Millennium Park, Michigan Ave. & Columbus Ave.

Sunday, June 8 – Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 3:30–3:45 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
• 3:45–5 p.m. – Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation presents 75th Anniversary of Chess Records
• 5:15–6:15 p.m. – C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band
• 6:30–7:30 p.m. – Lurrie Bell and Frank Catalano
• 7:45–9 p.m. – Mavis Staples

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

• Noon–1:15 p.m. – Stevie J and The Blues Eruption
• 1:30–2:45 p.m. – Nellie “Tiger” Travis
• 3–4:15 p.m. – Jonathan Ellison
• 4:30–5:45 p.m. – Ms. Jody

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

• 12:30–1:45 p.m. – Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport with Johnny Iguana
• 2–3:15 p.m. – Jimmy Burns Band
• 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Nick Alexander Blues Band
• 5–6:15 p.m. – Sonia Astacio
• 6:30–7:45 p.m. – 3 by 3 Crew: Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice Vaughn with Tim Taylor

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues

• 11–11:45 a.m. – Wiggleworms featuring Amanda Payne & Will Fancher of Old Town School of Folk Music
• Noon–12:45 p.m. – Fernando Jones Presents the Knott Us Band
• 1–1:45 p.m. – Kenwood Academy High School
• 2–2:45 p.m. – Nicholas Senn High School
• 3–4 p.m. – A Patch of Blues

Sunday, June 8 – Maxwell Street Blues Series

Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.

• 10–11 a.m. – DJ James Porter
• 11 a.m.–noon – Marty “Big Dog” Mercer Duo
• Noon–12:30 p.m. – Change-over + DJ James Porter
• 12:30–1:30 p.m. – Omar Coleman Westside Soul
• 1:30–2 p.m. – Change-over + DJ James Porter
• 2–3 p.m. – Harmonica Hinds Duo

Jimmy Burns – It Ain’t Right

Jimmy Burns – It Ain’t Right
Delmark DE 841 (2015)
Compact Disc

A walk in the Delta with sanctified swagger, It Ain’t Right is a joyous culmination and testimonial to Jimmy’s vocal talent and musical gifts. Relevant and inspiring, these songs are loaded with a great sense of collective purpose. Other musicians may cover a tune, but his clear and soulful message and individual approach make any song directly his own, and Jimmy Burns our musical treasure. Jimmy is accompanied by his working band Anthony Palmer, guitar; Greg McDaniel, bass: Bryant “T” Parker, drums; with additional support from Sumito “Ariyo” Ariyoshi, piano; Roosevelt Purifoy, organ; Marques Carroll, trumpet; Chris Neal, tenor sax; Aaron Getsug, baritone sax. 15 songs include two new originals from Billy Flynn. Produced by Dick Shurman.

Jimmy Burns – Leaving Here Walking – DELMARK RECORDS

Jimmy Burns – Leaving Here Walking

Jimmy Burns – Leaving Here Walking
Delmark DE 694 (1996)

Jimmy Burns, Born in 1943 near the Delta town of Dublin, Mississippi, embodies that increasingly rare combination of blues roots deep enough to tap into ‘the real thing’, while still possessing the youth and vitality to present his music with plenty of life and real excitement. He honed his vocal skills singing with vocal groups in the ’50s, and over the years has perfected an appealingly melodic, vocal-inflected contemporary guitar style to complement the down-home picking he’d learned in his youth.

In the studio, Jimmy and his regular band played off one another with a musical empathy that comes only from countless nights of proving themselves on the bandstand. With Leaving Here Walking, Jimmy pays tribute to his earliest musical inspirations, revisits the era of classic R&B, and presents well-crafted originals covering all the facets of his long and varied life in music.

Lurrie Bell – Mercurial Son

Lurrie Bell – Mercurial Son
Delmark DE 679
Compact Disc (1995)

Lurrie Bell, born in Chicago in 1958, has led a life immersed in the blues. Son of a bluesman and an original member of the Sons of Blues with Freddie Dixon and Billy Branch, Lurrie has never been mercurial about his devotion to the blues. This is Lurrie’s first recording as a leader, featuring special guest Big Time Sarah.

Lurrie Bell – Blues In My Soul

Lurrie Bell – Blues In My Soul
Delmark DE 829
Compact Disc (2013)

One of the greatest living Chicago blues guitarists, Lurrie Bell’s last two CDs have been about stretching him (successfully) to showcase the breadth as well as the magnitude of his art. However for this project he just wanted to get back to the solid foundation of Chicago-styled traditional guitar blues, done with his rare blend of reverence, involvement and individuality and framed largely by his working band. features three Lurrie Bell originals plus covers of songs recorded by Little Walter, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Rogers, Otis Spann, Junior Wells, Big Bill Broonzy and others.

Lurrie Bell, vocals, guitar; Roosevelt Purifoy, piano, organ; Melvin Smith, bass; Willie “The Touch” Hayes, drums; and on six songs – Matthew Skoller, harmonica. Produced by Dick Shurman.

Johnny Iguana – AT DELMARK – IN NOW! – DELMARK RECORDS

“Johnny Iguana sounds like a saloon pianist from the Wild West brought to the future.” American Blues Scene

This new album of Johnny Iguana, tracked on a Sony MCI 2-inch tape machine from the 80’s, is a part of Delmark’s long-standing tradition of historical solo piano releases.
Johnny Iguana, with his love for this music and his long experience keeping alive the different streams of Chicago piano styles since he was chosen (blessed, one is tempted to say) by Junior Wells himself, was the perfect choice for this new piano adventure.

Chicago is where many of the piano styles of the early 20th century merged and coalesced: ragtime, jazz, blues, boogie-woogie, stomps, stride piano and what it was generically called barrelhouse music. In the big music cauldron that Chicago was in the 20’s, all of the above blossomed and were melted and infused into the musical veins of the US and the world.

Without going into the jazz side, let’s start by saying that one of the first albums released by Delmark was Speckled Red’s “The Dirty Dozens”. That album hit the record stores in 1962. Since then, a big part of the blues, boogie-woogie, stomp, barrel-house and even ragtime style that made the history of Chicago piano, has been released on Delmark.

There are several of Roosevelt Sykes’ albums available on Delmark, as well as titles by Memphis Slim, Sunnyland Slim, Aaron Moore, Jelly Roll Morton’s brother-in-law Dink Johnson, Piano Red, The Big DooWopper (who on top of his doo-**** inclinations was also a fantastic source of blues and barrel-house piano), Detroit Junior, Barrelhouse Buck McFarland and Marvin Ash, among others. Otis Spann, the mythological pianists for Muddy Water, is heard on several Delmark albums. Ragtime is present on recordings by Wally Rose, Brun Campbell and Reginald Robinson.
A highly successful piano album on Delmark was “Blues Piano Orgy”, from 1996, featuring recordings by Roosevelt Sykes, Memphis Slim, Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Clarence Lofton, Curtis Jones and the aforementioned Speckled Red.

Biddle Street Barrelhousin’, is a classic Delmark album that lives ups to its title. This is another formidable anthology featuring Henry Brown, James Crutchfield, “Stump” Johnson and Lawrence Henry as well as Speckled Red.
The album “Boogie Woogie Stomp” brings together three top names of boogie-woogie: Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson.

Delmark even dove into the piano rolls of the 20’s to bring to life the music of pianists Jimmy Blythe and Clarence Johnson, on three albums.

The label celebrated its 50th anniversary with an album entitled Masters of the Boogie Piano, featuring some of the top names of the genre, such as Meade “Lux” Lewis, Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson together with Speckled Red, Little Brother Montgomery, but also a very young, new Delmark artist: Ken Saydak.

During many enthusiastic exchanges about the Chicago piano traditions as reflected in Delmark’s catalogue, it was clear that Johnny Iguana plays, lives and even breaths this music, as a practical musician playing the blues with the best of the best, but also as a passionate and dedicated lover of this music.

After the kaleidoscopic experience of “Johnny Iguana: Chicago Spectacular”, the label wanted to follow up with an album that brings to the forefront Johnny’s knowledge, musical experience, brilliancy and formidable chops. Placing him in front of Delmark’s 1917 seven-foot Steinway B and firing up our venerable 24 channel 2-inch Sony tape machine, was just a natural consequence of all of this. Enjoy!

Omar Coleman – Live!

Omar Coleman – Live!
Delmark DE 846
Compact Disc

“We like our blues with a dose of funk, soul and all other kind of stuff”, says Omar Coleman. Eventually these supposedly separate genres run into each other especially with the new generation of blues artists taking over. Even though it was only available for the second half of the year Omar’s Delmark debut Born & Raised (Delmark 840) was #15 on Living Blues magazine’s top radio albums of the year. In the LB review of the album, Roger Gatch said, “The album bears the mark of an artist who is appropriately confident in his abilities as a singer, harmonica player and songwriter and who is steeped in the classic blues sounds of his home city yet unafraid to take them in a more contemporary direction. It is a pleasure to hear how his sound continues to mature and evolve.” Live! contains 10 songs recorded live at Rosa’s Lounge.

City of Chicago Announces 2025 Chicago Blues Festival Lineup, June 5–8, Featuring Mavis Staples, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Bobby Rush and More

April 16, 2025

DCASE Communications    dcasepr@cityofchicago.org

Download Photos

Four Days of Free Performances Across the City Including Millennium Park, Ramova Theatre and Maxwell Street

CHICAGO—The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the full lineup and programming highlights for the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival, taking place June 5–8 at Millennium Park and other venues citywide. The largest free blues festival in the world returns for its 41st year with a stellar lineup of local legends, international stars, and rising talent, continuing Chicago’s legacy as the world capital of the blues. This year’s festivities kick off with a special opening night concert and panel discussions at the newly restored Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport, followed by three days of performances across four stages in Millennium Park, plus a Sunday afternoon blues showcase at the historic Maxwell Street.

“The Blues Festival is a true celebration of our city’s deep-rooted musical heritage,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From Millennium Park to Maxwell Street, this festival honors the past, celebrates the present, and nurtures the future of Chicago blues.”

Opening day festivities, co-hosted by WVON 1690, on Thursday, June 5 at Ramova Theatre (3520 S. Halsted St.) include The Blues Sessions with a Living Blues Panel moderated by Dick Shurman, an “Up Close & Personal” conversation with Bobby Rush presented in partnership with The Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter, and a double-bill concert featuring Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues and headliner Bobby Rush.

RSVPs for June 5 will be available online on May 6 at 10 a.m. at ramovachicago.com. This event is free with online RSVP, and subject to venue capacity. Entry is first come, first served. This is a standing room event with some seating available.

For ADA accommodations, please email box@ramovachicago.com.

Headlining this year’s festival at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park are:

• Mavis Staples (Sunday, June 8), the iconic GRAMMY-winning singer and civil rights activist
• Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (Saturday, June 7), a guitar virtuoso and leading voice of the new generation of blues artists
• B.B. King Centennial Tribute (Friday, June 6), featuring Kingfish, D.K. Harrell, and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center

Other festival highlights include:

• A Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle, featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, and more
• Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th anniversary of Chess Records with special music tribute.
• Performances by Lurrie Bell, Latimore, C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, D.K. Harrell, and many others
• The return of the Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage, Rosa’s Lounge Stage, and newly added Next Generation of Blues on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace supported by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation.

The Maxwell Street Blues Series on Sunday, June 8 brings the blues back to its South Side roots with performances by Omar Coleman Westside Soul, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer, Harmonica Hinds, and more.

New this year, DCASE offers support and funding to Blues presenting venues and organizations via the Citywide Blues Community Funding program, which supports free blues performances citywide the week leading up to the Blues Festival. Participating 2025 venues will be shared in the coming weeks.

Back by popular demand, the festival elevates its food options with a Blues-inspired smokehouse experience called “Wally’s BBQ Pit” with delicious BBQ fare and specialty drinks catered by Eleven North Hospitality.

As in previous years, outside alcohol is not allowed for the Chicago Blues Festival, but alcohol may be purchased inside the venue. Before visiting, please be advised of other Prohibited Items at MillenniumPark.org.

For Millennium Park safety and security information, visit the Plan Your Visit page of MillenniumPark.org.

The Chicago Blues Festival is sponsored by partners 90.9fm WDCB, Chicago Jazz Publishing, Chicago Transit Authority, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Millennium Garages, Mississippi Development Authority, Rosa’s Lounge and WVON 1690.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information and a full schedule, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us and follow @ChicagoDCASE on social media.

2025 Chicago Blues Festival Schedule

All performances are free and open to the public. Schedule subject to change.

Thursday, June 5 – Opening Night at Ramova Theatre

Ramova Theatre
3520 S. Halsted St., Bridgeport
Doors open at 3:30 p.m. | Programming 4–11 p.m.
18+ (minors accompanied by their guardian will be admitted)

THE BLUES SESSIONS

• 4–5 p.m. – Living Blues Panel Discussion

Featuring Jim O’Neal, Scott Barretta, Brett Bonner, Bruce Iglauer and Deitra Farr, Moderated by Dick Shurman, Introductions by Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo

• 5:30–6:30 p.m. – Up Close & Personal with Bobby Rush

Moderated by Julia Miller, President/CEO of Delmark Records, Presented with The Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter

DOUBLE-BILL CONCERT PROGRAM

• 7:30–8:30 p.m. – Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues
• 9–10:15 p.m. – Bobby Rush

Friday, June 6 – Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
• 4–5 p.m. – D.K. Harrell
• 5:15–6:15 p.m. – Dawn Tyler Watson
• 6:30–7:15 p.m. – John Primer with Steve Bell
• 7:30–9 p.m. – B.B. King Centennial Tribute
  Featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, D.K. Harrell and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, Co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

• Noon–1:15 p.m. – Lady Adrena and LA Band
• 1:30–2:45 p.m. – Vick Allen featuring the Velvet Soul Band
• 3–4:15 p.m. – Johnny Rawls Soul Review
• 4:30–5:45 p.m. – Eddie Cotton

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

• 12:30–1:45 p.m. – Ivan Singh
• 2–3:15 p.m. – Jamiah “Dirty Deacon” Rogers and the Dirty Church Band
• 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Rico McFarland
• 5–6:15 p.m. – Sheryl Youngblood
• 6:30–7:45 p.m. – The Mike Wheeler Band

Saturday, June 7 – Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
• 4–5:15 p.m. – Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle
  Featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace and Mzz Reese with Jonathan Ellison
• 5:30–6:15 p.m. – Joey J. Saye, Stephen Hull and Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
• 6:30–7:30 p.m. – Latimore
• 7:45–9 p.m. – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

• Noon–1:15 p.m. – 2 Blues for You
• 1:30–2:45 p.m. – Jessie Robinson
• 3–4:15 p.m. – Vickie Baker, The V Souls and The Groove Crew
• 4:30–5:45 p.m. – John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

• 12:30–1:45 p.m. – Stefan Hillesheim Band
• 2–3:15 p.m. – Michael Damani
• 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Lynne Jordan and The Shivers
• 5–6:15 p.m. – Joe Barr and The Platinum Band
• 6:30–7:45 p.m. – Theo Huff

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues

• 11–11:45 a.m. – Wendy & DB
• Noon–12:45 p.m. – Chicago Blues Revival
• 1–1:45 p.m. – Curie Metropolitan High School
• 2–2:45 p.m. – BandWith
• 3–4 p.m. – VanderCook College of Music

Sunday, June 8 – Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 3:30–3:45 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
• 3:45–5 p.m. – Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation presents 75th Anniversary of Chess Records
• 5:15–6:15 p.m. – C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band
• 6:30–7:30 p.m. – Lurrie Bell and Frank Catalano
• 7:45–9 p.m. – Mavis Staples

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

• Noon–1:15 p.m. – Stevie J and The Blues Eruption
• 1:30–2:45 p.m. – Nellie “Tiger” Travis
• 3–4:15 p.m. – Jonathan Ellison
• 4:30–5:45 p.m. – Ms. Jody

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

• 12:30–1:45 p.m. – Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
• 2–3:15 p.m. – Jimmy Burns Band
• 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Nick Alexander Blues Band
• 5–6:15 p.m. – Sonia Astacio
• 6:30–7:45 p.m. – 3 by 3 Crew: Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice Vaughn with Tim Taylor

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues

• 11–11:45 a.m. – Wiggleworms featuring Amanda Payne & Will Fancher of Old Town School of Folk Music
• Noon–12:45 p.m. – Fernando Jones Presents the Knott Us Band
• 1–1:45 p.m. – Kenwood Academy High School
• 2–2:45 p.m. – Nicholas Senn High School
• 3–4 p.m. – A Patch of Blues

Sunday, June 8 – Maxwell Street Blues Series

Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.

• 10–11 a.m. – DJ James Porter
• 11 a.m.–noon – Marty “Big Dog” Mercer Duo
• Noon–12:30 p.m. – Change-over + DJ James Porter
• 12:30–1:30 p.m. – Omar Coleman Westside Soul
• 1:30–2 p.m. – Change-over + DJ James Porter
• 2–3 p.m. – Harmonica Hinds Duo

###

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

Millennium Park
Millennium Park is the #1 attraction in the Midwest and among the top 10 most-visited sites in the U.S. It is also the anchor of an urban cultural campus (Millennium Park Campus) that includes the Chicago Cultural Center, Maggie Daley Park and The Art Institute of Chicago. Millennium Park is located on Michigan Avenue, bordered by Randolph St. to the north, Columbus Dr. to the east and Monroe St. to the south. The Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Plan your visit at MillenniumPark.org; follow us on Facebook (@MillenniumParkChicago), Twitter and Instagram (@Millennium_Park); and join the conversation on social media using #MillenniumPark.

Ramova Theatre
In 1929, Ramova Theatre opened its doors as Bridgeport’s premier movie palace. With an iconic sign and Spanish-inspired architecture, it became the jewel of the neighborhood — a place for people to gather and communities to come together. Now, nearly a century later, the space has returned, reimagined as a 1,800+ person live concert hall, craft brewery partnered with Other Half Brewing, beer garden and grill. Meticulously restored to preserve the architectural heart of the building, Ramova once again lights up Halsted and 35th Street and brings the country’s top performing acts to Bridgeport, alongside educational programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives. For more information, visit https://ramovachicago.com/ or follow @ramovachicago on Instagram and Facebook.