Thursday – Sunday, June 8 – 11
Millennium Park, 3 stages across the Park
FREE!
Concerts will also be livestreamed at Youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE
The largest, free Blues festival in the world returns to Chicago with four days of top tier talent performing in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Three stages set up across Millennium Park will welcome 45 performances and more than 250 artists celebrating the city’s renowned Blues legacy.
2023 Blues headliners include four-time GRAMMY® winners Los Lobos, Blind Boys of Alabama with Bobby Rush, Mud Morganfield, John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band, Jimmy Burns Band, Sugaray Rayford, Jontavious Willis, Vasti Jackson, Eddie Cotton, O.B. Buchana, Super Chikan, and more.
Commissioned projects include the Centennial Tribute to Albert King featuring Donald Kinsey, Larry McCray, Rico McFarland, Carl Weathersby and Tony Llorens; a Delmark Records 70th Anniversary Celebration, and a “Women in Blues” tribute featuring Deitra Farr, Katherine Davis, Sugar Pie DeSanto and more.
New this year, the festival elevates its food options with a Blues-inspired smokehouse experience called “Wally’s BBQ Pit” in the North Promenade Tent of the Park with delicious BBQ fare and specialty drinks catered by Eleven North Hospitality. In between Blues sets, guests can stop to enjoy their BBQ, cornbread and drinks on picnic tables alongside whiskey barrels and smokers.
Two more new eateries in Millennium Park include Casa Bonita Mexican and Pizzeria Napolita.
Further enriching the immersive Blues experience, Praize Productions, Inc. presents a photography installation, “The Rhythm Within Our Blues” featuring life-size photographs depicting the history and authentic culture of Blues music told via the lens of professional photographers of color from Chicago's South Side. Photographers include Amber Green, Seed Lynn, and Tony Smith. Praize Productions, one of the 2023 Millennium Park Residency companies, adds to the artistic richness and deep appreciation for Blues music and its greats with this exhibition.
Chicago Blues Festival is sponsored by Visit Mississippi, Chicago Transit Authority, Rosa's Lounge, National Museum of Mexican Art, and Millennium Garages.
2023 Chicago Blues Festival Schedule
photo: Albert King
THURSDAY, JUNE 8
Jay Pritzker - Schedule
5:15-5:30pm - National Anthem/Commissioner's Welcome/Tom Marker
5:30-6:20pm - Wayne Baker Brooks (50 MIN)
6:30-7:30pm - Blind Boys of Alabama with Bobby Rush (60 MIN)
7:45-9:00pm - Centennial Tribute to Albert King featuring Donald Kinsey, Larry McCray, Rico McFarland, Carl Weathersby and Tony Llorens (75 MIN)
John Primer/ photo: Jennifer Noble
FRIDAY, JUNE 9
Jay Pritzker - Schedule
2:15-2:30pm - National Anthem/Commissioner's Welcome/Tom Marker
2:30-3:45pm - Delmark Records 70th Anniversary Celebration (75 MIN) with:
Dave Specter, Big Ray, Nick Alexander, Johnny Burgin, Willie Buck, Dave Weld & Monica Myhre,
Shirley Johnson, Sharon Lewis, Bob Stroger
4:00-5:00pm - Nora Jean Wallace (60 MIN)
5:15-6:15pm - Jontavious Willis (60 MIN)
6:30-7:30pm - Jimmy Burns Band (60 MIN)
7:45-9:00pm - John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band (75 MIN)
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (South Promenade)
12-1:00pm - Mzz Reese (60 MIN)
1:15-2:15pm - Lightnin’ Malcolm (60 MIN)
2:30-3:30pm - Eddie Cotton (60 MIN)
3:45-5:00pm - Vasti Jackson (75 MIN)
Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade)
12pm-6pm
Emcee: Tony Mangiullo
Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa's Lounge home over the last 39 years.
12:30-1:20pm - Stephen Hull (50 MIN)
1:35-2:25pm - Big Mike and the R&B Kings featuring Sierra Green (50 MIN)
2:40-3:30pm - Melody Angel (50 MIN)
3:45-4:45pm - Eddie Taylor - 100th Birthday with the Taylor Family (60 MIN)
5:00-6:00pm - Rico McFarland (60 MIN)
6:15-7:30pm - Last Call with WDCB Radio and The Smiley Tillmon Band featuring Kate Moss
Film Screening: Chicago Cultural Center (Claudia Cassidy Theater)
Friday, June 9
1:00pm: Film screening of "Born in Chicago" followed by a Q&A
Full-length documentary on the Chicago Blues, co‐directed by Emmy award-winner John Anderson with Bob Sarles, followed by Q&A.
Mud Morganfield/ photo: Jennifer Noble
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
Jay Pritzker - Schedule
2:15-2:30pm - National Anthem/Commissioner's Welcome/Tom Marker
2:30-3:45pm – Women in Blues Tribute to Deitra Farr, Katherine Davis and Sugar Pie DeSanto (75 MIN)
with: Lynne Jordan, Sheryl Youngblood, Joanna Connor, Radka Kasparcova, Sherri Weathersby
4:00-5:00pm - Joe Pratt & Source One Band featuring New Orleans Beau (60 MIN)
5:15-6:15pm - Sugaray Rayford (60 MIN)
6:30-7:30pm - Demetria Taylor with The Mike Wheeler Band (60 MIN)
7:45-9:00pm - Mud Morganfield (75 MIN)
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (South Promenade)
12-1:00pm - Chris Gill & The Sole Shakers (60 MIN)
1:15-2:15pm - Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band (60 MIN)
2:30-3:30pm - John Primer with Steve Bell (60 MIN)
3:45-5:00pm - Super Chikan (75 MIN)
Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade)
12pm-6pm
Emcee: Tony Mangiullo
Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa's Lounge home over the last 39 years.
12:30-1:20pm - Dave Herrero and Friends (50 MIN)
1:35-2:25pm - Matthew Skoller and Chicago Wind featuring Precious Taylor (50 MIN)
2:40-3:30pm - Milwaukee Slim with the Billy Flynn Band (50 MIN)
3:45-4:45pm - Lynne Jordan and the Shivers (60 MIN)
5:00-6:15pm - Rosa’s Lounge Jam Session with Mary Lane, Lil Ed, Willie Buck, and Billy Branch (75 MIN)
6:30-7:45pm - Last Call with WDCB Radio and Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames
photo: Los Lobos
SUNDAY, JUNE 11
Jay Pritzker - Schedule
2:15-2:30pm - National Anthem/Commissioner's Welcome/Tom Marker
2:30-3:45pm - The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Terrie Odabi (75 MIN)
4:00-5:00pm - Stephen Hull (60 MIN)
5:15-6:15pm - Sheryl Youngblood (60 MIN)
6:30-7:30pm - Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials (60 MIN)
7:45-9:00pm - Los Lobos (75 MIN)
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (South Promenade)
12-1:00pm - Duwayne Burnside (60 MIN)
1:15-2:15pm - Terry “Harmonica” Bean (60 MIN)
2:30-3:30pm - Zac Harmon (60 MIN)
3:45-4:45pm - O.B. Buchana (60 MIN)
Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade)
12pm-6pm
Emcee: Tony Mangiullo
Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa's Lounge home over the last 39 years.
12:30-1:20pm - Wendy and DB with Blues Friends (50 MIN)
1:35-2:25pm - The Ivy Ford Band (50 MIN)
2:40-3:30pm - The Bear Williams Band (50 MIN)
3:45-4:45pm - Gerald McClendon (60 MIN)
5:00-6:00pm - Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band (60 MIN)
6:15-7:30pm - Last Call with WDCB Radio and Morry Sochat & The Special 20s
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