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Chicago Blues Guide
HOT shows |
Jan. 28:
Otis Clay at FitzGeralds, Berwyn, IL
CLICK for more info and many more HOT shows
coming this week |
Winter 2012 contest!!!
Win three outstanding new CDs from the Electro Glide label:
Marty "Big Dog" Mercer
Brandon Santini
The Blues, An Evolution, a sampler of the
label's artists.
ENTER TO WIN |
| UPDATES |

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Jubilee Showcase
In Chicago, the sweet sound of gospel music could be
heard on Jubilee Showcase, a popular local TV
show that ran from 1963 to 1984. A new DVD, Classic
Moments in Jubilee Showcase, captures outstanding
performances by the most famous gospel artists of all
time, including the Staple Singers (photo), Andrae
Crouch, Soul Stirrers, Jessy Dixon, Inez Andrews and
more! |
FEATURE: Welcome Buddy and Hopkins!
The further misadventures of Buddy and Hopkins
will be featured regularly on our website, starting this
month, thanks to talented artist
Jason Nocera.
Click on
the photo for the first installment. |
LIVE
REVIEW: Blues Blast Music Awards 2011
Blues legend Buddy Guy took home three of the eight
awards at the all-star festivities held at his club,
Legends. He also turned in one of the night's most
salacious performances. Chicago Blues Guide's Liz
Mandeville was there to get the scoop. |
LIVE REVIEW: Bluestock 2011, Hunter Mt., N.Y.
The inaugural Bluestock Festival was held the same weekend as Hurricane
Irene hit the East Coast. Thanks to diligent planning,
the major event went on to the delight of blues fans who
came from all over the globe. Our CBG
correspondents braved the elements to enjoy the music
and to say "good night, Irene, good night" to the storm. |
LIVE REVIEW: Jimmie Vaughan at SPACE in Evanston
It's rare to find a musician of Vaughan's stature performing in an
intimate club like SPACE, which was SRO, not
surprisingly. The famed Texas guitarist was backed by
the Tilt-a-Whirl Band, including former Roomful of Blues
horn men and singer Lou Ann Barton, for an evening of
hot licks and cool music by some of the best in the biz. |
FEATURE: Interview with the Holmes Brothers
Wendell Holmes, Sherman Holmes and Popsy Dixon have triumphed over
adversity with help from the uplifting music and message
they bring to audiences around the world. Was it divine
intervention that first brought this band of brothers
together and has kept them going for over 40 years? |
LIVE REVIEW: Moulin Blues Festival, Ospel,
Netherlands
Kenny Neal (photo), John Nemeth, Nick Moss, Kilborn Alley Blues Band,
Janiva Magness, Los Lonely Boys, Bob Corritore & Dave
Riley, Fabulous Thunderbirds & more all performed at
this venerable campground fest that was one giant
backyard BBQ! |
|
REVIEWS:
CDs:
Junior Wells, James Cotton, Dave Specter, Pinetop Perkins, Dave
Weld, Charlie Musselwhite, Holmes Bros., Nick Moss, Janiva
Magness, Cash Box Kings, Big James, John Primer, Buckwheat
Zydeco, John Nemeth, Buddy Guy, Saffire, Magic Slim & more.
DVDs:
JJ Grey & Mofro, Tail Dragger, Delmark's 55th Anniversary, Maxwell Street, Son
Seals, Jimmy Burns & more.
LIVE
BLUES:
Stevie Wonder, Etta James, B.B. King, Buddy Guy,
Pinetop Perkins, Joss Stone, Ryan Shaw, Mavis Staples, Booker T
& the MGs, John Nemeth, more.
|
REVIEW: Chicago Blues Fest 2011
Chicago Blues Fest's theme this year was Sweet Home
Chicago: A Centennial Celebration of Robert Johnson.
The venerable fest found itself in a state of
transition, with a new mayor and major changes,
including budget cuts, resulting in a scaled back Blues
Fest
which featured mostly local acts.
Sadly, two blues elders cancelled their appearances due
to health issues.
Still, there were many highlights, including Shemekia
Copeland's being crowned the new Queen of the Blues,
Alligator Records' 40th Anniversary Showcase and more. |
FEATURE: Interview with Ronnie Baker Brooks
Carrying the torch and infusing new energy into the
blues, the son of blues legend Lonnie Brooks is featured
on a heralded new tribute album.
Catch the Brooks family at two major events during Blues
Festival week in Chicago. |
FEATURE:
Interview with Andre Williams
Chicago music icon to give FREE concert at Milliennum Park May 30. Whether
he's urging you to "Shake a Tailfeather" or get greasy
with "Bacon Fat," Andre Williams is first and foremost
an entertainer for all seasons. |
FEATURE: Interview with Marcia Ball
The party's still going on for veteran blues/boogie
pianist Marcia Ball. The Louisiana native brings her
"Roadside Attractions" to Chicago for an intimate show. |
REVIEW: Holmes Brothers at SPACE in Evanston
From the Beatles to the blues, Wendell and Sherman Holmes plus Popsy
Dixon put their unique spin on roots music that spans
genres. The trio's concise harmonies, downhome charm and
gospel spirit captivated the crowd for a very special,
intimate show. |
REVIEW: Chris Thomas King at SPACE in Evanston
Highly regarded as a blues artist, King easily moves between genres. On a
frigid February night, the multi-talented King performed
acoustic Delta blues, electric Chicago blues,
blues-rock, R&B, country, a touch of hip-hop, and even a
Middle-Eastern flavored number. He also paid tribute to
Ray Charles and Lindsay Lohan. |
REVIEW: Blues at the Crossroads: Robert Johnson
Centennial Concert
Orchestra Hall, home of The Chicago Symphony, provided a classic, elegant
setting for a tribute to music that is equally classic
and timeless. Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Cedric
Burnside & Lightnin' Malcom, Honeyboy Edwards and Hubert
Sumlin feted the legendary Delta icon, and gave a nod to
Sweet Home Chicago artists, too. |
REVIEW:
Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival, Calais, France
For three days each November, this historic French
border town comes alive with the blues. This year a
mini-Chicago Blues Fest starred Eddie Shaw
(photo), Maurice John Vaughn,
Zora Young and more. Many acts from all
over the U.S. performed to enthused Europeans all
weekend. |
REVIEW: Rob Blaine's Big Otis Blues in Memphis
Liz Mandeville describes all the action during the Chicago band's
blazing set at the Hard Rock Cafe for the IBC
semi-finals in Memphis. Like a giant earth moving
machine, Rob and Big Otis rolled over the
competition to move on to the finals. |
FEATURES: Kenny Smith talks about Louisiana
Swamp Stomp
Chicago blues drummer Kenny Smith co-produced the talent-filled benefit
CD, Louisiana Swamp Stomp, a
collaboration between New Orleans and Chicago musicians.
All those involved in the project donated their time and
talent to this worthy cause. |
REVIEW: Buddy Guy at Legends with Larry McCray
We take you to Buddy's club to see him in action during
his month-long residency. On this night he was
"raucous, mellow, sentimental and, of course,
brilliant." Buddy and Larry McCray cheered up
broken-hearted Bears fans, too. |
REVIEW:
B. B. King at the Paramount Theater, Aurora
It was a royal night with three Kings who performed at
the palatial, historic theater.
B.B. King, daughter Shirley King and Chicago bluesman
Guy King put on a classy show that was uplifting and
memorable. |
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Blue Chicago
536 N. Clark
Chicago, IL |
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