On Monday, April 3, The City Of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the lineup for the 2023 Chicago Blues Festival, taking place Thursday, June 8 through Sunday, June 11 at Millennium Park.
Alligator Records' own Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials will perform on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage on Sunday, June 11.
The largest, free Blues festival in the world returns to Chicago with four days of top tier talent performing in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Three stages set up across Millennium Park will welcome 45 performances and more than 250 artists celebrating the city’s renowned Blues legacy.
2023 Blues headliners include four-time GRAMMY® winners Los Lobos, Blind Boys of Alabama with Bobby Rush, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Mud Morganfield, John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band, Jimmy Burns Band, Sugaray Rayford, Jontavious Willis, Vasti Jackson, Eddie Cotton, O.B. Buchana, Super Chikan, and many more. Find more information here.
Commissioned projects include the Centennial Tribute to Albert King featuring Donald Kinsey, Larry McCray, Rico McFarland, Carl Weathersby and Tony Llorens; a Delmark Records 70th Anniversary Celebration, and a “Women in Blues” tribute featuring Deitra Farr, Katherine Davis, Sugar Pie DeSanto and more.
Further enriching the immersive Blues experience, Praize Productions, Inc. presents a photography installation, “The Rhythm Within Our Blues” featuring life-size photographs depicting the history and authentic culture of Blues music told via the lens of professional photographers of color from Chicago's South Side.
According to DCASE, "The festival elevates its food options this year with a Blues-inspired smokehouse experience called “Wally’s BBQ Pit” in the North Promenade Tent of the Park with delicious BBQ fare and specialty drinks catered by Eleven North Hospitality. In between Blues sets, guests can stop to enjoy their BBQ, cornbread and drinks on picnic tables alongside whiskey barrels and smokers."
Daily performances begin at 12:00pm at the Promenade stages and 2:15pm at The Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Concerts will also be livestreamed at Youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE
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