and Maxwell Street

CHICAGO—The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the full lineup and programming highlights for the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival, taking place June 5–8 at Millennium Park and other venues citywide.

The largest free blues festival in the world returns for its 41st year with a stellar lineup of local legends, international stars, and rising talent, continuing Chicago’s legacy as the world capital of the blues. This year’s festivities kick off with a special opening night concert and panel discussions at the newly restored Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport, followed by three days of performances across four stages in Millennium Park, plus a Sunday afternoon blues showcase at the historic Maxwell Street.

“The Blues Festival is a true celebration of our city’s deep-rooted musical heritage,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From Millennium Park to Maxwell Street, this festival honors the past, celebrates the present, and nurtures the future of Chicago blues.”

Opening day festivities, co-hosted by WVON 1690, on Thursday, June 5 at Ramova Theatre (3520 S. Halsted St.) include The Blues Sessions with a Living Blues Panel moderated by Dick Shurman, an “Up Close & Personal” conversation with Bobby Rushpresented in partnership with The Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter, and a double-bill concert featuring Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues and headliner Bobby Rush.

RSVPs for June 5 will be available online on May 6 at 10 a.m. at ramovachicago.com. This event is free with online RSVP, and subject to venue capacity. Entry is first come, first served. This is a standing room event with some seating available.

For ADA accommodations, please email [email protected].

Headlining this year’s festival at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park are:

Mavis Staples (Sunday, June 8), the iconic GRAMMY-winning singer and civil rights activist.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (Saturday, June 7), a guitar virtuoso and leading voice of the new generation of blues artists.
B.B. King Centennial Tribute (Friday, June 6), featuring Kingfish, D.K. Harrell, and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center.

Other festival highlights include:

A Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle, featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, and more.
Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th anniversary of Chess Records with a special music tribute.
Performances by Lurrie Bell, Latimore, C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, D.K. Harrell, and many others.
The return of the Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage, Rosa’s Lounge Stage, and the newly added Next Generation of Blues stage on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace supported by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation.

The Maxwell Street Blues Series on Sunday, June 8 brings the blues back to its South Side roots with performances by Omar Coleman Westside Soul, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer, Harmonica Hinds, and more.

New this year, DCASE offers support and funding to Blues presenting venues and organizations via the Citywide Blues Community Funding program, which supports free blues performances citywide the week leading up to the Blues Festival. Participating 2025 venues will be shared in the coming weeks.

Back by popular demand, the festival elevates its food options with a Blues-inspired smokehouse experience called “Wally’s BBQ Pit” with delicious BBQ fare and specialty drinks catered by Eleven North Hospitality.

As in previous years, outside alcohol is not allowed for the Chicago Blues Festival, but alcohol may be purchased inside the venue. Before visiting, please be advised of other Prohibited Items at MillenniumPark.org.

For Millennium Park safety and security information, visit the Plan Your Visit page of MillenniumPark.org.

The Chicago Blues Festival is sponsored by partners 90.9fm WDCB, Chicago Jazz Publishing, Chicago Transit Authority, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Millennium Garages, Mississippi Development Authority, Rosa’s Lounge and WVON 1690.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information and a full schedule, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us and follow @ChicagoDCASE on social media.

2025 Chicago Blues Festival Schedule

All performances are free and open to the public. Schedule subject to change.

Thursday, June 5 – Opening Night at Ramova Theatre

Ramova Theatre
3520 S. Halsted St., Bridgeport
Doors open at 3:30 p.m. | Programming 4–11 p.m.
18+ (minors accompanied by their guardian will be admitted)

THE BLUES SESSIONS

4–5 p.m. – Living Blues Panel Discussion
Featuring Jim O’Neal, Scott Barretta, Brett Bonner, Bruce Iglauer and Deitra Farr, Moderated by Dick Shurman, Introductions by Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo
5:30–6:30 p.m. – Up Close & Personal with Bobby Rush
Moderated by Julia Miller, President/CEO of Delmark Records, Presented with The Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter

DOUBLE-BILL CONCERT PROGRAM

7:30–8:30 p.m. – Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues
9–10:15 p.m. – Bobby Rush

Friday, June 6 – Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
4–5 p.m. – D.K. Harrell
5:15–6:15 p.m. – Dawn Tyler Watson
6:30–7:15 p.m. – John Primer with Steve Bell
7:30–9 p.m. – B.B. King Centennial Tribute
Featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, D.K. Harrell and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, Co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

Noon–1:15 p.m. – Lady Adrena and LA Band
1:30–2:45 p.m. – Vick Allen featuring the Velvet Soul Band
3–4:15 p.m. – Johnny Rawls Soul Review
4:30–5:45 p.m. – Eddie Cotton

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

12:30–1:45 p.m. – Ivan Singh
2–3:15 p.m. – Jamiah “Dirty Deacon” Rogers and the Dirty Church Band
3:30–4:45 p.m. – Rico McFarland
5–6:15 p.m. – Sheryl Youngblood
6:30–7:45 p.m. – The Mike Wheeler Band

Saturday, June 7 – Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
4–5:15 p.m. – Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle
Featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace and Mzz Reese with Jonathan Ellison
5:30–6:15 p.m. – Joey J. Saye, Stephen Hull and Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
6:30–7:30 p.m. – Latimore
7:45–9 p.m. – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

Noon–1:15 p.m. – 2 Blues for You
1:30–2:45 p.m. – Jessie Robinson
3–4:15 p.m. – Vickie Baker, The V Souls and The Groove Crew
4:30–5:45 p.m. – John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

12:30–1:45 p.m. – Stefan Hillesheim Band
2–3:15 p.m. – Michael Damani
3:30–4:45 p.m. – Lynne Jordan and The Shivers
5–6:15 p.m. – Joe Barr and The Platinum Band
6:30–7:45 p.m. – Theo Huff

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues

11–11:45 a.m. – Wendy & DB
Noon–12:45 p.m. – Chicago Blues Revival
1–1:45 p.m. – Curie Metropolitan High School
2–2:45 p.m. – Bandwith
3–4 p.m. – VanderCook College of Music

Sunday, June 8 – Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:30–3:45 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
3:45–5 p.m. – Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Chess Records
5:15–6:15 p.m. – C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band
6:30–7:30 p.m. – Lurrie Bell and Frank Catalano
7:45–9 p.m. – Mavis Staples

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

Noon–1:15 p.m. – Stevie J and The Blues Eruption
1:30–2:45 p.m. – Nellie “Tiger” Travis
3–4:15 p.m. – Jonathan Ellison
4:30–5:45 p.m. – Ms. Jody

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

12:30–1:45 p.m. – Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
2–3:15 p.m. – Jimmy Burns Band
3:30–4:45 p.m. – Nick Alexander Blues Band
5–6:15 p.m. – Sonia Astacio
6:30–7:45 p.m. – 3 by 3 Crew: Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice Vaughn with Tim Taylor

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues

11–11:45 a.m. – Wiggleworms featuring Amanda Payne & Will Fancher of Old Town School of Folk Music
Noon–12:45 p.m. – Fernando Jones Presents the Knott Us Band
1–1:45 p.m. – Kenwood Academy High School
2–2:45 p.m. – Nicholas Senn High School
3–4 p.m. – A Patch of Blues

Sunday, June 8 – Maxwell Street Blues Series

Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.

10–11 a.m. – DJ James Porter
11 a.m.–noon – Marty “Big Dog” Mercer Duo
Noon–12:30 p.m. – DJ James Porter
12:30–1:30 p.m. – Omar Coleman Westside Soul
1:30–2 p.m. – DJ James Porter
2–3 p.m. – Harmonica Hinds Duo

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

Millennium Park

Millennium Park is the #1 attraction in the Midwest and among the top 10 most-visited sites in the U.S. It is also the anchor of an urban cultural campus (Millennium Park Campus) that includes the Chicago Cultural Center, Maggie Daley Park and The Art Institute of Chicago. Millennium Park is located on Michigan Avenue, bordered by Randolph St. to the north, Columbus Dr. to the east and Monroe St. to the south. The Park is open daily from 6am to 11 p.m. Plan your visit at MillenniumPark.org; follow us on Facebook(@MillenniumParkChicago), Twitter and Instagram (@Millennium_Park); and join the conversation on social media using #MillenniumPark.

Ramova Theatre

In 1929, Ramova Theatre opened its doors as Bridgeport’s premier movie palace. With an iconic sign and Spanish-inspired architecture, it became the jewel of the neighborhood — a place for people to gather and communities to come together. Now, nearly a century later, the space has returned, reimagined as an 1,800+ person live concert hall, craft brewery partnered with Other Half Brewing, beer garden and grill. Meticulously restored to preserve the architectural heart of the building, Ramova once again lights up Halsted and 35th Street and brings the country’s top performing acts to Bridgeport, alongside educational programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives. For more information, visit https://ramovachicago.com/ or follow @ramovachicago on Instagram and Facebook.