Chicago Blues Festival 2012

Legendary Artist Mavis Staples To Headline 2012 Chicago Blues Fest.

Mavis

The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago’s Music Festivals. During three days on five stages, more than 500,000 blues fans prove that Chicago is the “Blues Capital of the World.” Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and the late Koko Taylor.

 

FREE Admission • Grant Park • June 8, 9 & 10, 2012

More info…

Chicago Blues Festival Schedule Released

FRIDAY, JUNE 8

BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15am – 12:15 p.m. The Jimmy Reed Family
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. Quintus McCormick
2:30 – 3:45 p.m. Zora Young
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Joe Louis Walker

MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Panel Discussion (Lightnin’ Hopkins) with Roger Wood, Chris Strachwitz & Alan Govenor
12:45 – 1:30 p.m. Ol’ Skool Revue from the Delta Music Institute of Delta State University
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Eddie C. Campbell
3:00 – 4 p.m. Vasti Jackson
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Johnny Rawls
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith

PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Blues In The Schools w/Stone Academy, Eric Noden, Katherine Davis & Erwin Helfer
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Fernando Jones and My Band!
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Matthew Skoller Band
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Big James & The Chicago Playboys

PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
(A Centennial Celebration of Lightnin’ Hopkins)
5:50 – 6:35 p.m. Rev. K M Williams
7:00 – 8:05 p.m. Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown
8:30 – 9:30 p.m. Texas Johnny Brown

SATURDAY, JUNE 9

BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Tommy McCracken
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. Diunna and Blue Mercy
2:30 – 3:45 p.m. Bob Jones with Ronnie Hicks & The Masheen Company Band featuring Mike Wheeler
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues

MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 a.m – 12:30 p.m. Panel Discussion of Malaco Records (Tommy Couch, Jr., Wolf Stephenson, Brett Bonner & Alex Thomas)
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Terry “Big T” Williams
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Mark “Muleman” Massey
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Homemade Jamz Blues Band feat. Ryan, Kyle & Taya Perry
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Jam Session w/ Ronnie Hicks & The Masheen Company Band

PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Columbia College Blues All Stars
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Rev. K M Williams
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sam Lay Blues Band
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Tribute to Hubert Sumlin featuring Steady Rollin Bob Margolin, Eddie Shaw, Dave Spector , Bob Corritore, Johnny Iguana, Kenny “Beedy Eye’s” Smith & Bob Stroger

PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
5:40 – 6:10 p.m. Paul Kaye (Tribute to David Honeyboy Edwards)
6:35 – 8:00 p.m. (Celebrating Muddy Waters Disciples – Pinetop Perkins, Willie Big Eyes Smith & Mojo Buford ) featuring Steady Rollin Bob Margolin, Mud Morganfield, Kenny ”Beedy Eye’s” Smith, Barrelhouse Chuck, Lil Frank, Bob Stroger & Joe Filisko
8:25 – 9:30 p.m. Floyd Taylor

SUNDAY, JUNE 10

BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Demetria Taylor
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. Mary Lane and the No Static Blues Band
2:30 – 3:45 p.m. Charles Wilson
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials

MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Howlin’ Wolf B-Day/Panel Discussion with Barbra Marks, Sterling Plumpp & Dick Shurman
12:30 – 1:25 p.m. The Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Eden Brent
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Pat Brown
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Patrice Moncel
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Mississippi Jam Session w/ Dexter Allen

PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Homemade Jamz Blues Band featuring Ryan, Kyle & Taya Perry
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Lurrie Bell
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Omar Coleman and Friends
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang

PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
6:00 – 7:20 p.m. Celebrating Women in Blues – Tribute to KoKo Taylor, featuring Melvia “Chick” Rodgers, Jackie Scott, Deitra Farr , Nora Jean Brusco and The KoKo Taylor Blues Machine Band
7:45 – 9:00 p.m. Mavis Staples

 

We have another fantastic lineup for our WCBS Street Stage this year at the annual Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park, Chicago, IL. Come out and listen to some outstanding Blues music at our very own Street Stage.  Buy a WCBS tshirt or flask!  Many thanks to Blackjack for his efforts in leading this committee.  Hope to see everyone there.

 

Friday, June 8th, 2012

11:00 am – 11:45 am – Chicago Kingsnakes

Noon – 12:45 pm – Steepwater Band

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – “Chicago Delta”: Mississippi Gabe Carter then Black Oil Brothers

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm – Jimmy Dawkins

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Cash Box Kings

5:15 pm – 6:00 pm – Earwig Music Review: Rob Stone, Chris James & Patrick Rynn

6:15 pm – 7:00 pm – “Acoustic Blues” Session

 

Saturday, June 9th, 2012

11:00 am – 11:45 am – Fernando Jones presents “Blues Kids of America” with special guests Ray Goren & Alex Lund

Noon – 12:50 pm – Big DooWopper

1:10 pm – 2:10 pm – Sam Lay joins Bob Riedy and Bob Corritore

2:30 pm – 3:45 pm – Omar Coleman & Friends: Kenny Smith, Bob Stroger & Billy Flynn

4:00 pm – 5:15 pm – Harmonica Blowout: Harry Garner Band with many special Harp guests

5:30 pm – 6:10 pm – Nigel Mack Band Winners of the WCBS “Best CD” for 2011

6:25 – 7:05 pm – Geneva Red’s “Original Delta Fireballs”

 

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

11:00 am – 11:45 am – Moonlighters with Butt Naked Sam

Noon – 3:50 pm – Five bands compete in ROUND 1 of Windy City Blues Society’s Annual “Chicago Blues Challenge”

4:10 pm – 5:00 pm – Pistol Pete Band Winners of the WCBS Chicago Blues Challenge “Band” Contest

5:15 pm – 6:00 pm – Kilborn Alley Blues Band with special guest Deak Harp

6:15 pm – 7:00 pm – Liz Mandeville & Donna Herula Duo Winners of the WCBS Chicago Blues Challenge “Solo/Duo” Contest

The Blues: From the Heart & Soul

Exhibit in Wauconda, IL

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 )

May 9 – WCBS Blues Education Committee Meeting

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).

Cruisin’ the Blues Highway 2011

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

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

Lunchbreak Blues Concerts in May @ Randolph Cafe

LunchBreak: Jazz, Blues & Beyond Tuesday Concerts

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)

May 3: Tail Dragger (blues vocalist)

May 10: Shirley Johnson (blues vocalist)

May 17: David “Honeyboy” Edwards (legendary blues guitarist)

May 24: Dave Specter Trio (led by blues guitarist, Dave Specter)

May 31: Mississippi Heat (led by Pierre Lacocque, Carl Weathersby)

Aug. 19-21: Blues & Camping @ FarmFest in Kinsman, IL

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/

Taking it to the Street: The Windy City Blues Society at the 2010 Chicago Blues Festival

2010 Chicago Blues Festival

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!

Click Me to visit the official Chicago Blues Festival website!

April 16 – Music Benefit for Japan

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.

More details: http://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2011/4/16_japan.html

Apr. 29 (Friday) – All day Blues Benefit for Lacy Gibson

April 23 – Blues @ Avon Walk Fundraiser

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

Kevin Purcell & the Nightburners (Chicago Blues meets Southern Rock)

So many of us have been affected or touched by something like this, so we must do our part for the solution. One of our friends and fans asked us to be part of this, and we said we would do our part, and now we humbly ask you to come out and be part of it too. Little bit earlier show, so no excuses, and we can have some fun while helping out!!!

May 26 – Honeyboy Edwards @ “Speaking of the Blues”

Legendary Blues Performer David “Honeyboy” Edwards to perform and talk at Blues Event.   Performance also includes Billy Branch.

Thursday, May 26, 2011 – Harold Washington Library, Chicago, “Speaking of the Blues”  12:00 noon, in the Lower Level Atrium..

Click for more info: Speaking of the Blues