Founded March 23rd 2009. Our purpose is to preserve, promote, & celebrate the blues music art form. We strive to keep the blues alive, reach new people, expand the audience, and grow this uniquely American art form. We hold free blues festivals, present the Chicago Blues Challenge, and blues education programs.
The Killer Blues Headstone Project exists to provide headstones for blues musicians lying in unmarked graves.
The Windy City Blues Society is a 501 c 3 Non-Profit organization, and an affiliate member of The Blues Foundation. The WCBS is focused on blues music as a genre. We are best at presenting live musical concerts and festivals. From 2010 to 2017 we operated The WCBS Street Stage, providing about 25% of the live music at the Chicago Blues Festival, aka: Worlds Largest Free Blues Festival. The Blues Society received no government funding or private grants. We funded our efforts from membership dues, merchandise sales, and the generosity of others. We started the Windy City Blues Fest in 2018 and again in 2019 at Toyota Park (SeatGeek Stadium) we had a great festival season in 2024
WE are honored to be presenting "Blues Day" at the 2025 Willow Fest Saturday July 26th, 1 Village Circle in Willow Springs, Illinois (a southwest suburb)
The Windy City Blues Society has a 16 year history, yet is the longest running Blues Society in the Chicago Area. Chicago has the Blues 24/7, it runs deep. we are only a small humble part of it. Chicago is likely the number one blues market in the world, we hope to grow the hometown audience and create opportunities for local artists.
WE started our music educational programs in Willow Springs School Districts 108 on March 18th 2024. WE followed up with a program at St. Edwards Scheel in February 2025, and another in Washington School (Lyons School District) in April 2025. We plan on going to Library Districts, Nursing homes, Veterans Hospitals and other places we can promote blues music, but it all depends on funding and grants.
The Windy City Blues Society has taken an interest in the final resting places of Blues Artists. For the last 5 years WE supported the Killer Blues Headstone Project in putting head stones on the unmarked graves of blues artists. We have donated over $2,000 to help support their great work & dedication (made possible by your generosity to us)
WE had hoped to revive an old street festival in Berwyn this summer, and potentially bring a Soul & Blues fest to Maywood. But neither of those new festivals happened. Maywood has potential for Fathers Day weekend 2026 and with the Mayor reelected, we will try again, keep your fingers crossed.
WE have big plans in 2026 and a grant request in to the National Endowment for the Arts. The Windy City Blues Fest as part of America 250, celebrating blues heritage across time and regions, showcasing its deep impact on American music and culture. The plans include a 3 day festival, with three stages in the Cook County Forest Preserve in Cermak Woods held in September 2026. Blues Music performances will represent various geographical / regional styles, various time periods, and the Sons and Daughters of the blues legends. Two live stages and the third a "quiet zone" of sorts with story telling, films, and interactive mixed media type performances. We plan on having a lounge type area for musicians and industry professionals and media to help create networking opportunities, and creative spaces to help strengthen our blues community. The festival will be FREE and it will be glorious. It all depends on the NEA Grant and we will hopefully have confirmation in December of this year. This will be a blues festival that people will travel to.
We held the Chicago Blues Challenge November 10th at Buddy Guys Legends.
Band Winner : Stefan Hillesheim Trio
Duet Winner : Windy City Rev Ups Duet
Youth Winner: Alex Olson
We have had over 1600 unique members, We Currently have 142 new or renewing members for 2025-2026. WE need membership renewals and new members. You can join here on our secure website.
The Blues Society wants to thank all of you that become members and RENEW your membership. We thank all that made a purchase on our web site. You helped us . You stepped up and helped out. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You !!! I applaud you.
Please Renew your 2025-2026 Membership and help Keep The Blues Alive in Chicagoland.
The Windy City Blues Society was started by Dave 'Mad Dog" Madlener and Tom Jurgens along with 8 other Blues Enthusiast in the Chicagoland area.
We were brought together by the Blindman's Blues Forum and the Chicago Blues Fest in Grant Park. After a number of years, Dave researched starting a Blues Society, interacted with a number of other Blues Societies via the Blindmans Blues Forum And began visiting other blues festivals across the country.
In 2009 The Windy City Blues Society began, On March 23rd 2010 The Society formed the Corporation with the Illinois Secretary of State. 6 months later, on October 29th of the same year the Windy City Blues Society was awarded 501 c 3 non profit status by the United States Department of the Treasury.
The other founding members are, Brad "The Boweivel" Appier, James "Spike" Spiecher, Napolian "Nap" Tabion, Kate Moss, Amy "Brat Girl" Brat, Lori "Loreen" Lewis, Jack "Black Jack" Giersbach, and Kurt "Soulful Impressions" Swanson. Initially the 10 founding members formed the executive Committee. A 5 member Board of Directors was created. Over the next 10 years the organization grew to almost 1,500 unique members and gained numerous lifetime memberships.
As an organization we have seen our ups and downs, our successes and our failures. Just like the music industry itself, the journey is full of twists and turns. Some bands stick together, some splinter apart but each individuals love for the music rarely changes.
To become a 501 C 3 non profit public charity, an organizations must be granted this status by the Federal Government Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Our financials are public record as is our status as a public charity Official tax reports can be found with the IRS at This Link. (EIN 800373004)
501 C 3 non profit organizations registered in the State of Illinois must file their financial reports as a public record with the Illinois Attorney Generals Office . Click this link to check out our charitable filings over the last decade or so.
https://charitableviewer.ilag.gov/
Just type in Windy City Blues Society in the search bar.
(just the name will get it done)
Every Corporation in Illinois is required to keep there corporate records on file with the Illinois Secretary of State. Check our status here.
Scrool Down and click "Submitt". Scrool Down the next page and type in "Windy City Blues Society"
The early days of the Windy City Blues Society
A music rehearsal studio and a creative industries facility on the northwest side of Chicago. They offer studios for tour rehearsal, local acts, and content creators needing space in a clean, private and professional environment.
Chicago's leader in monthly rehearsal lockouts with over 120 individual private studios spread out across our 120,000 square foot facility.
All Utilities Included
Free Parking
Safe, Clean & Secure
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