Chicago Blues Festival June 6, 2026 75 Years of Billy Branch Review: La’Keba Garcia Gelardi Photos: Dianne Bruce Dunklau photo: Dianne Bruce Dunklau Chicago Blues Festival June 6, 2026 75 Years of Billy Branch: Billy Branch and The Sons of Blues featuring Ronnie Baker Brooks and Kenny Neal Prior to his performance, Chicago blues harmonica master Billy Branch was honored with a Chicago mayoral proclamation recognizing his remarkable contributions to blues music and the ci

Release date: July 10 , 2026 Alligator Records By Steve Jones photo by: Jennifer Noble This is the seventh album release by Marine combat veteran Chris O’Leary and we continue to discover new sides of this extremely talented musician. It is his second release for Alligator and follows on the success of 2024’s The Hard Line. O’Leary penned all the songs here. Each is a story unto itself. He is ebullient, effusive, dynamic, creative and in control vocally. His harp is greasy,

Chicago Theater Buddy Guy/Photo: Jennifer Noble Find ticket information HERE Buddy Guy & Special Guests July 25, 2026 (Saturday) Chicago Theater, 175 N. State, Chicago ABOUT THE ARTIST: Buddy Guy celebrates his 90th birthday with a concert at the historic Chicago Theater! George "Buddy" Guy (born July 30, 1936) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is an exponent of Chicago blues who has influenced generations of guitarists including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy

Chicago Blues Festival June 5, 2026 55 Years of Alligator Records Review: La’Keba Garcia Gelardi Photos: Dianne Bruce Dunklau L to R: Tinsley Ellis, Lil' Ed, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Bruce Iglauer, Wayne Baker Brooks, Toronzo Cannon, Nick Moss/ photo: Dianne Bruce Dunklau What a spectacular evening of blues music as fans gathered at the 2026 Chicago Blues Festival held at the Pritzker Pavilion to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Alligator Records, founded by Bruce Iglauer, wh

By Marty Gunther Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for July 2026 Young Rell – Same Little Village Foundation www.youngrell.com Don’t be fooled by the cover photo of Young Rell – aka Harrell Davenport. He’s an old soul at age 19 and already one of the most accomplished singers/guitarists/harp players in the world today – so much so, in fact, that Billy Branch, Matthew Skoller and a long list of seasoned vets rave about him. And this debut release is certain to launch him into the blu

American Music Festival, FitzGerald's, Berwyn

Review: Glenn Noble Photos: Jennifer Noble L to R -- Tom Holland, Rome Yamilov, Matthew Skoller, Aki Kumar, Randy Bermudes Aki Kumar's Bollywood Blues w/ guests Matthew Skoller and Tom Holland Logan Center for the Arts Performance Penthouse, University of Chicago, Chicago May 29, 2026 By Glenn Noble/ Photos: Jennifer Noble With its “Blues@Logan” strand, the Logan Center for the Arts under the directorship of Bill Michel, continues to present exciting and distinctive even

Enter to win this fabulous prize package from Sue Foley! YOU CAN WIN: Guitar Women: Conversations & Life Lessons with Six-String Heroines Book and 2 award-winning CDs from Sue Foley: GUITAR WOMEN -- book ​ ONE GUITAR WOMAN -- CD PINKY'S BLUES -- CD ENTER NOW SUE FOLEY Sue Foley is a multi-award-winning blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose latest album, One Guitar Woman: A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar, was nominated for the 2025 GRAMMY® Award for Best

Blues on the Fox Festival 2026 w/ Trombone Shorty, Eric Gales, Tommy Castro & Ally Venable

By Marty Gunther Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for June 2026 Curtis Salgado – Legacy Rewind: Live in ’25 Nola Blue Records www.curtissalgado.com Possessing one of the best set of pipes in the universe, Curtis Salgado has made plenty of magic in his 50-year career, but this stellar, hour-long pleaser is something else entirely. Captured at The Triple Door, a showroom in Seattle, Wash., it’s the first live set he’s ever reco

By Linda Cain Photos: Jim Summaria photo: Jim Summaria Gone Fishin' Tour with Samantha Fish, Kingfish & Dylan Triplett at Des Plaines Theater in Des Plaines, IL, May 17, 2026 By Linda Cain Photos: By Jim Summaria What happens when two young contemporary blues-rock stars, from very different backgrounds, join forces for a rare concert experience? The answer: Nothing less than nonstop musical fireworks that left no one alive! From start to finish Samantha and Kingfish enthralle

Buddy Guy's Legends Photo: Big Llou Find ticket information HERE Kenny Neal, Eden Brent, Shakura S’Aida, Lynne Jordan, Patch of Blues Plus special guests and an All-Star Lineup To Headline a "Pre-Party with a Purpose" to Support The Blues Foundation and Chicago Youth Music, as a prelude to Chicago Blues Festival 2026 · When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 · Doors: 5:30 PM | Free Acoustic Show: 6:00 PM | Main Event: 8:00 PM · VIP: A limited 20-seat "Shucky Ducky" RESERVED VIP ex

Article & Photos: Jim Summaria Mud Morganfield & Studebaker John Mud Morganfield w/ Rick Kreher, Studebaker John, Sumito Ariyoshi, Pookie Styx & E.G. McDaniel at Hey Nonny, April 28, 2026 Live Show Review & Photos by Jim Summaria Larry "Mud" Morganfield was born into the blues. He's the eldest son of the legendary Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) the "Father of Modern Chicago Blues." Mud carries on the family tradition of playing blues in its most pure form. Like any

FitzGerald's (Berwyn) Photo: Jim Summaria Back by popular demand: Jackie Venson to perform weekly residency at FitzGerald's in May When: Thursdays, May 7,14,21,28 2026 Time: 8:30 p.m. Where: FitzGerald's , Berwyn ABOUT: Jackie Venson Jackie Venson is a gifted singer, guitarist and songwriter who is bringing her unique talents to Fitzgerald's in Berwyn for a four-date residency. She will perform each Thursday on May 7,14,21 and 28. Venson was born and bred in the music hot

Release date: May 15, 2026 Nola Blue Records By Glenn Noble Omar Coleman/photo by: Jennifer Noble The title of this album hints at an intriguing potpourri of musical ingredients -- and equally this collaboration between a dyed-in-the-wool West Side Chicago harmonicist/vocalist in the shape of Omar Coleman, and a Brazilian guitar virtuoso in Igor Prado – which holds out the promise of an exciting meeting of talent from very different heritages. First impressions are of a fresh

By Marty Gunther Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for May 2026 Freddie King – Feeling Alright: The Complete 1975 Nancy Jazz Pulsation Concerts Elemental Music www.elemental-music.com The recent Record Store Day served up a major treat for blues fans: A compilation of live recordings of the legendary Freddie King at the height of his power and career. Captured at a series of concerts in the French countryside in 1975, the Texas Cannonball fires on all cylinders throughout this set,

Chicago's Omar Coleman teamed up with Brazil's Igor Prado to collaborate on their hot, new release Old New Funky and Blue. The result lives up to the album's title with songs that reflect early influences -- like Bobby Rush, Syl Johnson, Junior Wells, Albert King and Albert Collins -- that will help listeners get their groove on. Omar and Igor will join forces again for their album release party at FitzGerald's in Berwyn on May 15, 2026. Bring your dancin' shoes! Story and Ph

Chicago Blues Festival Thursday – Sunday, June 4 – 7 Millennium Park, 4 stages across the Park Plus: The Ramova Theater at 35th & Halsted and Maxwell Street FREE! ChicagoBluesFestival.us Concerts will also be livestreamed at Youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE City of Chicago Announces 2026 Chicago Blues Festival Lineup June 4–7 Thursday, June 4 - Ramova Theatre John Primer/ photo: Jennifer Noble Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St., Chicago IL. 60609 5 p.m. - doors 6-10:30 p.m. - panel

Deon Allman's Blues Summit with Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall, Ghalia Volt, Laka Soul

Release date: April 10, 2026 VizzTone/SWMAF Records By Robin Zimmerman Bob Corritore As harp master and blues ambassador Bob Corritore approaches his milestone 70 th birthday, he continues to go full steam ahead with his mission to bring memorable recordings to the masses. With a multitude of blues friends from every corner of the country coming to his Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Corritore can capitalize on these appearances and coordinate incredible recording sessions. His late