MIDWEST BLUES BEAT

by Eric Steiner



It’s Blues Festival Time!

    Summer’s here and it’s blues festival time.  While I’m a big fan of
late-night blues jams in nightclubs or taverns, thereís something real
special about a blues festival.  There are several local music festivals that
belong on Midwest BEAT readersí calendars, and perhaps best of all, many of
them are free.   That’s right, free.  A dream come true if there ever was
one.  This month, I’d like to suggest a handful of local festivals that would
make that journey up Interstate 57 or the Illinois Central (or the South
Shore Line) worth the ride as you plan your blues calendar this summer.

Chicago Blues Festival: 18 Years Old and Almost Grown

    The 18th Annual Chicago Blues Festival will be held June 7-10 at Grant
Park.  This annual free blues festival is Chicago’s most popular music
festival.   This four-day bluesfest features six stages, and includes some of
the world’s best blues talent. 

    My Chicago Blues Festival weekend would include Chuck Berry’s show at the
Petrillo Music Shell (otherwise known as Blues Heaven) on opening night and
then I’d take in the Friday afternoon set by The Steepwater Band.  They’ll
also release their first full-length studio CD, Brother to the Snake, in
July.  

    On Saturday, I’d check out Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater and Gene “Daddy
G” Barge as they celebrate 50 years in the blues as well as the Sunnyland
Slim Memorial Piano Set featuring LaPorte, Indiana’s own Pinetop Perkins and
music legend Ike Turner. Even though he’s 70, Ike’s been putting on some
great shows lately, including a showstopping gig at Seattle’s Experience
Music Project last month.  It’s always a treat to see Clearwater, and it’ll
be great to see him with “Daddy G,” who blew some great horn on the Chicago
Rhythm and Blues Kings’ first Blind Pig disc.  

     I’d round out the long weekend on Sunday with Jimmy Dillon, Paul
Geremia, and C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band.  I’ve written about
each of these artists over the years in Midwest Blues Beat, and the Chicago
Blues Festival is a golden opportunity to see some of the best that the blues
has to offer.  Right in your own back yard. 

    There are over 70 performances and workshops to choose from online at:
www.ci.chi.il.us/SpecialEvents/Festivals/Blues2001.

Blues on the Fox: 2001 A Blues Odyssey

      The Fox Valley Blues Society in Aurora will present its Fifth Annual
Blues on the Fox festival, June 15-16 in downtown Aurora, along Blues Alley
(a/k/a Galena Blvd and Stolp Avenue). 

    This is a free, two-day outdoor festival that offers the best in
national, international and local blues on two stages, including a special
“Kid's Park” stage featuring interactive music education performances for
kids and aspiring musicians.  The Blues on the Fox Festival began in 1997
celebrating the historic RCA/Bluebird recordings made in 1937 and 1938 in
Aurora’s Leland Hotel. The event has grown into one of Chicagoland’s most
popular Blues festivals. Blues on the Fox is scheduled annually between the
Chicago Blues Fest and the Mississippi Blues Festival (Quad Cities)
attracting more than 10,000 fans from around the world. This year’s line-up
includes: Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers, Kenny Neal, Lil' Ed & The Blues
Imperials, and Shirley King. 

    Many legendary bluesmen have recorded in Aurora, including Tampa Red,
Sonny Boy Williamson, and Honeyboy Edwards, just to name a few.  For more
information, check out – www.bluesonthefox.com

Blues, Jazz & Arts on the Ridge

      On July 7th and 8th, pencil in Munster, Indiana’s own Blues, Jazz &
Arts on the Ridge Festival, sponsored by the Munster Chamber of Commerce and
the Munster Civic Foundation.  This free festival will feature Coco Montoya,
Kenny Neal, Big Jack Johnson & The Oilers, and Becky Barksdale.  This is one
of many local opportunities to check out Baton Rouge bluesman Kenny Neal. 
For more information, contact Rhonda Damjanovich at (219) 836-5549. 

Jazz & Blues at Ravinia? You Bet.

      Let’s face it, Ravinia is not known for the blues.  It’s true that
this three-month festival north of Chicago, showcases one of the world’s best
orchestras – The Chicago Symphony Orchestra – in addition to a summer filled
with 140 different musical events in 95 days.   This summer, Ravinia features
some great jazz and blues on the lawn, with Nancy Wilson, Ramsey Lewis and
Joshua Redman (June 17), Buddy Guy and War (June 20), The Cowboy Junkies and
Jeb Loy Nichols (July 11), and the Neville Brothers and Angelique Kidjo (July
17). 

    While the line-up this year is, as always, first-class, I’m pleased that
they are bringing Jeb Loy Nichols to town.  For more information and ticket
prices, including details on the Metra ìRavinia Specialî train to the gate,
is available online at: www.ravinia.org

Hot Blues Tickets in June

     As if all these music festival gigs weren’t enough, there’s still blues
a plenty this June.  The month starts with Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials at
B.L.U.E.S. in Chicago and just won’t quit.  LaPorte’s favorite neighbor,
Pinetop Perkins, will play Evanston’s Fleetwood Jourdian Community Center on
the 6th, and on the 11th, the Eddie Harrison Jump Stars bring their own brand
of jump blues to another local music festival across the state line, Matteson
Fest.  Louisiana’s own Kenny Neal, touring behind his great new Telarc CD,
One Step Closer, will be at Bugsy’s Lounge in Highland on the 14th.  Don’t
miss some of the best blues out of Baton Rouge at Bugsy’s! 

    Just before he jets off to Europe for a summer tour, B.B. King will bring
his beloved Lucille to two Indiana venues:  the Morris Performing Arts Center
in South Bend on the 15th and Fort Wayne’s Embassy Theatre on the 16th.  One
of the Pacific Northwest’s best bluesmen, Curtis Salgado, plays Buddy Guy’s
Legends on the 22nd.  No doubt he’ll play some choice cuts from his fine Soul
Activated disc. 
    
    Until we meet here next month, let’s go see some blues!