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Chicago Blues Festival
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Get unlimited admission to over 25 attractions with the GoChicago Card. More info!337 E Randolph
Chicago, Illinois, 60602
312-744-3315
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Are you a blues fan or do you want to attend a free blues concert by the lake? The world’s largest free concert is right here in Grant Park. With six stages and multiple performances, the Chicago Blues Festival will play tribute to various Blues icons.
Check out the schedule ahead to time for favorite performances, as the venues tend to fill-up quickly. Bring along sunscreen, beach blanket, water and other necessities. Parking will not be available at Grant Park, so it may be worthwhile to take public transportation or carpool.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the music!
Directions:
From Northern Suburbs & Northwest Side of the City: Take the Kennedy or Edens Expressway (90/94) East to Ohio Exit, take Ohio to Columbus, turn right to parking or Grant Park.
From the Northeast & Southeast Side of the City: Take Lake Shore Drive Southbound or Northbound to Randolph. Turn left at Columbus to enter parking garages
From South & Southwest Suburbs and Southwest Side of the City: Take Dan Ryan (90/94) North to Congress (290 Eisenhower Expressway), turn left at State to Monroe, turn right. Monroe to Columbus, turn left to parking garages (see parking listed below).
From Western Suburbs: Eastbound on (290 Eisenhower Expressway) to State Street, turn left at State to Monroe, turn right. Monroe to Columbus, turn left and parking garage entrances are located in the center of the street.
Parking: Parking is not available on festival grounds. Parking garages are located at the Millennium Park Garage that can be accessed on Columbus between Randolph and Monroe from either north or south, the Monroe Street Underground at Monroe & Columbus, and the Grant Park Underground parking garage entrances located at Michigan at Madison and Michigan at Randolph. Visit chicagoparkingmap.com to locate parking near your destination.
Public Transporation: Exit Metra Electric Line Randolph-South Water Street, Van Buren or Roosevelt and head east. From North or West suburbs, hop off at Ogilvie Transportation Center and take a cab east (it’s approximately a 30-minute walk).
On the L, exit Harrison, Monroe/State, Washington/State, Jackson or Roosevelt and take a quick jog toward the lake.
For CTA, RTA and Metra travel routes, call 836-7000 in all Chicagoland area codes or go to: www.transitchicago.com
Entertainment
FRIDAY, JUNE 10
CROSSROADS STAGE
11:00 am – 12:15 pm Guy King and his Little Big Band
12:45 pm – 2:00 pm Eric Guitar Davis and the Troublemakers
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm Holle Thee Maxwell
4:15 pm – 5:45 pm The Rockin’ Johnny Band featuring Smiley Tillman and Mary Lane
MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 am – 12:15 pm Panel Discussion of Robert Johnson w/ Steven Johnson (family of Robert Johnson)
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Howlin’ Wolf Birthday Celebration panel discussion with Richard Shurman, Bettye Kelly, Barbra Marks & Hubert Sumlin
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Chris Gill & Derrick Martin
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Nora Jean Bruso
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm James “Super Chikan” Johnson
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Festival Jam Session w/ Fernando Jones Band
FRONT PORCH STAGE
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Blues in the Schools: Stone Academy w/ Eric Noden, Katherine Davis and Erwin Helfer
2:15 pm – 3:05 pm Erwin Helfer Band featuring Katherine Davis
3:35 pm – 4:15 pm Rocky Lawrence
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm “Sanctified Grumblers”
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm Eddie Cotton Jr.
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm Tribute to Robert Johnson: David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Rick Sherry, Rocky Lawrence, Hubert Sumlin and Duwayne Burnside Band
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
CROSSROADS STAGE
11:00 am – 12:15 pm Ronnie Hicks & Masheen Company Band w/ Bob Jones, Cicero Blake, Brown Sugar & Jessie
12:45 pm – 2:00 pm Dave Herrero and the Hero Brothers Band
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm Duwayne Burnside Band
4:15 pm – 5:30 pm George Stancell and Band w/ Willie Buck
MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 am – 12:30 pm Panel Discussion of the Mississippi Blues Trail: Jim O’Neal, Rip Daniels and Alex Thomas
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Jarekus Singleton
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Dexter Allen
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Zac Harmon
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Mississippi Jam Session featuring Dexter Allen
FRONT PORCH STAGE
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Fernando Jones and the Blues Kids of America & Columbia College Blues Ensemble All Stars
2:15 pm – 3:05 pm Fruteland Jackson
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm Sam Lay Blues Band
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm Tribute to Pinetop Perkins featuring Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Friends
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
6:00 pm – 6:45 pm Dave Specter Band featuring special guest Jimmy Johnson
7:15 pm – 8:00 pm Carl Weathersby’s Blues Band
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Billy Branch and The Son’s of Blues & Friends
SUNDAY, JUNE 12
CROSSROADS STAGE
11:00 am – 12:15 pm Jarekus Singleton
12:45 pm – 2:00 pm Rob Blaine’s Big Otis Blues
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm Bobby “Slim” James Band w/ Lee Shot Williams, JoAnne Graham
4:15 pm – 5:30 pm Theo Huff and Jeannie Holliday w/ Ronnie Hicks & Masheen Company Band
MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Q & A Panel w/ Bruce Iglauer and Richard Shurman celebrating 40th Anniversary of Alligator Records
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Ben Wiley Payton
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm The Jimmy Burns Band
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Nellie “Tiger” Travis
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Festival Jam feat. Kenny Smith
FRONT PORCH STAGE
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Nick Moss & The Flip Tops
2:15pm – 3:15 pm Memphis Gold
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Mud Morganfield Band
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm John Primer
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
6:00pm – 7:00 pm Shemekia Copeland
7:30 – 9:00 pm Lonnie Brooks with guests Michael “Iron Man” Burks, Rick Estrin Ann Rabson
and Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater: 40th Anniversary of Alligator Records
* Schedule Subject To Change
Hours
The Festival is open to the public from June 10th through the 12th. For a complete listing of daily events, please refer to the schedule above.
Admission
Admission to the Chicago Blues Festival is free.