Chicago Blues Festival

When the Hubs found out that the Chicago Blue Festival was happening on the very same weekend we were visiting we made a point of adding it to our agenda. What’s better on a beautiful day in Chicago than some true blues music? We stopped by each of the stages (there are three total) and took in the talent; there were some truly passionate and talented people performing. We both remarked that if we lived in Chicago we would have brought a blanket and a cooler and found a nice grassy spot. What an awesome way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I’ve been going to Blues Fest for… for-​ever, I guess. The weather always seems to be a bit «iffy,» often cold, rainy or both. But the blues is about getting through tough times, isn’t it?
This year, it was pouring rain, but warm, when Buddy Guy came out to play his set. Damn right, we had the blues! From our umbrellas to our shoes! When BB King was still alive (may he & Lucille RIP), you could argue who was the most legendary blues man in the world. Now there’s no debate that he lives in Chicago. And what a performance he gave! At 78, he still puts a lot of twenty– or thirty-​something bands to shame with the energy, humor and honesty of his shows.
But that was just Buddy this year. I wasn’t able to attend the fest other than Saturday night, but I don’t doubt at all that the other Petrillo main stage events were excellent. And often the smaller stages during the day are even better, with their intimate feeling & people getting up to dance when they feel like it.
Don’t bring any alcohol here, or it will be taken away by a vigilant bag-​checker on the way in. Then again, if you’re mellow enough and discreet, some liquids pass for others, and no one will know the difference. If you can’t handle those liquids… Luckily for the rest of us, the Darwin effect lives on.

This year I only got to see a two acts this year, Shamika Copeland and the one and only, Buddy Guy. Shamika was hot as hell. Her voice was strong and clear. Two standouts for me was Lemon Pie and Married to the Blues. Buddy is a legend and if you haven’t seen him try to take in a show sometime. He rocked with, Meet Me in Chicago, and his version of Cream’s Strange Brew was pretty surprising. Buddy got into some Jimmy Hendrix style stuff and even play his guitar with his ass. Yeah, your read that right. If you sit farther back on the grass, large monitors allow you to take in the stage action.
Blues Fest is amazing. It’s a good weekend of both acoustic and electric blues, perfectly set on our beautiful lakefront. My wish list would be more food stands with more variety, and cheaper beer. Twelve bucks for a can of Stella? C’mon. Also, this year it poured buckets right before Buddy came out. WXRT’s Tom Marker let everyone know that Buddy would be on as soon as the lighting stopped. So here we are, hundreds of folks sitting in Grant Park with umbrellas, or do you call them lighting rods? A plus of the fest is that it’s surrounded by Chicago’s downtown skyline. The fest is free so I guess I can suck up paying twelve bucks for Stella. Blues Fest is one of the summer-​in-​Chicago things you have to do.

This was free and it was fun… Didn’t hurt that it was a gorgeous day. We were staying right across from the park so when we found out it was going on we had to pop over, twice!
There were a handful of stages, mostly free shows… However, I think you had to pay to be seated for the performances in the grandstand area. All sorts of local food vendors there. Beer tent, souvineer tent, and a few other tents pertaining to jazz music.
Fun place to visit in the Summer! Would definitely visit again!

This was our first year attending the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park but certainly won’t be our last. Admittance is free and there are multiple stages of simultaneous performances. We really enjoyed the shaded comfort of the bigger stages like Bud and Pepsi but enjoyed the music at the smaller less comfortable stages the best. We spent most of our time at the Mississippi stage.

My boyfriend and I road tripped from Minnesota to attend blues fest for our birthdays. I had such a great time, its held in Grant park by Buckingham fountain and «the bean’. I love that the event was free to everyone but not a lot to chose from as far as food. Next time we go we’ll just pack up a cooler. I did get some mustard fried catfish which was the best catfish I’ve ever had. We laid out a blanket and listened it was a very nice experience.

I have always been a fan of Bluesfest, but did not get a chance to go this year and I blame the poor planning by the organizers. There was a line almost 2 blocks long (literally) and they only had one entrance with two to three people security people checking bags. I was not about to wait in that line…
They blamed the conseal and carry law, but you knew that was in effect well before the festival so you should have been prepared by hiring more people. I’m sure attendance will be down this year. Hmm wonder why…
Next year try not to be so cheap and hire more security so people don’t have to wait in line for hours to get into the event.

It was beautiful this past weekend to have had enjoyed the festival.
Great Blues Bands played throughout the park.
Will definitely be back next year.

there were about 5 stages of music! lots of fun and food tents! bring chairs and blankets. security checks cooler and purses so hid your beer cans under pop cans! the best part of the festivals is that its FREE!!! lots of family and people of all ages!

Atmosphere: Entry is free! Roll out a blanket and bring snacks and water to avoid the high prices at the fest. No alcohol unless you know how to smuggle it in.
When did I go?: Late Saturday afternoon.
What did I do?: Enjoyed the music and brought in my own food and drinks to share with everyone.
Go again?: Heck yeah! It’s free and if you don’t like the music at least you can people-​watch. Would be even better if it was BYOB w/​o glass containers.

What is better than free blues in one of the greatest Blues cities in the world. This is something that Chicago does well. Great location and a great mix of people all coming together along the beautiful lakefront.
I was blown away by Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials! I’ve been wanting to see these guys for several years now and was very impressed. You cannot help but get into this music when you are standing mere feet away from the stage while these guys wail. Simply amazing.
A few years back I caught another amazing act called the Lee Boys. Every year features amazing artists. There is such a positive vibe going on here that I’ve never seen any problems usually associated with large crowds.
My only gripe is the lack of real beer choices. Bud products were about it. Better idea might be to pregame a little before hand.

This was the reason we traveled to Chicago. Well, my family was going to be there, and I wanted to see them, and the festival sounded fun. And it was! Great location and we managed to snag spots under trees at both stages that we visited. I was surprised to see cops checking bags at the entrances on Saturday, as they didn’t on Friday. The musicians were great and the crowds and performers were into it!
Like all events, the beers were pricey, but in the near 90 degree heat, I wouldn’t care how much they cost… I sucked those babies down. There were great, affordable food booths (catfish was delish and the peach cobbler was inhaled in one breath), lots of booths giving away free swag (if you are into that) and port-​a-​potties everywhere you turned. All in all, a really fun, well-​planned event.

Chicago + Blues + Food = Happiness.
There are many food vendors from all over the city. You can smoke, drink, and eat to your heart’s content at this annual weekend event. It was a great time.
We witnessed Shemekia Copeland get crowned the Queen of the Blues this year after Coco Taylor’s death a couple of years ago.
Make sure you make it out to this if you ever visit Chicago.

Chicago and Blues. Great stuff. This is such a great fest with top notch acts that it makes it the premier Blues fest for the price (free) in the country. I love going back to this fest every year… It’s like an old friend that you see after a year and connect with again.
The only complaint I have is the beer. Good god, Bud and Bud Light? I realize they are sponsers and help make the fest free but, wow, that stuff is terrible. Moreover, the size of the beers are getting smaller and the price is getting higher. I know they have Stella too but still, not very good. As a result, I don’t drink here because of the poor beer offerings.
Back to the music. Saw Shemeika this year and her coronation as Queen of the Blues. She followed that with a very good set at the Petrillo shell. Looking forward to next year. Thank you Chicago!

This was my first time at the BluesFest, despite being a native and visiting Chicago many times. I never really appreciated the blues as a kid, despite growing up on the South Side of Chicago. Lord knows I knew about the blues. And not just as an observer. I was into «soul» music back then. As I grew older, I appreciated the blues and grew to love it even more than the popular soul music of my youth.
I just moved back to Chicago after a very long, grueling and tedious 16 year stint in Santa Monica, CA. But that’s another story. I now live in the neighborhood that I chose, without concern for someone else, what anyone else wants or what they need. It’s very liberating. So, along with that, I also choose what I want to do. What a concept! This may not make sense to a lot of people, but those who have experienced this know what I am talking about. If you don’t, then good for you. All of this unnecessary back story explains how in the hell I could have possibly missed one of the world’s best and free public music festivals available.
As I started the trek down Jackson toward Grant Park, I could hear a bluesman at the entrance, welcoming everyone. By the time I got to the casually barricaded entrance, I could hear who I thought was Eric «Guitar» Davis on the Windy City Blues Stage. After the kindly cops (and I do mean that) checked my bag at the entrance, I couldn’t believe how quickly I walked past that «gate,» if you can even call it that.
I immediately got me a t-​shirt, to get that out of the way. Delighted to find one I really liked for as little as $ 10, I scurried on over to get some tix and grab a bite at Robinson’s No.1 Ribs. What else would I eat at a BluesFest? A pulled pork sandwich just seemed like the right thing to be eating. I found a place curbside at the Windy City Blues Society Stage just in time for the Cashbox Kings. I caught some of Willie «Big Eyes» Smith before I scrambled over to see Muddy Waters’ son in the Mud Morganfield Band at the Pepsi Front Porch.
I found myself catching Jeannie Holiday w/​Ronnie Hicks & Masheen Company Band who were just off the chain at the Bud Light Crossroads Stage. Ronnie Hicks opened the show, featuring sax solos by Ayako Minami that could just blow you away. The band performed their own music, plus covers of everyone from Michael Jackson to a little bit o’ Kanye West. Jeannie Holiday has an extraordinary ability to communicate with her audience, in a candid and very personal, interactive way. By the time Theo Huff came on, the crowd was pumpin’ pretty good. Dressed to the nines in a light pink suit and hat with two fabulous back up singers, he channeled Johnnie Taylor in an R&B flavored set that could rouse the dead — featuring a thrilling old-​school vibe in a very fresh, contemporary setting.
As if that weren’t enough, by the time I got to see Shemekia Copeland, Lonnie Brooks and the rest of the Alligator Records 40^th Anniversary clan at the Petrillo Music Shell — I honestly almost didn’t know what to do with myself. Let’s just say I knew I would have to soak my feet when I got home!
Having seen the great Koko Taylor twice in my life — once in San Juan Capistrano in California — the other at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica where I last lived, it was great to see her Foundation’s presence there.
I marveled at how, despite the magnitude of this event, everyone was so courteous and kind. There was nothing stampede-​like about it. Everyone was just out having a wonderful time! Plenty of room to pull up a chair or put down a blanket and just enjoy the day. That is — if you can keep from dancin’ (which I couldn’t)! I cannot wait to go again! Next year, I’m goin’ to all three days, for sure!
These descriptions are just what I was able to catch on Sunday. There was a lot more going on, and there was something for everyone!
If you love the blues or any form of soul music, this is a «not to be missed» event. If you are planning a visit to Chicago and can arrange to be here during BluesFest, I highly encourage that you do that! If it is food you’re after, you can find everything from Chicago style pizza to Ribs. This is, by far, the Disneyland of Blues Festivals. There were many people from different cities, states and countries that found their way to this massive cultural event. I heard accents and languages as diverse as from Australia to Norway and Tokyo.
Best part of all, it’s FREE — which is hard to believe. Proving, once again, that the really best things in life are. And one thing is for sure. After being at this festival, my soul was nourished. This festival is a lot more than just a celebration of the Blues — it’s a celebration of life.

Nothing quite like grazing through food vendors and listening to live music with a couple hundred thousand of your closest friends. Chicago’s Finest are there in plentiful numbers but they are very lowkey. Just there in case the guy next to you has one too many and starts a fight.
The festival itself is free, but they make it back and then some with the food sales. All purchases are with tickets, and you get 12 50¢ tickets for $ 8. So they are keeping $ 2 out of every $ 8 that you spend just to «cover the amenities». Beers are about 11 tickets, sodas are 5 tickets for a 20oz, bottled water is 4 tickets for a half liter. Most of the good grub (pizza slices, pulled pork sandwiches, tempura, funnel cakes) will set you back 10 – 12 tickets. Several vendors have smaller portions for cheaper prices to give you a chance to sample lots of different things.
Lines aren’t too bad, and if the weather is good you won’t mind anyway.
Some of the musical acts are as traditional blues as you can get. You can almost feel like it was a coinflip whether the performer was going to play the gig or stab himself in the neck. But they mix in some more modern stuff that really doesn’t seem to qualify as blues but I guess the kids like it. In my mind, blues isn’t meant to be shouted, but maybe I’m just getting crotchety in my old age.
All in all, a good time for the music, the people-​watching, the food, and the chance to be away from all the trappings of a society that’s gotten itself in a big damn hurry.

Updating my Blues review.
The crowd this year was thin, but the musical guests were very good.
My favorite things were watching five cougars share a joint. They had enough and donated it to a young gentleman, I love the sharing.
My favorite blues song on Saturday had the chorus, «pussy stink, but so do marijuana.» While this may not be genius, it sure is fun to sing along to.
A few old timers were there strutting their stuff, each year a little slower.
Remember folks, sneak in your own beer, your own food, your own smoke, and the Blues Festival is by far the most fun at the lake front.
What to make it better? Move it down to Cottage grove, maybe in Washington park or Bronzeville. Make it hard core nitty gritty. It doesn’t seem to have the backing of its people anymore, too bad.

Hello, FOOD SNOB here.
This was my first Blues Fest, and I got to say, it was nice to walk around without bumping in to people. Such is the case at the Taste of Chicago. Took my folding chair on my back and sat wherever I wanted.
After I had what I thought was the only beer, Budweiser, I seen hidden in the back was Stella Artoise Beer. Food was good. They had, Pizza, Ribs, Oriental, Cajun, and the old Chi-​town staple, Billy Goat Burgers.
No charge to enter but then food and drink is not cheap. As is usually the case Downtown.
If you like Blues Music the bands were Awesome!

What could be better than a festival devoted to blues in one of the blues capitals of the world? A blues festival on one of the largest green spaces in the world, Grant Park. But what’s one layer of better still? A blues festival that you can actually hear.
There are certain advantages to turning the lakefront into the world’s largest blues club. For one thing those who partake in various things that emit smoke (including of course some of the artists), you’re free to do so. Even if those things are technically not legal (and the blues is a music that references these things) it seriously took a couple in a domestic dispute mud wrestling/​slap fighting to draw a police presence. And another advantage is that if you want food (and there are even a couple of BBQ joints — albeit on the ticket system that has now spread to all Grant Park festivals) there are small waits.
But something is lost with seeing such an intimate music in this setting; at least at Bluesfest. I saw Bonnie Raitt play Taste of Chicago and it was fine with the clear, loud sound bringing out the lovely urgency in her voice. But for some reason this festival chooses to not use the back speakers at the Petrillo and the sound is just a jumbled mess.
I saw a couple of bands on smaller stages (and there are a good number of them) and the sound was flawless. This makes the fest a good place to sit in the early summer sun and maybe have a few beers while listening to smaller acts. But who goes just to do that?
The answer to that is, actually, pretty much everybody. There are some seriously drunk and disorderly people at Bluesfest there for the party. It’s definitely the best time for people watching of the summer festivals. If only it wasn’t so good for people listening. A few people want to hear the artists!

This was my first Chicago Blues Fest. It’s FREE! Unbelievable with the number of stages and acts going on over the course of 4 days. I only spent Friday there, but loved it.
I didn’t drink but the food selection was diverse and I thought reasonably priced. Since it was early in the weekend the portopots weren’t so bad either.