New WCBS Secretary! The WCBS needs a new recording secretary to attend monthly Exec Committee meetings, create meeting minutes, etc If interested, contact us via our contact form.
WCBS is proud to offer advertising on our website and in our quarterly newsletter for blues clubs, musicians, bands, etc. Your message will target Blues afficionados in Chicago and Northern Illinois.
WEBSITE ADVERTISEMENTS
We are working to develop reciprocal relationships with Blues Societies across the country. Eventually, traffic to our website will broaden.
We accept banner ads images in .jpg, .png, .gif formats and in a variety of pre-defined standard banner sizes.
Banner ads are by time periods; quarterly (three month increments) and yearly. All ads must be prepaid. Ads purchased
for publication for one year will be discounted. Banner ads can be purchased by anyone. These rates assume the banner
is provided by the customer. We can arrange to have banner ads created for your business for a nominal cost.
Own your own business?
Please consider advertising with us.We are supported solely by advertising and volunteers. Additionally, if you have any suggestions on businesses in our area that might be interested in advertising with us, please let us know!
Visit Our Advertising page for more info!
Blues heritage
Thanks to the Tribune for highlighting Fernando Jones' efforts as a blues educator ("Blues 101; A new generation tries to learn the music, against daunting odds," Arts & Entertainment, Aug. 21). Jones, Fruteland Jackson, Billy Branch and other Chicago musicians have toiled without much fanfare for several years to pass on the blues legacy to younger generations, and they have worked tirelessly to confront the stereotypical representations of this music that continue to dominate the public consciousness.
As the backbone of most contemporary popular music, the blues deserves the same level of cultural respectability as other forms of American popular culture. This important heritage and living and vibrant tradition should be nurtured and sustained across the generations, not just in privately funded blues camps, but in school curricula throughout the area and across the nation.
— Janice Monti, director, Blues and the Spirit Symposium, Dominican University, River Forest
This post was written by BlackJack on March 30, 2011
Eddie Shaw to receive Mississippi Trail Marker! The great Eddie Shaw played sax in the bands of Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Sam, Freddie King, Jimmy Reed, and Jimmy Dawkins. After Howlin’ Wolf’s passing in 1976, Eddie embarked on a solo career billed as Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang, initially keeping the entire lineup of Howlin’ Wolf’s last band (Hubert Sumlin, Detroit Junior, Chico Chism, and Shorty Gilbert). Eddie will be honored with a Mississippi Blues Trail Marker in his home town of Benoit, Mississippi.
The unveiling ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 2pm at Highways 1 and 448 in Benoit. Congratulation to Eddie!
This post was written by BlackJack on March 28, 2011
May 9, 2011
6:00 pm
to
7:45 pm
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Windy City Blues Society will hold their next Blues Education Committee Meeting, from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Mayfair Library, 4400 W. Lawrence (East of Rt. 94).
This post was written by SysAdmin on March 7, 2011
April 30, 2011 9:00 am
to
May 7, 2011 3:00 pm
From Cruisin the Blues Highway - We are pleased to announce America’s newest and most exciting ride for music lovers and bike enthusiasts alike.
Cruisin the Blues Highway 2011
Join us anywhere along the route April 30th through May 8th for Cruisin the Blues Highway!
Nothing goes together better than cruisin the highways of America while listening t…o some great blues! So get ready to take a trip of a lifetime and join us for “Cruisin the Blues Highway!” Designed to raise awareness of the Blues Music Awards held each year in Memphis, the inaugural tour will follow the trail forged as Blues made it’s way along the Mississippi. There will be five stops on the tour in cities that played a significant role in the development of the Blues and modern music as we know it today. The mission is to spread the word of the Blues Foundation, educate and entertain those that join us for the experience and to build upon a community based on loyalty and passion.
Each major city stop will offer a daytime shuttle to Blues related attractions and the evenings will be filled with great Blues music at our participating venues. From Chicago, Illinois to Clarksdale, Mississippi, riders will experience the thrill of the open road, action packed stops in the greatest Blues cities throughout the country and endless memories for a lifetime.
There’s too much to explain in this email, so we’ve attached the CBH CALENDAR OF EVENTS to this email.
You can also click below to visit our website www.cruisinblues.com
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - JOIN CBH FOR THE KICK OFF PHOTO SHOOT SUNDAY MAY 1ST AT BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS 700 S. Wabash, Chicago IL 60605
WE’LL BE PARKING BIKES IN FRONT OF THE VENUE STARTING AT 12 NOON AND TAKING THE OFFICIAL PROMO PHOTO FOR THE TOUR
THE PHOTO WILL BE TAKEN NO LATER THAN 1:00 PM SO GET THERE EARLY AND BE A PART OF HISTORY!
Hope to see you on the Cruise…..and best Blusin!
Stefan Levy
Cruisin the Blues Highway
Blues Foundation Board Member
steflink@ameritech.net
Jazz, Blues & Beyond Tuesday concerts feature jazz, blues, and gospel music in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Randolph Café @ 78 E. Washington Street, from Noon-1:15 p.m..
Upcoming blues concerts:
April 19: Omar Coleman & Friends (led by blues vocalist & harmonica player, Omar Coleman)
This post was written by BlackJack on March 6, 2011
August 19, 2011
to
August 21, 2011
3rd Annual FarmFest 450 in Kinsman, IL (southwest of Chicago) - August 19th to 21st. Including: Steepwater Band, Backyard Tire Fire, Chicago Blues Angels w/ Herman Hines (and special guest singer Paige DeChausse of American Idol Fame), Liquid Blues Project and other musical acts.
Half the profits will be donated to a local Relay for Life team and St Judes Childrens Hospital. For ticket prices and more visit http://farmfest450.com/
This post was written by BlackJack on March 1, 2011
BlackJack’s“Shows of the Week”
* Sunday, Apr. 10- Rockin’ Johnny with Big D on Harp @ Simon’s, 5210 N. Clark, 8-11
* Tuesday, Apr. 12- Jazz Showcase Benefit for Japan- Dozens of Jazz, Blues and World Musicians, 806 S. Plymouth Ct., 6 to 11 p.m.
* Friday, April 15- John Primer’s at Adam’s Roadhouse in Buffalo Grove
* Friday, April 15- Matthew Skoller duo’s at Walnut Speakeasy in Elgin
* Saturday, April 16- Rockin Johnny Band, featuring Smiley Tillmon, Tail Dragger, Rick Kreher & Studebaker John, play at EndZone Tap- 100th at S. Western Ave.
* Saturday, April 16- Pinetop Perkins Tribute @ Rosa’s w/ Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
* Saturday, April 16- Lonnie Brooks headlines at Buddy Guy’s Legends
* Saturday, April 16- “Show Your Love for Japan” Old Town School of Folk Music Benefit at Concert Hall, 909 W. Armitage.$10 Suggested Donation (100% of Proceeds will be matched by an anonymous donor and will benefit the Japanese Red Cross).Including Shoji Naito, Yoko Noge, Matt Hendricks, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jug Band, Mark Dvorak, Paulinho Garcia and dozens of others.11 a.m. to Midnight-ish.
(For an extensive listing of additional shows, click on the Pirate on the right side of the home page)
What a difference a year makes. In the one short year, the Windy City Blues Society went from being a fledgling blues society recruiting members under a flag at the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival to becoming an official sponsor of the 2010 Chicago Blues Festival.
This sponsorship included an official Windy City Blues Society booth in the “Non-Profit Village” as well as the “Windy City Blues Society Street Stage” which featured world class blues music all three days of the festival. These two endeavors were the result of an enormous amount of hard work and planning by the WCBS Blues Festival Committee, the WCBS Executive Committee, and a number of WCBS members who graciously volunteered their time during the festival.
The booth served as the home base for the Windy City Blues Society. From this tented area, WCBS officials and volunteers welcomed countless festival goers to Chicago while explaining the merits of the Windy City Blues Society. Those attending the festival found a wealth of information including festival schedules and blues related events occurring after the festival. New members were welcomed into the fold while many existing members re-established their commitment to the WCBS by renewing their memberships. Many of the WCBS found this to be one of the most exciting parts of the festival—seeing old friends while making the acquaintance of new blues fans reminded everyone that the WCBS can serve as a catalyst to bring the blues community together.
The Windy City Blues Society Street Stage served as the anchor for the Non-Profit Village, an area set aside to showcase the many non-profit organizations supporting blues in Chicago and the Chicago Blues Festival. This performance area was setup at ground level as an homage to the street performers at the historic Maxwell Street Market where many great blues musicians got their starts.
Click Me for Official Website
Some of the festivals best performances could be heard at the Street Stage. Will Jacobs and Dirty Deal, who had won the Chicago Blues Challenge Youth division kicked off the festivities with a rousing set that gave way to three days of terrific blues performances that included The Chris Harper Band, The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Tom Holland, Diamond Jim Greene, Jerry Hundt, and a rare appearance by harmonica ace Adam Gussow.
Fans of the classic Chicago Blues sound were treated to sets by Cash Box Kings, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Rob Stone; Steve Freund and Dave Specter; Bob Riedy and Bob Corritore; and The Blues Round Robbin. Fans of more modern blues sounds went home happy as well thanks to stellar performances by Rob Blaine and the Joe Moss Band. These and other performances showcased the diverse talents of many blues musicians and the Windy City Blues Society was proud to bring this music to the 2010 Chicago Blues Festival. In one year the WCBS has come a long way. Who knows what another year will bring? Come back to Chicago in June next year and find out!
Super congrats to all those who participated in the 2011 Chicago Blues Challenge
