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Hello & Welcome
It's Our 16th YEAR
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.
Our 2025 Events Calendar
Every Day
The Killer Blues Headstone Project exists to provide headstones for blues musicians lying in unmarked graves.
Blues Music in Chicago
Additional Information
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 15 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 plan on going to Library Districts, Nursing homes, Veterans Hospitals and other places we can promote blues music. We want to preserve the history of the blues, and promote the blues.
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)
LYONS FEST 2025, is not scheduled yet. WE hope to revive a street festival in Berwyn this summer, and potentially bring a Soul & Blues fest to Maywood.
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 212 new or renewing members for 2024-2025. 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.
About Us
How We Got Started
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.
Check our official FEDERAL IRS Charitable Status
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)
Check our official Charitable Status
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)
Look us up with the Illinois Secretary of State
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"
Our first Fest as the WCBS
The early days of the Windy City Blues Society
The People are the best part of Chicago Blues Fest......
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