Author: Robin Zimmerman
Whether it was a tale about Sonny Boy Williamson horning in on Otis Rush’s club gig or Musselwhite’s experience of penning his “Stranger in a Strange Land” as a new arrival to Chicago in 1962, Musselwhite’s stories were as engaging as the music that’s garnered him a Grammy win, numerous Blues Music awards and several other accolades.
Ivan Singh expressed his admiration for the Chicago blues tradition, before serving up his own Argentinian twist on the genre.
With everything from ‘The Bear’ and Italian beef to deep-dish pizza and other delights, the city of Chicago has long been recognized as the go-to spot for foodies. So, it was fitting that the 40TH Annual Chicago Blues Festival offered a veritable smorgasbord of music reflecting a variety of blues-based tastes and influences.
The free concert, a double bill with Ronnie Baker Brooks and Shemekia Copeland, provided a full slate of priceless memories and magical moments.
In this era of cookie cutter festivals, often run by large corporate entities, it’s nice to know that they’ve been keeping it real down in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
As the son of legendary musician Linsey Alexander he honed his guitar skills at the hands of the original “Hoochie Man.”
Billed as a celebration of the music of both Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, this show also featured an all-star cast of supporting musicians.
A band from Boston came in and shook up the hipsters in Chicago with their own brand of down and dirty blues.
This evening served as a prime example of how the power of music can help bring people together.
There are plenty of other musical happenings on the summer schedule in the Chicago area, but Blues Fest is the big daddy of them all.
The diversity of talent on display was truly amazing with everything from an incredible “Women in Blues” showcase to a masterful Mud Morganfield!