The Chicago Blue’s Festival has announced the artists that will perform over three days on five different stages this summer in Millennium Park.
Starting Friday, June 9:
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
• 5-6pm - John Primer and The Real Deal
• 6:20-7:05pm - Rhymefest
• 7:20-9:20pm - Celebrating 40 Years: Billy Branch & The Son of Blues with special guests Lurrie Bell, Freddie Dixon, J.W.S. Williams, Carlos Johnson, Carl Weathersby, Bill McFarland and Chicago Fire Horns and Mae Koen & The Lights
Budweiser Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
Local
• 11:15-12:15am - Demetria Taylor
• 12:45-1:45pm - Mary Lane and the No Static Blues Band
• 2:15-3:15pm - Nick Moss Band
• 3:45-4:45pm - The Mike Wheeler Band
• 5:15-6:15pm - Guy King
Mississippi Juke Joint (North Promenade)
• 11:30am-12:30pm - Blues in the Schools with Katherine Davis and Stone Academy
• 1-2pm - Eden Brent
• 2:30-3:30pm - Cedric Burnside Project
• 4-5pm - Jarekus Singleton
• 5:30-7:30pm - Jam Session with Cedric Burnside
Front Porch Stage (Harris Theater Rooftop)
• 12 Noon–1pm - Rip Lee Pryor
• 1:20–2:20pm - The Jimmy Burns Band
• 2:45-3:45pm - Henry Gray & Bob Corritore
• 4:15–5:15pm - Tribute to Barrelhouse Chuck featuring Billy Flynn, Johnny Iguana Roosevelt Purifoy and Piano Willie OShawny
Saturday, June 10:
Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Soul/R&B Night)
• 5-6pm - Nellie Tiger Travis
• 6:30-7:45pm - Theo Huff and the New Agenda Band
• 8:15-9:30pm - William Bell
Budweiser Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
• 11:15am-12:15pm - Chicago Wind with Matthew Skoller & Deitra Farr
• 12:45-1:45pm - Lynne Jordan & The Shivers
• 2:15-3:15pm - Big Bill Morganfield
• 3:45-4:45pm - Coco Montoya
• 5:15-6:15pm - Southside Tribute to Killer Ray Allison with Joe Pratt & The Source One Band and JoJo Murray
Mississippi Juke Joint (North Promenade)
• 11:30am-12:30pm - Panel Discussion: Mississippi Blues Trail 10th Anniversary with Jim O’Neal, Dr. Edgar Smith, Scott Barretta and Alex Thomas
• 1-2pm - Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
• 2:30-3:30pm - Bridges to the Blues by Donda’s House
• 4-5pm - Vick Allen
• 5:30-7:30pm - Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
Front Porch Stage (Harris Theater Rooftop)
• 12 Noon-1pm - Khalif Wailin’ Walter
• 1:20-2:20pm - Eddie Taylor, Jr.’s Tribute to Eddie Taylor, Sr.
• 2:45-3:45pm - Jimmy Johnson Band
• 4:15-5:15pm - Harmonica Hinds Quartet
Sunday, June 11:
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
• 5-6pm - Ronnie Baker Brooks
• 6:20-7:20pm - Rhiannon Giddens
• 7:40-9:30pm - Gary Clark Jr.
Budweiser Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
• 11:15am-12:15 - Tail Dragger and the Allstars
• 12:45-1:45pm - The Blues Disciples with special guest Ms. Erica Johnson & Milwaukee Slim
• 2:15-3:15pm - Vance Kelly and the Backstreet Blues Band
• 3:45-4:45pm - Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
• 5:15-6:15pm - Melvia “Chick” Rodgers
Mississippi Juke Joint (North Promenade)
• 11:30am-12:30 - Panel Discussion: Tribute to Amy Van Singel with Dick Shurman, Jim O’Neal and Rebecca Sive
• 1-2pm - JJ Thames
• 2:30-3:30pm - Zakiya Hooker
• 4-5pm - Denise LaSalle
• 5:30-7:45pm - Jam Session with Eddie Taylor, Jr.
Front Porch Stage (Harris Theater Rooftop)
• 12 Noon-1pm - The Como Mamas
• 1:20-2:20pm - Mud Morganfield Band
• 2:45-3:45pm - Chi-Town Harp Showcase featuring Omar Coleman, Russ Green and Lamont Harris
• 4:15-5:15pm - Wallace Coleman
In other music-lover news, a museum dedicated to blues music, a genre with deep historical ties to Chicago, could open as soon as spring 2019 in the Loop.
More information can be found at the city's website for the festival.