Chicago Bluegrass And Blues Fest Kicks Off This Weekend
By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 19, 2012 7:40PM
The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival started out as a humble one-day show back in 2008 and has grown steadily since, attracting with each installment more performers and fans who want to support and celebrate roots music. So it’s no surprise that the fest is returning for its fourth year with its most impressive lineup yet, and the whole thing kicks off this weekend.
Along with a variety of more traditional bluegrass and blues performers, the fest features an array of contemporary acts inspired by roots music and culture. It’s grown to such proportions that it’s been split into two days.
The first is this Saturday at Auditorium Theater, featuring jam band the Del McCoury Band, mandolinist David Grisman, Bill Nershi from String Cheese Incident, and Jeff Austin from Yonder Mountain, among a long list of others. The fest’s second night is next Saturday at Congress Theater. Headlining will be alt-country foot-stompers Drive-By Truckers, as well as Dawes and local folkie Joe Pug.
In other CBBF news, the fest's Last Banjo Standing contest has come to a close and the winners, who scored stage time at the event, have been announced. So you can add to the lineup Uncle Zesty’s Oldtime Bootknockers, Chasing Shade, The New Old Calvary, The Big Hit, and The Dirty Pigeons. Take a look at the full lineup after the jump. You may find the sheer number of acts pretty overwhelming, but you can head over to CBBF’s site to create your own custom schedule.
Saturday, Jan. 21 at Auditorium Theater
Main Stage
2:45-3:45 Majors Junction
4:00-5:00 Henhouse Prowlers
5:15-6:15 The Giving Tree Band
6:30-7:30 Joe Purdy
7:45-8:45 David Grisman Quintet
9:00-10:00 Del McCoury Band
10:15-11:00 The Big Mon Jam (a tribute to Bill Monroe) w/ the Del McCoury Band & David Grisman Quintet
11:15-12:00 The Bluegrass Ball Jam w/ The Travelin' McCourys, Bill Nershi from String Cheese Incident, Jeff Austin from Yonder Mountain
Lobby Stage
2:00-2:45 Chasing Shade
3:30-4:00 Jonas Friddle
4:45-5:15 Uncle Zesty’s Oldtime Bootknockers
6:00- 6:30 The New Old Calvary
7:15-7:45 Chasing Shade
8:30-9:00 Jonas Friddle
9:45-10:15 Uncle Zesty’s Oldtime Bootknockers
10:45-11:15 The New Old Calvary
Saturday, Jan. 28 at Congress Theater
Main Stage
5:00-5:30 The Dirty Pigeons
6:00-6:30 Van Ghost
7:00-7:45 Bailiff
8:45-9:30 Joe Pug
10:00-11:00 Dawes
11:30-1:30 Drive-By Truckers
Lobby Stage
5:00-5:45 Michele McGuire
6:00-6:45 Paper Thick Walls
7:00-7:45 Band Called Catch
8:00-8:45 The Future Laureates
9:00-9:45 Ben Ripani Music Co.
10:00-10:45 Jon Drake & The Shakes
11:00-11:45 Great Divide
Balcony Stage
6:30-7:00 The Big Hit
8:00-8:30 Go Long Mule
11:00-11:30 The Shams Band