The Chicago Blues Festival is one of the largest of music festivals in Chicago. "Blues Capital of the World" is celebrated for three days straight on three stages, which in the past have hosted Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark Jr, Rhiannon Giddens, and Bobby Rush. This year, more than 250 musicians come together to create the most unforgettable blues experience.
Fest Lineup
The festival lineup includes old blues favorites and up-and-coming artists. It is mainly focused on blues, soul, jazz blues, and blues-rock acts. The main headliner of this year's festival is Buddy Guy, a leading figure in the blues genre, whose legacy influenced many famous musicians. The concert at the Chicago Blues Festival is included as part of his last tour before retirement, which makes it even more special.
Alongside Buddy Guy, you'll have a chance to see the band Southern Avenue, Mr. Sipp, Otis Spann, Shemekia Copeland, Jimmy Rogers, and Ronnie Baker Brooks. Many other artists will also make the crowd fall in love with blues music and remind them of its iconic legacy.
Schedule & Location
The event is organized every June by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Since 2017, the festival has been held in the Millennium Park. The opening concerts on June 6th span from 6 pm to 11 pm at the Ramova Theater. Throughout the rest of its run, the festival is scheduled to take place from 12 pm to 9 pm in the Millennium Park.
Food & Beverages
Food and beverages are available at Millennium Hall, near the Cloud Gate. The special BBQ pop-up “Wally’s BBQ Pit” is located in the North Promenade Tent and offers signature smokehouse meals and specialty drinks. There are also many other options at the festival's grounds.
Accessibility
All Chicago Blues Festival concerts on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage include American Sign Language Interpretation. on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage. Millennium Park is also accessible for those with mobility issues and wheelchair users. The festival also accommodates hard-of-hearing and vision impaired attendees, as well as provides sensory-friendly facilities.
History of the Festival
Chicago has a rich history of blues, which goes back to the Great Migration from the South and the Mississippi Delta. The festival was founded in 1984, a year after the death of McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters), called "the father of Chicago blues." Chicago Blues Festival has become an amazing Chicago-born music tradition with a focus on the blues' past, present, and future!
