Shemekia Copeland, Billy Branch and Ronnie Baker Brooks to headline 2022 Chicago Blues Festival
Blues stars Shemekia Copeland, Billy Branch, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Eric Gales are among the Millennium Park headliners at this year’s revamped Chicago Blues Festival, presented by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. WDCB is again a media sponsor for this year’s event, which will present four days of music - Thursday, June 9 through Sunday, June 12 - on stages both in and beyond Chicago’s Millennium Park. WDCB’s “Blues Time” host Tom Marker will again serve as the primary festival emcee all weekend long at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
The fest’s geographical footprint at Millennium Park itself is slightly reduced this year, with just three stages operating, while simultaneous all day blues events will expand the fest in a different way, bringing the music directly to Chicago’s West side Austin neighborhood on Saturday and the South side Bronzeville neighborhood on Sunday. In another unique twist, there will be festival sets on Chicago’s Riverwalk (Thursday & Friday) and at the Maxwell Street Market on Sunday.
WDCB will add to the excitement of blues fest week with two live blues radio broadcasts on Tuesday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 8. Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues will be the featured performer during WDCB’s Bluesday Tuesday show hosted by Tom Marker at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn on June 7 from 7 to 10pm, with the first hour broadcast live on WDCB. On June 8 from 7 to 8pm, WDCB will feature a live performance and radio broadcast from PianoForte Studios in Chicago, hosted by Leslie Keros and featuring Chicago blues piano ace Roosevelt Purifoy.
TUESDAY, JUNE 7
WDCB Bluesday Tuesday
FitzGerald's - 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn
7pm - Billy Branch & the Sons of the Blues
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8
WDCB Live Broadcast
90.9FM & streaming online at WDCB.org
7-8pm - Roosevelt Purifoy, hosted by Leslie Keros
2022 Chicago Blues Festival
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
2:55pm - Tribute to Erwin Helfer and his Boogie Woogie Ensemble with Skinny Williams, Davide Illardi, Katherine Davis, John Brumbach and Lou Marini
4:30pm - Jamiah Rogers
5:15pm - Joanna Connor
6:30pm - Toronzo Cannon
7:45pm - Shemekia Copeland (pictured)
Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (North Promenade)
12pm - Linsey Alexander
1:15pm - Robert Kimbrough, Sr.
2:30pm - The Keeshea Pratt Band
3:45pm - Eddie Cotton
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade)
12pm–9pm - Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa's Lounge home over the last 38 years.
Blues on the Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk, Confluence - 305 West Riverwalk South (located between Orleans and Lake Street)
12pm - Harmonica Hinds Duo
5pm - Vino Louden Duo
FRIDAY, JUNE 10
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
2:55pm - Tribute to Bob Stroger & Friends with special guest, Sam Burckhardt with Billy Flynn, Kenny Smith, Rockin Eddie, Sam B and One Take Willie
4:30pm - Emerging Artist - Joey J. Saye
5:15pm - Thornetta Davis
6:30pm - The Mike Wheeler Band
7:45pm - Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues (pictured)
Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (North Promenade)
12pm - Nora Jean Wallace
1:15pm - Lucious Spiller
2:30pm - Grady Champion
3:45pm - Ms. Jody
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade)
11am–9pm - Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa's Lounge home over the last 38 years.
Blues on the Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk, Confluence - 305 West Riverwalk South (located between Orleans and Lake Street)
12pm - Gerry Hundt
5pm - Fruteland Jackson
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
2:55pm - Chicago Soul Tribute to Gene Barge, Cicero Blake & Willie Henderson featuring Willie Henderson's Big Bad Blues Band with special guests Ruby Andrews, Samota Acklin, Theresa Davis, Joe Barr and Willie White
4:30pm - Nick Alexander
5:15pm - Melody Angel
6:30pm - Rico McFarland
7:45pm - Ronnie Baker Brooks (pictured)
Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (North Promenade)
12pm - JW Williams
1:15pm - Dexter Allen
2:30pm - Keith Johnson & The Big Muddy Band
3:45pm - Cedric Burnside
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade)
11am–9pm - Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa's Lounge home over the last 38 years.
Taste to Go featuring Soul City Blues
5720 W Chicago Ave
12:00pm - Mzz Reese
1:20pm - Joe Pratt and The Source One Band
2:40pm - Mary Lane and The No Static Blues Band
4:00pm - Tail Dragger
5:20pm - Demetria Taylor
6:40pm - Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
SUNDAY, JUNE 12
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
2:55pm - Women in Blues with a special tribute to Mary Lane featuring special guests, Peaches Staten, Shirley Johnson, Sheryl Youngblood, Demetria Taylor, Nora Jean Wallace, Laretha Weathersby, Anne Harris and Donna Herula. Hosted by Lynne Jordan.
4:30pm - Ivy Ford
5:15pm - Annika Chambers
6:30pm - The Kinsey Report
7:45pm - Eric Gales (pictured)
Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (North Promenade)
12pm - Lurrie Bell
1:15pm - Johnny Rawls
2:30pm - Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band
3:45pm - Mr. Sipp
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade)
11am–9pm - Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa's Lounge home over the last 38 years.
Bronzeville Blues
Armstrong (Lillian Hardin) Park - 4433 S St Lawrence Ave
12:00pm - Michael Damani
1:20pm - Melody Angel
2:40pm - Freddie Dixon’s Chicago Blues Allstars
4:00pm - Vance Kelly and the Backstreet Blues Band
5:20pm - Big James
6:40pm - Mud Morganfield featuring Billy Branch, Freddie Dixon, Big James, Vance Kelly, Melody Angel with backing musicians, Bob Stroger, Harmonica Hinds, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, Rick Kreher, and Sumito “Ariyo” Ariyoshi
Maxwell Street Market - 800 S Desplaines St
11am - Donna Herula & Harlan Terson Duo (2 sets)
*Schedule & Times Subject To Change
For more details, visit the Chicago Blues Fest website: ChicagoBluesFestival.us.
