Guy, Waters, Dixon Will Be Fêted At Chicago Blues Fest
By Selena Fragassi in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 24, 2015 8:35PM
Muddy Waters photo provided by DCASE
Three icons of Chicago blues will be spotlighted at the 32nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival, headed to Grant Park from June 12-14. Recent Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Buddy Guy will headline Saturday June 13 before the festival closes out with a special centennial concert honoring Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon who would have been 102 and 100, respectively, this year.
“Dixon’s music and lyrics and Waters’ electric guitar are the nexus that transformed the Delta blues into the Chicago sound. Together they have influenced generations of musicians like the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry and countless other blues, jazz and rock-n-roll artists,” said a statement by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events that produces the annual festival with the City of Chicago.
Chicago soul man Syl Johnson and local powerhouse Zora Young will also perform at the Petrillo Music Shell over the three-day span as will Billy Branch, The Taj Mahal Trio, Toronzo Cannon, Clarence Carter, Big Bill Morganfield, Bud Morganfield and Bobby and Alex Dixon.
Three day stages supplement the activity with early appearances by local and national acts, including “Blues in the Schools” with Stone Academy and a “round robin” for the Class of 1915’s Honey Boy Edwards, Brownie McGhee and Johnny Shines. There will also be detailed panel discussions beginning at 11:30 a.m. daily. On Friday, producer and blues scholar Richard Shurman discusses “100 Years of Blues Greatness: Honoring Distinguished Centennials.” Saturday’s topic is the “Essence of Soul Blues” with Mississippi Blues Trail developer Alex Thomas and soul musician Johnny Rawls and Sunday is devoted to discourse on Waters and Dixon ahead of the special performance. Check out the full schedule below.
The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues music festival in the world, welcoming more than 500,000 fans each year. Grant Park will be open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily and headliners at the Petrillo Music Shell start at 6 p.m. Friday June 12 and 5 p.m. Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
6 p.m. Zora Young
7:05 p.m. Clarence Carter
8:25 p.m. Syl Johnson
BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15 a.m. Quintus McCormick
12:45 p.m. Mary Lane
2:30 p.m. Charlie Love
4:15 p.m. Nellie Tiger Travis
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI RHYTHM & BLUES STAGE
11:30 a.m. Panel Discussion with Richard Shurman - “100 Years of Blues Greatness: Honoring Distinguished Centennials”
1:00 p.m. Scott Albert Johnson
2:30 p.m. Jj Thames
4 p.m. John Primer
5:30 p.m. Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith Jam Session
PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
Noon Blues In The Schools with Stone Academy, Eric Noden, Katherine Davis
1:30 p.m. Studebaker John and the Maxwell Street Kings
3 p.m. Andy T. and Nick Nixon Band
4:30 p.m. Eddie Shaw & The Wolfgang
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
5:30 p.m. Toronzo Cannon
6:30 p.m. Taj Mahal Trio
8:05 p.m. Buddy Guy
BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
“The Next Generation”
11:15 a.m. Jamiah On Fire and the Red Machine
12:45 p.m. Marquise Knox
2:30 p.m. Jarekus Singleton
4:15 p.m. Shawn Holt & The Tear Drops
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI RHYTHM AND BLUES STAGE
11:30 a.m. Panel Discussion - “Essence of Soul Blues: with Alex Thomas and Johnny Rawls
1 p.m. The House Rockers
2:30 p.m. Vickie Baker
4 p.m. Johnny Rawls
5:30 p.m. Jam Session
PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
Noon Austin Walk’n Cane
1:30 p.m. Lurrie Bell
3 p.m. Paul Oscher Trio
4:30 p.m. Cash Box Kings
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
5 p.m. Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues with special guest Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
6:20 p.m. Willie Dixon Centennial Tribute featuring Billy Branch, Keshia Dixon, Tomiko Dixon, Bobby Dixon, Freddie Dixon, Alex Dixon, Cash McCall, Sugar Blue, John Watkins and Andrew Blaze Thomas
8:05 p.m. Muddy Water’s Centennial Tribute featuring Bob Margolin, Mud Morganfield, Big Bill Morganfield, John Primer, Rick Kreher, Bob Stroger, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, E.G. McDaniel, Barrelhouse Chuck, Jerry Portnoy and Paul Oscher
BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15 a.m. Chick Rodgers
12:45 p.m. Holle Thee Maxwell
2:30 p.m. Blues Shaking the Fields
4:15 p.m. John Nemeth
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI RHYTHM AND BLUES STAGE
11:30 a.m. Panel Discussion- Muddy Waters & Willie Dixon
1 p.m. Tawanna Shaunte
2:30 p.m. Tonya Boyd Cannon
4 p.m. Patrice Moncell
5:30 p.m. Blues Jam Session with Dexter Allen
PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
Celebrating Centennials 1915-2015
Noon Celebrating Centennials of 1915 -2015: Honey Boy Edwards, Brownie McGhee and Johnny Shines, a Round Robin with Bill Sims, Jr., Paul Kaya, and others
1:30 p.m. Paul Kaye Trio
3 p.m. M.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio
4:30 p.m. Heritage Blues Orchestra Quartet