Trombone Shorty, Eric Gales, Ally Venable, Tommy Castro Review: La’Keba Garcia Gelardi Photos: Dianne Bruce Dunklau Trombone Shorty What a beautiful evening for a show at RiverEdge Park in Aurora! The recently renovated venue provided the perfect setting, with ideal weather for an outdoor concert along the Fox River. Aurora has a deep connection to the blues. The historic Leland Hotel in downtown Aurora hosted RCA Victor recording sessions between 1937 and 1938 in the Sky C

Chicago Blues Festival June 7, 2026 Review: Linda Cain Photos: Dianne Bruce Dunklau Taj Mahal/ photo: Dianne Bruce Dunklau Chicago Blues Festival June 7 , 2026 Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Chris Cain, Sue Foley, Women in Blues Tribute to Mama Yancey & Big Mama Thornton And now we find ourselves on Sunday the last day of Chicago Blues Festival 2026. After two days in Millennium Park and the Ramova Theater events on Thursday (which the fans were still raving about) th

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

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

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

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

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

By Mark Plotnick Photos: Jim Summaria When Joanne Shaw Taylor (JST) was fourteen years old, her dad took her to a B.B. King concert in Birmingham, England. After King’s set concluded, she approached the stage for a souvenir guitar pick. King had none left, but he knelt down to chat with the diminutive fourteen-year-old girl who told him, “I think I’m going to be a blues woman. I’ve been listening and studying hard.” Eighteen months later, she was opening for the Beale Stree

Review: Glenn Noble/ Photos: Jennifer Noble Review by: Glenn Noble. Photos by: Jennifer Noble Legend is a word often used, and sometimes misused, as a shorthand way of describing the status of a musician or artist. In the case of Mavis Staples , the label of “legend” is entirely justified -- given the longevity of her career, the significant historical context around her and the Staple Singers, the degree of affection with which she is held in her native city, and not least,

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

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

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

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria The Who & Joe Bonamassa at the United Center in Chicago September 7, 2025 Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria...

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria Chris Cain & Constantine Bogios Chris Cain at SPACE in Evanston, IL, August 20, 2025 Review & Photos: By...

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria Nick Moss Band at SPACE August 11, 2025 Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria When Nick Moss took the stage,...

By Linda Cain Photos: Jennifer Noble Buddy Guy Celebrates 89 th Birthday and new album release at his club Buddy Guy’s Legends By Linda...

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria Albert Castiglia at SPACE July 22, 2025 Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria Albert Castiglia and his band...

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria Dom Flemons at SPACE in Evanston, IL, July 13, 2025 Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria Dom Flemons bills...

Review & Photos: Jim Summaria Dave Specter album release party at SPACE June 24, 2025 Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria Bluesman Dave...