Shemekia Copeland and Tom Marker at 2011 Chicago Blues Fest

With the Chicago Blues Fest in town this week, there are blues events all over town, even just outside of town, that you want to know about. The closest to my heart is our 15th annual Blues Breakers Blues Fest Broadcast on Thursday 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Buddy Guy’s Legends and live on the air on 93XRT. Our co-host this year will be the woman who was crowned “Queen of the Blues” at last year’s fest by Koko’s daughter, Cookie Taylor.  We’ll have live performances by Bay Area Bluesman Joe Louis Walker and his band, Chicago Blues great, Ronnie Baker Brooks and his band, and special guest, Chicago’s number one blues harp player, Billy Branch.  Look for Shemekia and Ronnie to do a duo performance, too.  If you’re 21 or older please join us in person at Legends, 700 S. Wabash downtown. It’s free. Or listen on the air beginning at 6:00.

There’s lots more, all over town.

The momentum really picks up tonight (Wednesday.) A real hot spot this week will be in Evanston at S.P.A.C.E. There’s a show tonight with Dave Specter’s Adventures in Guitar featuring John Primer. Tomorrow S.P.A.C.E. presents harpman Charlie Musselwhite and on Saturday they have a 93XRT Blues Breakers Show with Joe Louis Walker playing songs from his new album, Hellfire.

Joe Louis Walker

Buddy Guy’s Legends has a show tonight put on by the Grammy people with a large and star-studded cast: Shemekia Copeland, The Brooks Family Dynasty featuring Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Wayne Baker Brooks, The Chicago Blues Divas: Deitra Farr, Peaches Stanten, and Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Matthew Skoller & Lurrie Bell, and Lil Ed Williams with a special appearance by Billy Branch.

The House of Blues Back Porch Stage hosts a Pro-Jam the first and last Wednesday of each month and tonight’s will be a Super Pro-Jam with Li’ Ed, Bob Stroger, Billy Flynn and others.

Wayne Baker Brooks, Eddy Clearwater, Tom Marker, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks at the 2011 Blues Fest Broadcast

One of the stars of our Blues Fest Broadcast will be playing at one of his favorite clubs on Friday night. It’s always a great night when Ronnie Baker Brooks plays at FitzGerald’s.

Reggie’s Music Joint at 2105 S. State St. will host a couple of events. On Friday the Second Annual Chicago Women in the Blues and on Saturday Delmark Records’ Chicago Blues Fest After-Party.

On Sunday morning Delmark Records will hold their annual Blues Brunch at the Mart from 10AM to 12PM at the Jazz Record Mart at 27 E. Illinois.

Plus, of course, the blues clubs all over town will be hopping this week. An always excellent source for blues events is the Chicago Blues Guide, an on-line source put together by blues lovers for blues lovers.

Get out there and see some blues this week here in The Blues Capital of the World!

Check out our Blues Fest Broadcast here.

Chicago Blues Festival Line-Up

Visit the Blues Breakers page

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