The Chicago Blues Festival

Blues fans, it’s that time of year again! The largest free blues festival in the world is coming back to Grant Park.  The Chicago Blues Festival celebrates the classic genre with three days of performances to enjoy. We listed the full lineup and details below:

The Lineup

(Schedule is subject to change)

Friday June 10^th

Petrillo Music Shell

• 6-6:45 p.m. – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers guest appearance by Toronzo Cannon
• 7-8:00 p.m. – Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials guest appearance by Corky Siegel
• 8:15-9:30 p.m. – Shemekia Copeland and Special Guest Curtis Salgado

Windy City Blues Society “Street Stage”

• 11-11:45 a.m.- Jamiah “On Fire” & the Red Machine
• 12-12:35 p.m. – Frank Bang and The Cook County Kings
• 1-1:45 p.m. – Chicago Kingsnakes
• 2-3 p.m. – Kilburn Alley Blues Band
• 3:15-4:15 p.m. – Charlie Love & the Silky Smooth Band
• 4:30-5:15 p.m. – Miles Minor Band
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Tom Crivellone &Two For The Blues
• 6:45-7:30 p.m. – ToeKnee Tea

Bud Light Crossroads Stage

• 11:15-12:15 a.m. – Peaches Staten
• 12:45-2 p.m. – Maurice John Vaughn
• 2:30-3:45 p.m. – Moreland & Arbuckle
• 4:15-5:30 p.m. – Curtis Salgado

Jackson Mississippi Rhythm & Blues Stage

• 11:30am-12:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion on Alligator Records 45^th Anniversary
• 1-2 p.m. – Sherman Lee Dillon
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Pat Brown
• 4-5 p.m. – Eddie Shaw & The Wolfgang
• 5:30-7:45 p.m. – Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith Jam Session

Pepsi Front Porch Stage

• 12-1 p.m. – Blues in the Schools with Stone Academy, Eric Noden, Katherine Davis
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Fruteland Jackson
• 3-4 p.m. – The Omar Coleman Band
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Legends of Blues with Sam Lay, Corky Siegel & Marcella Detroit

Saturday June 11^th

Petrillo Music Shell

• 5:30-6:15 p.m. – Wee Willie Walker & We “R”
• 6:30-7:45 p.m. – Irma Thomas
• Fred Wesley & The New JB’s

Windy City Blues Society “Street Stage”

• 11-11:45 a.m. – Queen Beautiful & Sweet SOLE
• 12-12:45 p.m. – Tears& Drops Blues Band (Germany)
• 1-2 p.m. – Taildragger with Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore, Kenny Smith, Rockin’ Johnny and Illinois Slim
• 2:15-3:15 p.m. – Rob Stone & his All Stars
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Gerald “The Soulkeeper’ McClendon Band
• 4:45-5:30 p.m. – Teeny Tucker Band
• 5:45-6:30 p.m. – Ivy Ford Band starring J.B. Ritchie with Buzz Kranz
• 6:45-7:30 p.m. – Mississippi Gabe Carter

Bus Light Crossroads Stage

• 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Cicero Blake
• 12:45-2 p.m. – Theo Huff
• 2:30-3:45 p.m. – Nora Jean
• 4:15-5:30 p.m. – Otis Clay Tribute Band

Jackson Mississippi Rhythm & Blues Stage

• 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion- Artist Spotlight Eddie Cotton- 2015 Blues Challenge Winner, facilitated by Alex Thomas
• 1-2 p.m. – Southern Komford Brass Band
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Tenny Tucker
• 4-5 p.m. – Eddie Cotton
• 5:30-7:45 p.m. – Jam Session with Southern Komford Brass Band

Pepsi Front Porch Stage

• 12-1 p.m. – Fernando Jones International Band with A-Z Blues (Italy)
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Barrelhouse Chuck Blues Trip featuring Billy Flynn & West Side Andy
• 3-4 p.m. – Lazy Lester featuring Rockin’ Johnny
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings

Sunday June 12^th

Petrillo Music Shell

• 5-6:15 p.m. – Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
• 6:30-7:45 p.m. – Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
• 8-9:30 p.m. – Otis Rush Tribute featuring Jimmy Johnson, Abb Locke, Brian Jones, Carl Weathersby, Bob strger, 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, Anthony Palmer, Kenny Anderson, Leon Allen, Henry Ford & Willie Woods

Windy City Blues Society “Street Stage”

• 11-11:45 a.m. – Bo Ricketts
• 12-12:45 p.m. – Breezy Rodio Band
• 1-1:45 p.m. – Sreet Jaxkson
• 2-2:45 p.m. – Willie “the Touch” Hayes Band
• 3-4:15 p.m. – Windy City Rev Ups “Blowout Jam” with many special guests
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Cash Box Kings
• 5:45 – 6:30 p.m. – Moondog (Australia) & guests
• 6:45- 7:30 p.m. – Bill Grady

Budweiser Crossroads Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Charlie Love
• 12:45-2 p.m. – James “Super Chikan” Johnson
• 2:30-3:45 p.m. – Kinsey Report
• 4:15- 5:30 p.m. – Diunna Greenleaf

Jackson Mississippi Rhythm & Blues Stage

• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion on the “Great Migration” with Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Eddie Shaw, John Primer, facilitated by Alex Thomas
• 1-2 p.m. – Ben Payton
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Adib Sabir
• 4-5 p.m. – Nellie “Tiger” Travis
• 5:30-7:45 p.m. – Jam Session with AdibSabir

Pepsi Front Porch Stage

• 12-1 p.m. – Melody Angel
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. – The Jimmy Bums Band
• 3-4 p.m. – John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Lurrie Bell

Event Details

Where: Grant Park | 337 E Randolph St.
Hours: 11:00AM- 9:30PM daily
Admission: FREE
Parking: Millennium Garages | $35.00 Parking