Michael “Iron Man” Burks earned his moniker by his hours-long, intensely physical performances, fearsome guitar attack, and tough, smoky vocals. He also earned it by the thousands of miles he personally logged behind the wheel of his touring van. Burks was a true modern blues hero whose music was driven by an intense, blue collar work ethic that had won him well-deserved national and international recognition. His instantly identifiable guitar sound and his live charisma earned him four Blues Music Award nominations. He won the 2004 Living Blues magazine Critics’ Award for Best Guitarist. Burks received a nomination for the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best Guitarist.

Born in Milwaukee in 1957, Burks grew up immersed in the blues, and learned to play guitar at an early age. His family moved to Camden, Arkansas in the early 1970s. There, Burks and his siblings helped their father build the Bradley Ferry Country Club — a 300-seat juke joint. By this time Michael was fronting his own band as well as backing several of the blues and R&B greats that passed through town. Burks left music to raise a family and returned to performing blues in the 1990s.

After self-releasing his first CD in 1997, Burks signed with Chicago’s Alligator Records in 2001 and released three critically acclaimed albums. GuitarOne named his debut album, Make It Rain, one of the Top 200 greatest guitar recordings of all time. He has toured the world, headlining blues festivals, concert halls and clubs. His status as an Arkansas musical hero was confirmed by his receipt of the prestigious Sonny Payne Award for Blues Excellence in 2006, presented by the Delta Cultural Center, and by his multiple headlining appearances at The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival. Burks had just finished recording his fourth Alligator CD, which is due for release at the end of July 2012.

“Burks has learned to burn his own signature onto almost everything he touches. The aching passion of Burks’ voice and the probing intensity of his guitar lines come together in a searing evocation of desire and desperation. Burks has the ability and the imagination to fuse the best of the old and the new.”

–Living Blues

Big Crowds at our stage last year!

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

2012 WCBS Booth at the CBF

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…

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.

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

CBC Finals!

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

Pictures coming soon!

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

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.