Blues Fest 2013 Pays Respects To Mississippi Delta
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 24, 2013 4:00PM
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced Shemekia Copeland will headline the first night of the 2013 Chicago Blues Festival June 6. In a first, opening night for Blues Fest will take place at Millennium Park. Opening for Copeland (daughter of the legendary guitarist Johnny Copeland) are guitar prodigy Quinn Sullivan, Blues Kids of America and Jamiah on Fire & The Red Machine.
Blues Fest will shift to Grant Park June 7 with Bobby Rush kicking off a weekend tribute of the blues' journey from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago, where it became electrified. Other highlights of the festival include a salute to Delmark Records, the venerable local blues and jazz label celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and a centennial tribute to blues piano icon Pinetop Perkins.
The full lineup for the June 6-9 festival will be announced later this spring.