Review: Glenn Noble/ Photos: Jennifer Noble Mad Dogs & Englishmen: A tribute to Joe Cocker & Leon Russell at the North Shore Center in Skokie November 8, 2025 Review by: Glenn Noble. Photos by: Jennifer Noble   Music is a peculiar thing -- it lives, briefly and vibrantly, in the moment of performance; but it’s far from uncommon for this transitory experience to change lives and endure in the memory for a lifetime. Given the right alchemy of songwriting, performers and audienc

By Mark Plotnick Photos: Jim Summaria Jack Casady, Justin Guip (drums), Jorma Kaukonen Hot Tuna – North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL George Van Dusen Theatre November 5 th , 2025   By Mark Plotnick Photos: Jim Summaria   Fifty-six years ago, I first experienced the musicianship of Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady as members of the Jefferson Airplane. The place was Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom and the venue conditions were far from ideal. But none of that tro

Release date: September 2025 Delmark Records By Greg Easterling Mississippi Heat at the album release party at Buddy Guy's Legends, Sept. 2025/ photo: Jennifer Noble One of Chicago’s longest running blues band collectives has delivered one of their all-time finest efforts with the forward looking title of Don’t Look Back . Mississippi Heat features founder and harpist Pierre Lacocque  with his usual blend of regular members and guests, a number of whom once played in the band

Logan Center (Chicago) Billy Branch/ photo: Roman Sobus Billy Branch & Sons of the Blues w/ special guests When: November 21 (Friday) Show Times: 7:30 Where: Logan Center Address: 915 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL TICKETS: Free with RSVP (suggested donation $10) The Blues is My Biography: Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues Record Release Concert with special guests including The Chicago Fire Horns  and Howard Sandifer’s Chicago West Community Music Youth Choir “Willie Dixon ta

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria Albert Cummings at SPACE in Evanston, IL, Sept. 21, 2025 Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria Massachusetts born and raised bluesman Albert Cummings had the most unlikely path to becoming a respected professional musician. He earned an associate's degree in construction science and his family trade was building homes. His father also dabbled as a musician. His guitar and fiddle playing impressed the young Cummings.     When he was twelve, his dad gav

Release date: October 10, 2025 Blues House Productions Records By Glenn Noble Photo: Jennifer Noble There’s a lovely bluesy selection of tracks on this cracking debut by Robbin Kapsalis for John and Lisa Primer ’s independent label, Blues House Productions. Robbin was born into the blues sounds of South Side Chicago. Later, after spending some time in Atlanta, Georgia, Robbin found musical success, fronting Washington DC-based soul blues band “Vintage #18” for several years.

Hey Nonny (Arlington Hts.) photo: Jennifer Noble Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames will celebrate the release of their new Delmark Records CD, Bluesin' Through The Years , at Hey Nonny on Nov. 8, 2025. Tickets: Hey Nonny Dave Weld and The Imperial Flames, are an authentic, real deal blues band, bursting with high energy, versatile talent, variety, and a cohesive show that includes original driving houserockin’ blues, boogie and soul. The originals are classic in nature, the

Delta/Chicago blues veteran joins with Chicago jazz giants to come Full Circle and revisit his early hits Story and Photos: Peter M. Hurley Photo: Peter Hurley   Jimmy Burns Comes Full Circle By Peter Hurley Veteran Bluesman Jimmy Burns slipped into the booth at the Italian restaurant chain, the one with the free breadsticks, where he had arranged to meet for lunch. His beard was fuller and snowier than when last seen, his almond shaped eyes alive and dark with amber-tinged w

By Marty Gunther Red Hot ‘n Blues Reviews for November 2025   Mud Morganfield – Deep Mud Nola Blue Records NB047 www.nola-blue.com The physical embodiment of his dad, Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield has faithfully kept his father’s memory alive through the years by frequently dipping into his forebear’s catalog on several previous albums. But he steps out of Muddy’s shadow in a big way here, delivering 13 originals in a 14-song set guaranteed to represent the family well in the

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria Tiernii & Tikyra Southern Avenue at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, IL, Saturday, October 18, 2025   Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria Every once in a while you come across a group that just "wows" you. This was the case for me when I recently experienced the group Southern Avenue. They blend blues, soul, rock and gospel into a beautiful package of inspiring lyrics and spirited music.   This traveling family band from Mem

FitzGerald's Rosa's Lounge photo: Jennifer Noble John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band: Rosa's Lounge , 3420 W. Armitage, Chicago November 1, 2025 Friday Shows: 9:30 p.m. & 11 p.m. Doors: 8 p.m. General Admission - $20- $25 Find ticket information   HERE FitzGerald's , 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn November 4, 2025 - Bluesday Tuesday Show: 7 p.m. General Admission - $10 advance/ $15 door Stefan Hillesheim in the Sidebar at 8:30 pm Find ticket information   HERE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Release date: Oct. 17, 2025 SWMAF/VizzTone Records By Robin Zimmerman Bob Corritore & Little Milton Bluesman Bob Corritore is back with another tour de force release. His latest, “From the Vaults” project is titled Early Blues Sessions, and it features a long list of musical heavyweights from days gone by. Besides being a harmonica ace, Rhythm Room club owner and KJZZ radio host, Corritore has also assumed the unofficial title of blues historian and tireless promoter of the g

Release date: October 10, 2025 Alligator Records By Mark Thompson photo by: Michael Sparks Keegan It took five years but one of the...

Prairie Center for the Arts Find ticket information HERE SOUTHERN AVENUE TO PERFORM LIVE IN SCHAUMBURG SHERYL YOUNGBLOOD OPENS Date:...

By Marty Gunther Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for October 2025   Buddy Guy – Ain’t Done with the Blues RCA/Silvertone Records www.buddygyuy.net He may be 89 and someone who announced that he’s done touring, but Buddy Guy proves beyond a doubt that he isn’t done yet with this release, which is one of his best yet. It’s an hour-plus, 18-track epic that pays homage to his roots before exploding into a romp certain to keep you smiling throughout. Produced by Tom Hambridge, who keeps

Enter to win this fabulous prize package from Buddy Guy! Chicago Blues Guide is celebrating Buddy Guy's 89th Birthday (born July 30,...

Rosa's Lounge (Chicago) Dan Souvigny’s New Organ Trio with Eric Gales and special guests When: Oct. 2 (Thursday) Show Times: 9 & 10:30...

Chicago  Blues Challenge 2025   The Windy City Blues Society extends an invitation for local bands, solo and duo acts to enter the  Chicago Blues Challenge  – a showcase of the blues talent in our region. Winners go on to represent Chicago at the  International Blues Challenge  in Memphis, TN (January 14–17, 2026). The IBC is the world’s premier blues competition, drawing talent buyers, festival promoters, and blues societies from around the globe. It’s a powerful opportunity

Release date: Sept. 26, 2025 Nola Blue Records By Robin Zimmerman Mud Morganfield at Chicago Blues Fest 2023/photo by: Dianne Bruce...

Story & Photos by Jim Summaria L to R: Barbra Marks, Bettye Kelly, Evelyn Tan Cooper, Freddie Dixon The Illinois Rock and Roll Museum and...