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Highlights During the 2020 Year of Chicago Music include: Shemekia Copeland, Candi Staton, Eric Gales, a Celebration of Classic Blues Women, the Bridges to the Blues Youth Showcase, a Kickoff Event at Chess Records and much more<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Experience Blues Music \u201cin the Key of Chicago\u201d at the 37th<\/sup> Annual Chicago Blues Festival<\/strong> happening Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7, in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) and Sunday, June 7, at Maxwell Street Market (800 S. Desplaines St.). The event is part of Chicago In Tune<\/strong>, the NEW 18-day celebration of music at venues and organizations across the city in conjunction with the 2020 Year of Chicago Music. With a diverse lineup celebrating the blues\u2019 past, present, and future on six stages, the Chicago Blues Festival shares the great Chicago-born music tradition while shining a spotlight on the genre\u2019s contributions to soul, R&B, gospel, rock, hip hop and more. Admission is free. For complete details, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Each year, thousands of music fans come together for the Chicago Blues Festival to celebrate our city\u2019s rich cultural legacy and world-famous blues tradition,\u201d said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. \u201cIn concert with the Year of Chicago Music, this year\u2019s festival will also showcase the vivid rhythms and sounds being played across our entire thriving music scene, promising to make an unforgettable experience for music-lovers of all ages.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A signature part of the Year of Chicago Music, \u201cChicago In Tune\u201d will bring music organizations and venues across the city together to celebrate music of all genres and forms from May 21 to June 7. The event is anchored by three free-admission city music festivals \u2013 the Chicago House Music Conference and Festival (May 21\u201323), the Chicago Gospel Music Festival (May 26\u201330) and the Chicago Blues Festival (June 5\u20137) \u2013 that spotlight three genres of music born and innovated in Chicago. The 18 days of music will stretch to every corner of the city with free and ticketed events at participating venues and clubs. A full listing of performances and events will be listed at Do312.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cChicago In Tune represents an outstanding opportunity to experience Chicago\u2019s thriving music scene,\u201d said Mark Kelly, Commissioner of DCASE. \u201cSpanning genres as diverse as hip hop, indie rock, experimental, jazz, Latinx, classical and more, music will emanate from our stunning music halls, authentic neighborhood clubs, world-class festivals, and inspiring youth programs.<\/p>\n The headliners of the Chicago Blues Festival perform on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage from 4:30 to 9 p.m. each evening. Music and entertainment throughout the park will begin at 11 a.m. each day.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday, June 5 \u2013 Jay Pritzker Pavilion<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Award-winning Chicago blues and soul vocalist Shemekia Copeland <\/strong>will headline the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on opening day of the festival in Millennium Park. The Grammy\u00ae<\/sup> Award-nominated artist is her generation\u2019s \u201cQueen of the Blues.\u201d\u00a0 The evening will also include performances by legendary guitarist Jimmy Johnson <\/strong>joined by blues harpist Billy Branch<\/strong>, electric blues from the Nick Moss Band <\/strong>featuring Dennis Gruenling <\/strong>and St. Louis, Missouri, bluesman M<\/strong>arquise Knox<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Saturday, June 6 \u2013 Jay Pritzker Pavilion<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Headliner Candi Staton<\/strong>, the Grammy\u00ae<\/sup> Award-nominated \u201cFirst Lady\u201d of southern soul will perform for the first time at the Chicago Blues Festival. Blues masters and legacy duo Steve Bell <\/strong>and John Primer<\/strong> and young Mississippi blues artist Christone \u201cKingfish\u201d Ingram<\/strong> will also perform. Another festival debut includes Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra <\/strong>featuring Sugaray Rayford <\/strong>and San Francisco blues vocalist Terrie Odabi<\/strong>starting the evening with a dynamic and soulful set.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sunday, June 7 \u2013 Jay Pritzker Pavilion<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Making his Chicago Blues Festival debut, Memphis, Tennessee, guitar hero Eric Gales <\/strong>will close the festival with his unique blues\/rock guitar sound. Other performances will include Erwin Helfer <\/strong>on the piano with Katherine Davis <\/strong>and Chicago\u2019s world-renowned Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials. <\/strong>Vocalist Catherine Russell <\/strong>has been commissioned by the festival to celebrate classic blues women and the centennial of the 1920 hit \u201cCrazy Blues.\u201d The song, written by Mamie Smith, paved the way for decades of recordings by artists like Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Additional Stages<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Local and national blues musicians will perform on five additional stages throughout the day and evening in Millennium Park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Budweiser Crossroads Stage<\/strong> presents a high energy mix of electric blues, blues rock, country blues and soul on Chase Promenade South, daily from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n On Friday, June 5, the stage will feature two festival favorites, Mississippi guitarist Castro Coleman, known to fans as Mr. Sipp,<\/strong> at 3:15 p.m. and Chicago\u2019s own John Primer and The Real Deal Blues band <\/strong>at 4:45 p.m. The lineup on Saturday, June 6, includes performances by the Montreal-based blues vocalist Dawn Tyler Watson<\/strong> at 2 p.m. Making his festival debut, Tab Benoit<\/strong>, the Grammy\u00ae<\/sup> Award-nominated artist, will close the stage with his gritty Delta swamp blues at 4:45 p.m. 2020 International Blues Challenge Group winner the Horojo Trio<\/strong> will open the stage on Sunday, June 7, at 11:30 a.m., and Atlanta blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis<\/strong> will make his festival debut at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage <\/strong>showcases the sounds of the Delta blues on Chase Promenade North, daily from 11:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each day at 4:45 p.m., the stage will present a Mississippi Jam Session led by Kenny \u201cBeedy\u201d Eyes Smith<\/strong> along with other featured artists. Other stage highlights include blues guitarist Eddie Cotton Jr.<\/strong> on Friday, June 5, at 2:15 p.m. followed by Cedric Burnside<\/strong> at 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, June 6, blues, gospel music, and R&B artist Dorothy Moore<\/strong> performs at 3:30 p.m. She is best known for her 1976 hit, \u201cMisty Blue.\u201d On Sunday, June 7, at 2:15 p.m., the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band<\/strong> will bring the vanishing African American blues tradition that originated in the Mississippi Delta more than a century ago. Playing the homemade cane pipe, Shard\u00e9 Thomas now leads the group in the steps of her grandfather and band founder, Othar Turner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Southwest Airlines Front Porch Stage <\/strong>highlights homegrown, Chicago-based blues artists, with a few surprises, in Wrigley Square, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, and from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 7. On Friday, June 5, the stage will kick off at 11 a.m. with Blues in the<\/strong> Schools and the New Rhythm Art Center<\/strong>. With performances throughout the day, the stage will close with Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular! with Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Matthew Skoller, Billy Flynn, Bill Dickens and Michael Caskey<\/strong> at 8 p.m. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, the 2020 International Blues Challenge Solo\/Duo winner Hector Anchondo<\/strong> will perform. The youth showcase, Bridges to Blues<\/strong> will feature young artists performing blues fused with contemporary music styles at 2 p.m. For the final set of the day, blues guitarist and Rosa\u2019s Lounge regular Melody Angel<\/strong> will bring her rock-infused blues to the stage at 8 p.m. On Sunday, June 8, Carl Weathersby<\/strong> performs at 3:30 p.m. followed by the son of the legendary Willie Dixon, Freddie Dixon Chicago Blues Allstars<\/strong> at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Park Grill Stage<\/strong> features an array of acoustic and electric soloists, duos and trios in an intimate setting on the Park Grill Plaza, daily from 2 to 4:45 p.m. Performers include renowned blues artists like Eric Noden and Harmonica Hinds, among others. Just north of Cloud Gate from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Rosa\u2019s Lounge<\/strong>showcases Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa\u2019s Lounge home over the last 35 years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Remembering Chicago\u2019s Blues Legacy and the 70th<\/sup> Anniversary of Chess Records <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n On Thursday, June 4<\/strong>, the Chicago Blues Festival will host a kickoff event at Willie Dixon\u2019s Blues Heaven Foundation at the Historic Chess Records (2120 S. Michigan Ave.) to celebrate their 70th<\/sup> anniversary and pay homage to artists who electrified the blues and put Chicago on the map. The special collaboration with the Blues Heaven Foundation and Chicago Blues Revival will include a Record Row walking tour, musical performances and much more from 6 to 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bridges To The Blues 2020<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Bridges to the Blues is a multi-generational program that challenges young Chicago musicians to re-imagine the blues. Program participants learn blues music fundamentals from Kenny \u201cBeedy Eyes\u201d Smith<\/strong>, one of todays\u2019 best blues drummers, as well as songwriting and performance practices from multi-Grammy\u00ae<\/sup> Award- and Oscar Award-winning artist Che \u201cRhymefest\u201d Smith<\/strong>. They then collaborate on original music that merges the blues with contemporary music styles and audition for a performance slot at the Chicago Blues Festival on Saturday, June 7<\/strong>. This program is supported by DCASE and facilitated by Art of Culture Inc.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Maxwell Street Market<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n On Sunday, June 7<\/strong>, music fans are encouraged to stop by Chicago\u2019s historic Maxwell Street Market located at 800 S. Desplaines St. for even more live blues from 1 to 2:15 p.m. The market, open Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is a Chicago tradition with an eclectic mix of handmade crafts, resale housewares and clothing, live music, family fun and some of the best street food in Chicago. For more information, visit MaxwellStreetMarket.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Chicago Blues Festival is FREE and open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily in Millennium Park.<\/p>\n