{"id":2308,"date":"2015-06-08T00:32:42","date_gmt":"2015-06-08T05:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/?p=2308"},"modified":"2015-06-10T13:49:57","modified_gmt":"2015-06-10T18:49:57","slug":"32nd-annual-chicago-blues-festival-fri-sat-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/?p=2308","title":{"rendered":"32nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival – Fri, Sat & Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)<\/strong>\u00a0is pleased to announce the headliners for the\u00a032nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival<\/strong>.\u00a0Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, Toronzo Cannon, Syl Johnson, Clarence Carter, Zora Young, Big Bill Morganfield, Mud Morganfield, Bobby Dixon, Alex Dixon, Billy Branch<\/strong>\u00a0and others will perform at the Petrillo Music Shell, June 12\u201314, in Grant Park. The three-day festival, presented by the City of Chicago will also feature tributes and a special\u00a0centennial concert honoring Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0Sunday, June 14<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Chicago Blues Festival is FREE admission and open from 11am to 9:30pm daily. Performances at the Petrillo Music Shell will feature headliners from\u00a06pm<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a09:30pm<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0Friday, June 12<\/strong>, continuing on\u00a0Saturday, June 13<\/strong>, and\u00a0Sunday, June 14<\/strong>, from\u00a05pm<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a09:30pm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Friday, June 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago soul man\u00a0Syl Johnson<\/strong>\u00a0will headline the Petrillo stage on\u00a0Friday, June 12<\/strong>, at 8:25pm. Having lived next door to blues guitarist Magic Slim in the 1950s, Johnson performed with Magic, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, Howlin\u2019 Wolf and Jimmy Reed before he made his solo debut in 1959. He has forged a career in both blues and soul producing hits like \u201cDifferent Strokes,\u201d \u201cIs it Because I\u2019m Black\u201d and \u201cTake me to the River.\u201d In recent years Johnson has performed with his very talented daughter Syleena Johnson, as well as his also famous brothers, blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson and bassist Mack Thompson.<\/p>\n

The evening of blues and soul at the Petrillo stage begins at 6pm with Chicago blues artist\u00a0Zora Young<\/strong>. Young is a powerhouse vocalist with a three-decade career, including collaborations with Willie Dixon and Sunnyland Slim. Young\u2019s soul-drenched vocals make her one of the genre\u2019s best female artists.<\/p>\n

The evening continues at 7:05pm with\u00a0Clarence Carter<\/strong>, a singer-songwriter sure to bring fans to their feet with his hits \u201cStrokin,\u2019\u201d \u201cSlip Away\u201d and \u201cBack Door Santa.\u201d An Alabama native, Carter was blind at birth and immediately gravitated to music, teaching himself to play guitar by listening to John Lee Hooker, Lightnin\u2019 Hopkins and Jimmy Reed \u2013 developing a deep base of blues and southern soul.<\/p>\n

Saturday, June 13<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s own\u00a0Buddy Guy<\/strong>\u00a0will bring his legendary rhythm and blues to the Petrillo stage on\u00a0Saturday, June 13<\/strong>, at 8:05pm. Recently honored with a Grammy\u00ae Lifetime Achievement Award and saluted at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors as an invaluable American treasure, Buddy Guy is one of the most talented blues guitarist of his generation. Eric Clapton once said of Buddy Guy, \u201cby far without a doubt the best guitar player alive.” As a true blues pioneer, he landed critical and popular success in the 1990s with three Grammy\u00ae-winning albums: 1991\u2019s\u00a0Damn Right, I\u2019ve Got the Blues<\/em>, 1993\u2019s\u00a0Feelin\u2019 like Rain<\/em>\u00a0and 1994\u2019s\u00a0Slippin\u2019 It<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Petrillo stage will kick off on Saturday with Chicago blues guitarist,\u00a0Toronzo Cannon<\/strong>\u00a0at 5:30pm. Growing up in the shadows of the legendary blues club, Theresa\u2019s Lounge, Cannon was influenced by the raw soulful sounds of Junior Wells, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Taj Mahal Trio<\/strong>\u00a0takes the stage at 6:30pm. In 2014, the two-time Grammy\u00ae-winning singer, songwriter, film composure, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist received the Life Achievement for Performance Award at the 13th Annual Americana Honors and Awards in Nashville. Taj Mahal\u2019s \u201cglobal fusion\u201d approach to the blues has garnered him awards and fans all over the world.<\/p>\n

At just seventeen years old,\u00a0Shemekia Copeland<\/strong>\u00a0released her sizzling 1998 Alligator records debut\u00a0Turn the Heat Up!<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>and garnered seven W.C. Handy award nominations, among others. Called \u201cthe next Aretha Franklin\u201d by CNN, the two-time GRAMMY\u00ae nominee Shemekia Copeland has a passion for singing that she has referred to as a \u201ccalling,\u201d along with a vision and personality that\u2019s just as strong and unflinching as her incredible voice. She will take the stage at 6:30pm.\u00a0Note: Shemekia Copeland is replacing previously announced artist Taj Mahal who had cancel unexpectedly.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sunday, June 14<\/strong><\/p>\n

The festival finale at the\u00a0Petrillo Music Shell<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0Sunday, June 14<\/strong>, is a talent-packed lineup of artists honoring Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. Dixon\u2019s music and lyrics and Waters\u2019 electric guitar are the nexus that transformed the Delta blues into the Chicago sound. Together they have influenced generations of musicians like the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry and countless other blues, jazz and rock-n-roll artists.<\/p>\n

Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues<\/strong>\u00a0with special guest\u00a0Eddy \u201cThe Chief\u201d Clearwater<\/strong>\u00a0will kick-off the Petrillo stage at 5pm. Branch, a Willie Dixon proteg\u00e9, is an award-winning artist who honed his harmonica skills with harp masters Big Walter Horton, James Cotton and Carey Bell.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Willie Dixon<\/strong>\u00a0centennial tribute begins at 6:30pm featuring\u00a0Billy Branch, Keshia Dixon, Tomiko Dixon, Freddie Dixon, Alex Dixon, Bobby Dixon, Cash McCall, Sugar Blue, John Watkins and Andrew Blaze Thomas<\/strong>. Dixon penned countless blues classics like \u201cWang Dang Doodle,\u201d a song made famous by blues queen Koko Taylor and \u201cI\u2019m Your Hoochie Coochie Man\u201d for Muddy Waters.<\/p>\n

At 8:15pm,\u00a0Muddy Waters<\/strong>, the man who electrified the blues will be celebrated with a jam session by former band members, family and friends. The tribute will include\u00a0Bob Margolin, Mud Morganfield, Big Bill Morganfield, John Primer, Rick Kreher, Bob Stroger, Kenny \u201cBeedy Eyes\u201d Smith, E.G. McDaniel, Paul Oscher, Jerry Portnoy<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Barrelhouse Chuck<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Day Stages<\/strong><\/p>\n

The popular day stages contribute to the festival\u2019s reputation as an internationally acclaimed event. Each stage features local and national blues musicians celebrating the genre\u2019s rich tradition and heritage. Stages and performance times are:\u00a0Budweiser Crossroads<\/strong>\u00a0stage, 11:15am\u20135:30pm; the\u00a0Jackson Rhythm<\/strong>\u00a0and Blues stage, 11:30am\u2013 5:30pm and the\u00a0Pepsi Front Porch<\/strong>, noon\u20135:30pm.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Budweiser Crossroads Stage<\/strong>\u00a0will feature a line-up of top blues artists beginning\u00a0Friday, June 12<\/strong>, with two incredible blues vocalists,\u00a0Mary Lane<\/strong>\u00a0at 12:45pm and\u00a0Nellie \u201cTiger\u201d Travis<\/strong>. On\u00a0Saturday, June 13<\/strong>, fans will get a look at the next generation of blues stars with a high energy performance by\u00a0Jamiah on Fire and the Red Machine<\/strong>\u00a0at 11:15am, this young band will set the volume for the day at \u201c11.\u201d\u00a0Jarekus Singleton<\/strong>\u00a0will take the stage at 2:30pm and wow the crowd with his \u201cfunk-seasoned\u201d guitar rhythms. Highlights during the day on\u00a0Sunday, June 14<\/strong>, include a fixture on in Chicago\u2019s blues scene,\u00a0Chick Rodgers<\/strong>\u00a0at 11:15am and singer-songwriter\u00a0John Nemeth<\/strong>\u00a0will close out the\u00a0Budweiser Crossroads stage at 4:15pm with his electric blues and soul harmonica.<\/p>\n

Fans will get a taste of the delta blues with a Chicago twist at the Jackson Rhythm and Blues Stage. Each day will start with a panel discussion at 11:30 a.m. followed by performances. On Friday, June 12, Jackson resident, singer, songwriter and harmonica man Scott Albert Jones will kick off the music at 1pm. Following the \u201cWindy City\u201d blues sounds of John Primer at 4pm, the day closes at 5:30pm with a jam session featuring Grammy\u00ae award-winning drummer Kenny \u201cBeedy Eyes\u201d Smith.<\/p>\n

On\u00a0Saturday, June 13<\/strong>, the Jackson stage will be filled with soul and a \u201cwhole lotta\u201d rhythm and blues with the\u00a0The House Rockers<\/strong>\u00a0from Jackson, Mississippi, at 1pm, and Mississippi native and blues vocalist Johnny Rawls will bring his deep soul influenced music to the stage at 4pm.<\/p>\n

Rounding out the lineup on\u00a0Sunday, June 14<\/strong>, blues aficionados won\u2019t want to miss a panel discussion on the\u00a0Centennial of Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon<\/strong>\u00a0with friends and family of the legendary artists at 11:30pm. The stage will also feature first time Chicago Blues Festival performances\u00a0Tawanna Shaunte<\/strong>\u00a0at 1pm and Tonya Boyd Cannon at 2:30pm.<\/p>\n

Performances kick off at the\u00a0Pepsi Front Porch<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0Friday, June 12<\/strong>, at noon and continuing throughout the day with performances that included\u00a0Studebaker John and the Maxwell Street Kings<\/strong>\u00a0at 1:30pm and\u00a0Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang<\/strong>\u00a0at 4:30pm. Highlights on\u00a0Saturday, June 13<\/strong>, feature the Chicago blues guitarist\u00a0Lurrie Bell<\/strong>\u00a0at 1:30pm, the\u00a0Paul Osher Trio<\/strong>\u00a0at 3pm and the\u00a0Cash Box Kings<\/strong>\u00a0at 4:30pm.<\/p>\n

2015 marks the centennial for a number of legendary blues artists beginning at\u00a0noon<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0Sunday, June 14<\/strong>, the Pepsi Front Porch stage will feature a \u201cround robin\u201d for the\u00a0Class of 1915\u2019s Honey Boy Edwards, Brownie McGhee<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Johnny Shines<\/strong>\u00a0with\u00a0Bill Sims, Jr., Paul Kaye<\/strong>, and others. The stage will continue all day and end on fitting note with the\u00a0Heritage Blues Orchestra Quartet<\/strong>\u00a0at 4:30pm. The Heritage Blues Orchestra gives new life to the genre by honoring the traditions of African-American music with a mixture of low country and urban blues.<\/p>\n

Blues fans wanting to get up close and personal with artists don\u2019t want to miss the\u00a0Southwest Airline Blues Lounge<\/strong>. The lounge provides an area for festival goers to relax and listen to music and stories from the heart throughout the day from 11am\u20138pm.<\/p>\n

The festival also features intimate performance areas, like the Blues Kids Foundation and the Windy City Blues Society. The\u00a0Blues Kids Foundation<\/strong>\u00a0area offers harmonica lessons and performances by the next generation of blues artists. The\u00a0Windy City Blues Society<\/strong>, a festival favorite over the past few years, features an eclectic lineup of artists from Chicago and around the country. Schedules for both of these areas can be found at\u00a0chicagobluesfestival.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Preview Performances<\/strong><\/p>\n

During May and June there will be several preview performances and film screenings held at Daley Plaza, the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Public Library locations throughout the city and Maxwell Street Market. Highlights include two special documentary film screenings in honor of Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington). On\u00a0Tuesday, May 26<\/strong>, at 6pm. the festival will present\u00a0The Life and Times of Muddy Waters \u2013Can\u2019t Be Satisfied<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0and on\u00a0Thursday, June 4<\/strong>, at 6pm.\u00a0Willie Dixon \u2013 I Am The Blues, 1977<\/strong><\/em>. The \u201cofficial\u201d Chicago Blues Festival preview on Daley Plaza is set for\u00a0Monday, June 8<\/strong>, at noon with a Willie Dixon Tribute featuring\u00a0Bobby Dixon and special guests<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The 32nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival is presented by the City of Chicago and produced by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events along with the following sponsors:\u00a0ADA 25 Chicago<\/a>,\u00a0Aquafina<\/a>,\u00a0Budweiser<\/a>,\u00a0Chicago Jazz Magazine<\/a>,\u00a0Chicago Transit Authority<\/a>,\u00a0Chicago Tribune<\/a>,\u00a0Communications Direct<\/a>,\u00a0Gilead Sciences, Inc.<\/a>,\u00a0Humana<\/a>,\u00a0LaGrou Distribution System<\/a>,\u00a0Pepsi<\/a>,\u00a0Southwest Airlines<\/a>,\u00a0VISITJACKSON.COM<\/a>,\u00a0WGN-TV<\/a>,\u00a093XRT<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a098.9fm WDCB<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For a complete schedule and festival details, please visit\u00a0chicagobluesfestival.us<\/a>. To plan your trip to Chicago for the Blues Festival this June 12-14, visit\u00a0choosechicago.com<\/a>. Join the conversation on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0(Chicago Blues Festival) and follow us on Twitter,\u00a0@ChicagoDCASE<\/a>\u00a0(#ChiBluesFest). The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago\u2019s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago\u2019s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City\u2019s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City\u2019s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.<\/p>\n

Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events<\/strong>\u00a0(DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago\u2019s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago\u2019s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City\u2019s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City\u2019s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Schedule of Performances<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)\u00a0is pleased to announce the headliners for the\u00a032nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival.\u00a0Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, Toronzo Cannon, Syl Johnson, Clarence Carter, Zora Young, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-this-just-in"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2308\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}