I’m not going to feign expertise here, my knowledge of blues music consists entirely of playing Clapton’s version of “Crossroads” in Guitar Hero and watching the last five minutes of Blues Brothers 2000 (sorry, I’m a metalhead). I do know music festivals, though, and even in a city like Chicago, where it seems there’s a festival for every day of the year, a magnanimous event like the Chicago Blues Festival stands out.
For one thing, it’s one of the largest blues festivals in the world. For another, it’s free!
Every June, a veritable battalion of blues performers, both up-and-comers and legends, descend on Chicago’s Grant Park for three or four days of proud, soulful blues that never fails to get the audience moving. And that’s no small audience: in 2007, the festival attracted more than 800,000 across all four days. Although the event has scaled back to three days in 2009, an attendance of nearly 650,000 is expected, so the time to lock up those hotel reservations is now.
Naturally, the Chicago Blues Festival is a fantastic place to hear Chicago blues, a distinct offshoot of Delta blues formed on the back of electric guitar and bass. Many performers of the style – Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, Little Walter – are considered among the most influential blues musicians ever, profoundly affecting not only American music, but also British acts such as the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, Cream and so many others. Arguably, without the Chicago blues scene, the music of today would be wildly different.
It’s not just Chicago blues at this shindig, however. Since the original festival in 1984, the roster of styles has expanded year over year to include soul, jazz, blues-rock, even funk, ensuring something for the blues fan of any measure. The list of styles comes with an equally impressive live of performers. Past greats to take the stage include B. B. King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Lonnie Brooks, Memphis Slim and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
If you’re not convinced yet, there’s no chance you will be. It’s massive, it’s packed with legends, and it’s absolutely free – what else do you need?
The 2009 Chicago Blues Festival will be held from June 12-14, 2009 at Grant Park on the Waterfront, east of the Chicago Loop. There is no admittance fee to any of the six performance stages. Learn more about this exciting weekend of music here.
Traveling in? Consider a stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown – Magnificent Mile. It’s a fine hotel along the famous Magnificent Mill for less than you’d usually pay in the neighborhood, and if you’d like a workout, you can certainly walk to the event grounds from the property (about 1.5 miles).
Have fun!
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One Comment
Hi, I am from Millennium Garages (Four garages under Millennium and Grant Park) and you shouldn’t be the ones singing the blues when it comes to parking at this year’s Blues Fest.
Parking for only $25 at the Millennium Park and East Monroe garages should be music to your ears with easy-in/easy-out access right under all the action. For directions, check out millenniumgarages.com or call 312.616.0600.
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