1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Blues
18th Annual Chicago Blues Festival
June 7, 8, 9, and 10

And It's Free!
The 2001 Chicago Blues Festival takes place this weekend in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. The lineup is as deep as usual, with Chicago favorites, not national artists, in the spotlight. A party of over 600,000 is expected in Chi-town, which actually has been celebrating the Blues all month. They take it on home with this giant festival on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Blues Specials
This year features a tribute to Louis Armstrong, continuing the year-long celebration of his birth 100 years ago. Louisiana is well represented with New Orleans' favorite, Irma Thomas, and the zesty Zydeco of C.J. Chenier. The return of modern music icon Ike Turner to the Blues scene will also continue in Chicago.
 

Daily highlights include:
BluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBlues
Thursday
Ernie Hawkins, Fruteland Jackson, Honeyboy Edwards, Mighty Mo Rogers, Jody Williams, Willie Kent and the Gents with Bonnie Lee & Mary Lane, and Chuck Berry
BluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBlues
Friday
Sam Lay, Dave Myers, Joanna Connor, Magic Slim, Mathew Skoller, Tad Robinson, Eomot RaSun, Billy Branch, Roy Hytower, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm  w/special guest from St. Louis, Oliver Sain 
BluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBlues
Saturday
Howard & The White Boys, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Eddy Clearwater,  Willie King, Alberta Adams, Lee Roy Parnell, The Sunnyland Slim Memorial Piano Set  featuring Pinetop Perkins & Ike Turner, Eddie King & The Swamp Bees, Homesick James w/Robert Stroger and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Mel Waiters , Otis Rush 
BluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBlues
Sunday
Jimmy McCracklin, Irma Thomas, Lucky and James Peterson, Boozoo Chavis Tribute  featuring the Majic Sounds, Holmes Bros, Son Seals,  C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band 
BluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBluesBlues

Chicago Blues Festival Links

Subscribe to the Newsletter
Name
Email

Previous Articles

About.com Special Features

The Best Top 40 Pop Songs

Is your favorite song on our list? More >

New TV Dramas

Get a jump on all the new dramas coming soon to your living room. More >