We Need Volunteers for the Chicago Blues Festival!

2012 WCBS Booth at the CBF

We are planning our 2012 Street Scene Stage at the annual Chicago Blues Festival (JUN 8-10).

Each year we host a stage with live Blues and a booth, three full days of fun at the festival.

We need volunteers to help us staff our booth selling memberships, tshirts, buttons and other merchandise.

Volunteers work 2 or more hours and get a free WCBS Staff t-shirt, a $15 value!). It’s alot a fun, great music and a great way to meet other Blues fans.

Complete/submit our Volunteer form to get your name on the list…
Click me for more info…

Alligator President Bruce Iglauer Named A Chicagoan Of The Year

Bruce Iglauer

Among the many other highlights of the label’s 40th anniversary, one of the most significant came in June during the Chicago Blues Festival, when Iglauer received a proclamation from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Mayor Emanuel honored Iglauer’s contribution to the city’s musical heritage on a night dedicated to the label’s anniversary, featuring performances by blues icons Lonnie Brooks, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Michael “Iron Man” Burks, Rick Estrin and Shemekia Copeland.

In October, Poland’s Rawa Blues Festival hosted a 40th anniversary celebration, inviting Iglauer along with stars Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Marcia Ball, C.J. Chenier and Corey Harris. Closer to home, SPACE in Evanston, IL, hosted a six-part concert series featuring Tinsley Ellis, The Siegel-Schwall Band, The Tommy Castro Band, Lonnie Brooks, Charlie Musselwhite, Michael “Iron Man” Burks and hometown favorites Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials.

greatest recording sources

——— Forwarded message ———-
From: BlackJack
Date: Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 6:48 AM
Subject: Request: Website link - Blues Recordings
To: Tom

http://www.wirz.de/music/american.htm

Tom-

Can you put/list this link anywhere on our site (maybe favorites and other places?) - This is one of the greatest recording sources I have seen over the years - Thanks…BlackJack

2011 Chicago Blues Challenge Finals Recap

CBC Finals!

Congratulations to our Winners and thank you to all who participated and made this a successful event!

Pictures coming soon!

CBC Updates

Musicians! Thanks for participating in the 3rd annual Chicago Blues Challenge. We hope you found the experience enjoyable and we hope you’ll try out again next year.

This year we had 6 bands move on to the finals, including 2 wild card bands that had the highest total weighted scores. Here are those 6 bands:

1) Nigel Mack & the Blues Attack Winner Round 1
2) J.B. Ritchie Band 2nd place round 1

3) Pistol Pete Winner Round 2
4) Will Jacobs 2nd place round 2

5) Charlie Love & The Silky Smooth band Wild Card (Round 2)
6) Danny & The Devils Wild Card (Round 2)

Hope to see you at the finals on Sunday Nov 13th @ 9 pm at Buddy Guys. Or Solo/Duo Thursday Nov 10th @ 9 pm at Rosa’s Lounge

Chicago Blues Challenge Round Two

Blues the Muse ©
By Paul Barile

Go Big or Go Home
Windy City Blues Society
Chicago Blues Challenge Round Two

The tension filled the air – trickling in through the unseasonably warm autumn weather swirling around the legendary Checkerboard Lounge in Hyde Park. The message was clear – seven emerging blues artists would compete, but only three would make it on to the finals in November.

Time to put on the big-boy pants and play like it’s your last gig.

The esteemed judges for the event included; Earwig Music’s Michael Frank, Blues DJ Clarence Stevens, Blues Legend Koko Taytor’s daughter Joyce “Cookie” Threatt, and Tom Holland of the Shuffle Kings. The table held a veritable who’s who of Chicago Blues music raising the stakes much higher than an average Sunday night gig.

The numbers were drawn and the order was set. The rules were given and the anxious crowd sat back to enjoy an evening of eclectic electric Blues in one of Chicago’s most storied Blues institutions.

Youngblood Will Jacobs led off – and after surmounting a mammoth technical issue (not of his doing), he turned into a blazing set of neo-traditional music. The youngest player of the evening alternated between his own music and a classic or two. The crowd was wowed to say the least.

K Jazz & the K1 Band was up next. Smooth and sultry, they laid down a Jazz-flavored Blues including a powerful rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine.” They took their music into new and interesting places.

Charlie Love and the Silky Smooth Band was the third group of the evening. They surely brought the excitement – they pushed the energy through the roof. Charlie Love is all flash and finery. He seems to use his charisma as an instrument much the way he uses his guitar.

Next comes (my favorite of the evening) Danny and the Devils. A little bit funky and whole lot of spunky this slightly anachronistic trio romped and rolled through Danny Baron’s rocking blues numbers. The matching clothes and the bare-bones arrangements brought back favorites of days past. Baron’s energy was boundless.

(It was later learned that the bass playing Devil – known as Kramer- was sick throughout the set – but he never let on and he played his heart out.)

Pistol Pete took the stage next and seemed as if he might implode with energy – as I was writing the words “looks like he’s about to jump off the stage” Pistol Pete jumped off the stage. He worked the room like a carnival barker hybrid with an old-school Vegas showman. He overcame a technical issue (of his own doing) to go on and shred his way into the heart of the judges and the fans alike.

The Voodoo Pilots were up. The waning audience – it was Sunday night after all – seemed to appreciate their Phish-like take on the blues.

The evening ended with Blues Walk. The quartet physically resembles teachers sneaking away from academia for a night of the blues. Don’t let the looks fool you, they can romp and stomp with the best of them.

When the final bell had tolled the winners were announced to the intimate crowd who stayed to see this evening to its inevitable end.

Charlie Love and company took third place and secured their spot at the finals. Will Jacobs locked up second place. The winner of the evening was the-high-flying-beer-drinking-oft-gesticulating Pistol Pete.

As the last remaining guests headed out into the crisp late autumn evening – they may have argued the merits of the winners versus the losers – they may have questioned the judges decisions – they may have even debated who the best player of the night is. The one thing they all agreed on is you are rarely going to find seven bands of this quality for ten bucks.

2011 WCBS Best Self-Produced Blues CD Winner

Windy City Blues Society (WCBS) Presents
WCBS Best Self-Produced BLUES CD Contest

Nigel Mack Devils Secrets

The Winning CD of our contest will be submitted as an official entry to the Blues Foundation’s Best Self-Produced CD Contest (part of the International Blues Challenge).

Many thanks to all the talented musicians who submitted a CD to this contest.  We’re excited to submit this excellent CD to the national contest. Click me to buy a copy!

• FEB 2012 Blues Foundation announces Winner of the national contest

WCBS Chicago Blues Challenge Round 2

     

CBC 2011

Round 2 at Checkerboard, Oct 23 starting at 6pm.

Bands so far:

Danny & the Devils

Charlie Love

Blues Walk

K Jazz & the K1 Band

Maybe Will Jacob

Interested in volunteering for this event? Contact Lori at LowreensLiveBlues@gMail.com )

WCBS Chicago Blues Challenge Round 1

Harlem Ave Lounge, 37th S. Harlem

Round 1 at the Harlem Avenue Lounge, 4 Bands in the Competition… many thanks to all the musicians who participated! Congrats to first place winners Nigel Mack and the Blues Attack and second place winners J.B. Ritchie Band. Two other excellent bands were in the competition…The Chicago King Snakes and the Shaken Money Makers….

A big big Thank You to Kenny Z and the Harlem Ave. Lounge. Thanks to the volunteers, the judges, the bands and all the fans that showed up. On to Round 2 OCT 23 Checkerboard Lounge…

Willie Big Eyes Smith RIP

The Blues world lost another giant today, Willie Big Eyes Smith. We all know what he meant to the blues world and for those who knew him well, how nice and generous he was. The WCBS was honored to have him and his band play at our Street Stage this past summer at the Chicago Blues Fest. The crowd for his set was extended way down Columbus Drive where his fans could only hear the music. The Windy City Blues Society would like to offer its condolences to his family at this time. RIP Willie..!

David Honeyboy Edwards RIP

New Blues “Music Row” on Michigan Avenue?

Click on the link for a recent Chicago Sun-Times editorial promoting the possibility of a mile-long “Music Row” showcasing the blues on South Michigan Avenue…

Click link: http://www.suntimes.com/opinions/6974832-474/time-for-a-music-row-to-showcase-the-blues.html