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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

Blues festival returns in June

Known as the largest free blues festival in the world, Chicago Blues Festival is the largest of the city’s music festivals. Less than a month away, more than 300,000 blues fanatics will flood Grant Park for three days of blues delight. Regarded as the “Blues Capital of the World,” the festival demonstrates the historic relation that Chicago has to blues. Celebrated this year is the centennial of delta blues legend, Robert Johnson, who single-handedly established Chicago in the forefront of blues music.

The 28th annual Chicago Blues Festival “kicks off at 11 a.m. Fri., June 10 on the Bud Light Crossroads Stage with Guy King paying homage to Robert Johnson,” said Jeneene Brown-Mosley, the new Blues Festival Coordinator. “The theme this year is ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ in honor of one of Robert Johnson’s famed songs.”

“This festival is the answer to those who ask what the blues is,” said Brown-Mosley. “It’s a wide range of emotion shaped in many different styles. Feeling is expressed in song, whether it is sadness, happiness or any other. When one talks or performs the blues, it helps them overcome their expressed emotions. That makes for the listeners enjoyment of the different kinds of blues to see and hear during this festival.”

Other featured acts that day include Steve Johnson, grandson of the Delta Blues master, who will hold a short panel discussion on the life of his grandfather. Also to help kick-off the event is The Rockin’ Johnny Band, James “Super Chikan” Johnson, Rocky Lawrence and The Duwayne Burnside Band.

“Blues artists perform all around the world and in many genres,” said Brown-Mosley. “But once this sound became amplified, Chicago started to take on its own edge. Chicago blues greats like B.B. King, Howling Wolf or Muddy Waters, created and expressed this style of blues in a different way.”

The rich history of Chicago blues “is what makes it special to blues performers who come and play at this festival for free,” said Brown-Mosley.

This year will also feature a special tribute to Pinetop Perkins, a blues icon who died recently but graced the stage with previous Blues Festival performances, which will be celebrated by long-time friend and collaborator, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.

Chicago’s very own Alligator Records, celebrating their 40th anniversary, will also be paid homage as well, with a Q&A followed by a jam session of the record’s bests.

Each stage is different from the next with a variety of amenities to accommodate.

The Pepsi Front Porch stage offers great lawn seating, which grants easy access to food and beverage vendors, bathrooms as well as shady areas to keep cool and maintain a good view of the stage.

“The tribute to Pinetop Perkins will open this stage,” said Brown-Mosley. “That will be followed by a performance by the Chicago pianist, Barrelhouse Chuck.”

The Mississippi Juke Joint stage will host sessions by keyboardists, guitarists and singers. The Steve Johnson discussion panel will open the stage followed by the tribute to last year’s themed blues singer, Howlin’ Wolf.

The Windy City Blues Society, Chicago’s premier blues organization, will also host a stage with prominent artists to rival the other sponsored stages. Performers here include Kilborn Alley, Cashbox Kings, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Nick Moss and many more.

Serving the larger crowds during the day, The Bud Light Crossroads Stage is solely for enjoying the music. There is access to bathrooms along with shady grassy seating for great listening. Several benches will be provided, but be sure to bring your chair as those will fill up fast. This stage will unveil the festival with the kickoff tribute by Guy King.

Every night at six is when the main stage, called the Petrillo Music Shell, opens up. This stage hosts many soulful performances by Chicago greats and international blues legends. Be sure to check this stage out as well as receive a stamp/wristband beforehand for re-entrance into the seating area.

It would be near impossible to last the entire day of listening to music without any sort of refreshment. Food and beverage vendors are scattered throughout the grounds for that reason. Be sure to buy enough food tickets, as the lines tend to get long and stay long. But also be sure to beat the heat by hydrating yourself before hand and bringing a chair to relax in.

“There’s nothing better than listening to some blues and eating a Chicago style hot dog,” said Sam Thompson, a voice performance major who attended the Blues Festival last year. “But being in Grant Park with thousands of other blues fans is what makes [Chicago] even better.”

Chicago’ Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events puts on the festival, along with other small high-quality and large-scale free events around the city. The organization is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the arts in Chicago as well as supporting the people who create and sustain them.

Let your hair down and listen to the live music that flows. Or go by some food and rest by the lakefront. Then come gather with the thousands of other people to experience and enjoy what the world’s largest free blues festival is all about.

“Everyone should come June 10-12th and experience what the blues are all about in one of the greatest blues cities,” said Brown-Mosley.

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