2018 Chicago Blues Festival Schedule

Friday, June 8-Millennium Park | Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Delmark Records + Bob Koester 65th Anniversary Day

  • 5:10-5:30pm – National Anthem: Melody Angel | Commissioner Mark Kelly | Video Tribute to Bob Koester, Delmark Records | Delmark Records Remark
  • 6:30-7:15pm – Mississippi Heat with Billy Flynn and Giles Corey
  • 7:30-9:30pm – Tribute to Those Who Came Before and Bob Koester | Gerry Hundt and Corey     Dennison: Tribute to Sleepy John Estes | Jimmy Burns: Tribute to Big Joe Williams | Ken Saydak: Tribute to Roosevelt Sykes | Shirley Johnson: Tribute to Bonnie Lee | Guy King: Tribute to Willie Kent| Billy Flynn + Linsey Alexander: Tribute to Jimmy Dawkins | Lil’ Ed & Dave Weld: Tribute to J.B. Hutto | Demetria Taylor and Tomika Dixon: Tribute to Big Time Sarah | Mike Wheeler: Tribute to Otis Rush | Steve & Lurrie Bell: Tribute to Carey Bell | Jimmy Johnson and Dave Specter: Tribute to Magic Sam | Omar Coleman: Tribute to Junior Wells

Budweiser Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

  • 11:00-12:10pm – Zora Young (Delmark)
  • 12:15-1:15pm -Sharon Lewis (Delmark)
  • 1:30-2:30pm -Rockwell Avenue Blues Band (Delmark)
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Dave Specter (Delmark)
  • 4:00-5:15pm -Linsey Alexander (Delmark)

Mississippi Juke Joint (North Promenade)

  • 11:15-12:15pm – Panel Discussion with Bob Koester, Delmark Records; Dick Shurman and Bruce Iglauer
  • 12:30-1:30pm – Mickey Rogers & The Soul Blues Band
  • 1:45-2:45pm – L.J. Echols & The Neckbone Band
  • 3-4pm – Mr. Sipp
  • 4:15-5:15pm – Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith

Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)

  • 11am-Noon – Blues in the School with Katherine Davis, Tim Gant, Tino Cortes, Alan Burroughs and Stone Academy
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Jimmy Burns – Solo (Delmark)
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Jimmy Johnson – Duo (Delmark)
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Lurrie Bell & Eddie Taylor Jr. with The Bell Dynasty (Delmark)
  • 4-5:15pm – Guy King – Solo (Delmark)
  • 5:30-6:30pm – Tail Dragger (Delmark)
  • 6:45-7:45pm – Rockin’ Johnny Burgin (Delmark)
  • 8-9pm – Giles Corey (Delmark)

Rooftop Lounge (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

  • 11am-12pm – Gerry Hundt’s Legendary One-Man-Band (Delmark)
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Oscar Wilson & Joel Paterson
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Devil In A Woodpile
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Rockin’ Johnny Burgin (Delmark)
  • 4-5pm – Matt Hendricks

Saturday, June 9

  • 5:20-5:30pm – National Anthem: Jackie Scott | Commissioner Mark Kelly

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

  • 5:30-6:30pm – Selwyn Birchwood 
  • 6:45-7:45pm – Willie Clayton
  • 8-9:30pm – Tribute to Little Walter with Billy Branch, Corky Siegel, Rick Estrin, Sugar Blue, Magic Dick and The Sons of Blues featuring Billy Flynn + Sam Lay

Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)

  • 11am-Noon – Dave Herrero 
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Jackie Scott
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Chicago R&B Kings: Tribute to Gene Barge
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Vieux Farka Touré
  • 4-5:15pm – Sonny Landreth

Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (at North Chase Promenade)

  • 11:15am-12:15pm – Panel Discussion on Little Walter Tribute with Scott Dirks & Marion Diaz-Reacco
  • 12:30-1:30pm – Ben Payton
  • 1:45-2:45pm – The Keeshea Pratt Band
  • 3-4pm – Eddie Cotton, Jr.
  • 4:15-5:15pm – Jam Session led by Eddie Cotton, Jr.

Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)

  • 11am-Noon – Katherine Davis Quartet
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Alvin Youngblood Hart
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Jontavious Willis
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Eric Noden and Joe Filisko
  • 4-5:15pm – Bridges to the Blues with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
  • 5:30-6:30pm – Kevin “B.F.” Burt
  • 6:45-7:45pm – Chicago Wind featuring Deitra Farr and Matthew Skoller
  • 8-9pm – Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne

Rooftop Lounge (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

  • 11am-12pm – Kevin “B.F.” Burt
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Fernando Jones
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Harmonica Hinds
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Fruteland Jackson with James Bryant
  • 4-5pm – Vino Louden

 


Sunday, June 10

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

  • 5:30-6:30pm – Fantastic Negrito 
  • 6:45-7:45pm – Kenny Neal
  • 8-9:30pm – Mavis Staples

Budweiser Crossroads Stage (at South Chase Promenade)

  • 11am-Noon – Jamiah Rogers Band 
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Diunna Greenleaf
  • 4-5:15pm – Joe Louis Walker

Mississippi Juke Joint (at North Chase Promenade)

  • 11:15am-12:15pm – Rising Stars Fife & Drum
  • 12:30-1:30pm – Nellie “Tiger” Travis
  • 1:45-2:45pm – Johnny Rawls
  • 3-4pm – Ms. Jody
  • 4:15-5:15pm – Jam Session led by Eddie Taylor, Jr.

Front Porch Stage (at Wrigley Square)

  • 11am-Noon – Erwin Helfer
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Cash Box Kings
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Studebaker John
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Blind Boy Paxton
  • 4-5pm – Piedmont Blūz
  • 5:30-6:30pm – Tommy McCracken
  • 6:45-7:45pm – Diamond Jim Greene

Rooftop Lounge (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

  • 11am-12pm – Studebaker John
  • 12:15-1:15pm – Melody Angel
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Piedmont Blūz
  • 2:45-3:45pm – Mike Wheeler
  • 4-5pm – Mississippi Gabe Carter