The 33rd annual Blues Festival is almost upon us, and the lineup is out. Stellar musicians performing at this year’s festival include Curtis Salgado, Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, Toronzo Cannon, Irma Thomas, Nellie “Tiger” Travis, and there will also be a panel discussion on Alligator Records 45th Anniversary. A special treat this year will showcase an Otis Rush Tribute featuring: Lurrie Bell, Jimmy Johnson, Billy Flynn, Mike Wheeler, Eddy Clearwater, and many more.
The festival will take place in Grant Park from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. each day. As always, the Blues Festival is F-R-E-E.
FRIDAY, JUNE 10th
Petrillo Music Shell – Alligator Records 45th Anniversary
6 p.m. Tommy Castro & The Painkillers with guest appearance by Toronzo Cannon
7 p.m. Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials with guest appearance by Corky Siegel
8:15 p.m. Shemekia Copeland and special guest Curtis Salgado
Bud Light Crossroads Stage – Alligator Records Day
11:15 a.m. Peaches Staten
12:45 p.m. Maurice John Vaughn
2:30 p.m. Moreland & Arbuckle
4:15 p.m. Curtis Salgado
Jackson, Mississippi Rhythm & Blues Stage
11:30 a.m. Panel Discussion on Alligator Records 45th Anniversary
1 p.m. Sherman Lee Dillon
2:30 p.m. Pat Brown
4 p.m. Eddie Shaw & The Wolfgang
5:30 p.m. Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith Jam Session
Pepsi Front Porch Stage
Noon. Blues In The Schools with Stone Academy, Eric Noden, Katherine Davis
1:30 p.m. Fruteland Jackson
3 p.m. The Omar Coleman Band
4:30 p.m. Legends of Blues with Sam Lay, Corky Siegel & Marcella Detroit
SATURDAY, JUNE 11th
Petrillo Music Shell – Soul/R&B Night
5:30 p.m. Wee Willie Walker & We “R”
6:30 p.m. Irma Thomas
8:05 p.m. Fred Wesley & The New JB’s
Bud Light Crossroads Stage – Soul/ R&B Day
11:15 a.m. Cicero Blake
12:45 p.m. Theo Huff
2:30 p.m. Nora Jean
4:15 p.m. Otis Clay Tribute Band
Jackson, Mississippi Rhythm & Blues Stage
11:30 a.m. Panel Discussion – Artist Spotlight: Eddie Cotton-2015 International Blues Challenge Winner, facilitated by Alex Thomas
1 p.m. Southern Komfort Brass Band
2:30 p.m. Teeny Tucker
4 p.m. Eddie Cotton
5:30 p.m. Jam Session with Southern Komfort Brass Band
Pepsi Front Porch Stage
Noon. Fernando Jones International Band with A-Z Blues (Italy)
1:30 p.m. Barrelhouse Chuck Blues Trio featuring Billy Flynn & West Side Andy
3 p.m. Lazy Lester featuring Rockin’ Johnny
4:30 p.m. Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings
SUNDAY, JUNE 12th
Petrillo Music Shell – Tribute to Otis Rush
5 p.m. Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
6:30 p.m. Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
8 p.m. Otis Rush Tribute featuring: Jimmy Johnson, Abb Locke, Brian Jones, Carl Weathersby, Bob Stroger, Sumito Ariyoshi, Big Ray, Eddy Clearwater, John Kattke, Mike Welch, Rawl Hardman, Harlan Terson, Bob Levis, Billy Flynn, Mike Wheeler, Lurrie Bell, Shun Kikuta, Mike Ledbetter, Eddie Shaw, Sam Burton, Willie Henderson, Diane Blue, Ronnie Earl, Marty Sammon & Anthony Palmer, Kenny Anderson, Leon Allen, Henry Ford & Willie Woods
Bud Light Crossroads Stage
11:15 a.m. Charlie Love
12:45 p.m. James “Super Chikan” Johnson
2:30 p.m. Kinsey Report
4:15 p.m. Diunna Greenleaf
Jackson, Mississippi Rhythm & Blues Stage
11:30 a.m. Panel Discussion on the “Great Migration” with Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Eddie Shaw, John Primer, facilitated by Alex Thomas
1 p.m. Ben Payton
2:30 p.m. Adib Sabir
4 p.m. Nellie “Tiger” Travis
5:30 p.m. Jam Session with Adib Sabir
Pepsi Front Porch Stage
Noon. Melody Angel
1:30 p.m. The Jimmy Burns Band
3 p.m. John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
4:30 p.m. Lurrie Bell
Visit chicagobluesfestival.us for more information.
