The 36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival is set to take place at Millennium Park this year, from June 7 – 9.
Recognized as the city’s premier outdoor venue, Millennium Park is a scenic setting for one of the most celebrated events in Chicago. Fans will gather at the world’s largest free blues festival to enjoy local, national, and international artists inspired by the legendary art form. This year’s edition takes a unique focus on Chicago’s connection to blues music, as it’s deep-rooted and its impact can be seen across genres.
Headliners at the Chicago Blues Festival 2019 will perform at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion each night from 5 – 9 pm with preview performances and activities taking place throughout the day. The festival opens on Friday, June 7 with a variety of sets, where both emerging and classic artists from the label will be celebrated. Saturday, June 8 will showcase legends such as Bettye LaVette, Don Bryant, and Latimore. Sunday, June 9 will end the festival with a lineup of all-stars, including the iconic Ruthie Foster.
Other stages at the venue that will feature live music are the Budweiser Crossroads Stage, the Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage, and the Front Porch. The complete schedule is up on City of Chicago’s website and the official festival preview will take place at noon on Monday, June 4 at Daley Plaza, while additional previews and film screenings will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center, Logan Center for the Arts, and Maxwell Street Market.
Chicago Blues Festival is free to the public and open from 11 am – 9 pm daily.
Official Festival Headliner Lineup
Friday, June 7
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
7:45–9pm – Bobby Rush
6:30–7:30pm – Jimmy Johnson Blues Band
5–6:15pm – Charlie Musselwhite with special guest Billy Boy Arnold
Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)
4:15–5:30pm – Bombino
2:45–4pm – Guy King with special guest Chris Cain
1:30–2:30pm – Thornetta Davis
12:15–1:15pm – Benny Turner and Real Blues
11am–12pm – Joanna Connor
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (at North Chase Promenade)
4:15–5:30pm – Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
3–4pm – Grady Champion
1:45pm–2:45pm – Karen Wolfe
12:30–1:30pm – Keith Johnson “Prince of the Delta Blues” & The Big Muddy Blues Band
11:15am–12:15pm – Jimmy Burns Band
Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)
8–9pm – Vance “Guitar” Kelly & The Backstreet Blues Band
6:30–7:30pm – Breezy Rodio
5–6pm – Mzz Reese
3:30–4:30pm – Mojo Morganfield & The Mannish Boyz
2–3pm – Kenny Smith & The House Bumpers
12:30–1:30pm – Bob Stroger
11am–12pm – Blues in the Schools with Katherine Davis, Tim Gant, Tino Cortes, Alan Burroughs and Stone Academy
Park Grill Stage
4–4:45pm – Jimmy Nick & Don’t Tell Mama
3–3:45pm – Eric Noden
2–2:45pm – Gerry Hundt’s Legendary One-Man Band
Rosa’s Lounge
11am–9pm – Daily showcase of Chicago Blues Legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa’s Lounge home over the last 35 years.
Saturday, June 8
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
7:45–9pm – Bettye LaVette
6:30–7:30pm – Don Bryant
5:15–6:15pm – Latimore
Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)
4:15–5:30pm – Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore with The Guilty Ones
3–4pm – Billy Boy Arnold
1:30–2:45pm – Rico McFarland, Carl Weathersby and Wayne Baker Brooks
12:15–1:15pm – Marquise Knox
11am–12pm – Melody Angel
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (at North Chase Promenade)
4:15–5:30pm – Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
3–4pm – O.B. Buchana
1:45pm–2:45pm – John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
12:30–1:30pm – Super Chikan
11:15am–12:15pm – Jesse “Guitar” Robinson
Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)
8–9pm – Lurrie Bell
6:30–7:30pm – Morry Sochat & The Special 20s
5–6pm – Bridges to the Blues
3:30–4:30pm – Dom Flemons
2–3pm – Chicago Blues Piano Master—A Tribute To Otis Spann featuring Oscar Wilson, Johnny Iguana, Sumito Ariyoshi, Rie Kanehira, Roosevelt Purifoy, Harlan Terson, Frank Krakowski & Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
12:30–1:30pm – The Joel Paterson Organ Trio featuring Chris Foreman
11am–12pm – Mary Lane
Park Grill Stage
4–4:45pm – Doktu Rhute Muuzic
3–3:45pm – Harmonica Hinds
2–2:45pm – Dom Flemons
Rosa’s Lounge
11am–9pm – Daily showcase of Chicago Blues Legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa’s Lounge home over the last 35 years.
Sunday, June 9
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
7:45–9pm – Ruthie Foster
6:30–7:30pm – The CONNECTION: Mike Welch & Friends
5:15–6:15pm – Larkin Poe
Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)
4:15–5:30pm – Roomful of Blues with special appearance by guest vocalist Lynne Jordan
2:45–4pm – Toronzo Cannon
1:30–2:30pm – The Kinsey Report
12:15–1:15pm – Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band
11am–12pm – Omar Coleman
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (at North Chase Promenade)
4:15–5:30pm – Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
3–4pm – Zac Harmon
1:45pm–2:45pm – Jarekus Singleton
12:30–1:30pm – RL Boyce
11:15am–12:15pm – King Edward
Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)
6:30–7:30pm – Mike Wheeler Band
5–6pm – Russ Green
3:30–4:30pm – Ivy Ford Band
2–3pm – Cash Box Kings
12:30–1:30pm – Erwin Helfer
11am–12pm – Willie Buck
Park Grill Stage
4–4:45pm – Tom Holland & The Shuffle Kings
3–3:45pm – Rick King’s Royal Hustle
2–2:45pm – Chicago Bound Blues Band
Rosa’s Lounge
11am–9pm – Daily showcase of Chicago Blues Legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa’s Lounge home over the last 35 years.
