The four-day Chicago Blues Festival was filled with great blues music throughout the city in Millennium Park, Austin neighborhood, Bronzeville neighborhood, Chicago Riverwalk, and the Maxwell Street Market. The amazing lineup of blues artists included Shemekia Copeland, Eddie Cotton, Grady Champion, Melody Angel, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Cedric Burnside, Annika Chambers, Mr. Sipp, Eric Gales, and many more. There were artist tributes everyday of the blues festival.
On Thursday, there was a Tribute to Erwin Helfer and his Boogie Woogie Ensemble with special guests, Skinny Williams, Davide Illardi, Katherine Davis, John Brumbach, and Lou Marini.
On Friday, there was a tribute to Bob Stroger & Friends that featured Sam Burckhardt with Billy Flynn, Kenny Smith, Rockin Eddie, Sam B, and One Take Willie.
On Saturday, there was Chicago soul tribute to Gene Barge, Cicero Blake & Willie Henderson that featured Willie Henderson’s Big Bad Blues Band with special guests Ruby Andrews, Samota Acklin, Theresa Davis, Joe Barr, and Willie White.
On Sunday, Women in Blues presented a special tribute to Mary Lane that featured special guests, Peaches Staten, Shirley Johnson, Sheryl Youngblood, Demetria Taylor, Nora Jean Wallace, Loretta Weathersby, Sharon Lewis, Anne Harris, and Donna Herula.
This year’s Chicago Blues Festival showcased seasoned and emerging blues artists. Their performances displayed blues form the past and present that illustrated the genre’s impact on gospel, soul, R&B, rock, hip-hop, and country music.
