In Pictures: Blues Fest 2009

Johnny Drummer, of Johnny Drummer and the Starliters. (Kate Gardiner/Chicagoist)

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There may only be three chords in a typical blues song - but that was no limit to musical variety this weekend. More than 600,000 people were expected to attended the annual free festival in Grant Park. And no matter what stage (or what club) the house was rocked. The best concert we saw (of the more than 60 acts who performed) was blues icon Bettye LaVette. Now 63, LaVette has been in the music business for more than 45 years, a fact she spent several minutes discussing as she transitioned through her set. Age has not proved a barrier though - LaVette even dropped the mic to sing unaided at some points Saturday night.

But LaVette, and fellow headliner Sharon Jones made us remember the one iconic blues woman who was missing this weekend: Chicago's own Koko Taylor, who died last week at age 80. Taylor's funeral, held on Friday night on the South Side, pulled many of the city's top performers away from the festival to pay their respects - but seemed to have brought renewed fervor to the rest of the weekend's performances. Click here to see the rest of the photos from this weekend's performances.