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

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

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

Together for 40 years, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials will release their first album in 10 years with a release party at FitzGerald's in Berwyn on Feb. 27, 2026. And we do mean PARTY! Story and Photos: Peter M. Hurley Photo: by Peter Hurley Lil' Ed talks about Slideways , JB Hutto, his songwriting process and more By Peter Hurley We arrange to meet before the gig at “Chicago’s Friendliest Blues Lounge,” Rosa’s Lounge, where Little Ed’ Williams holds down the Thursday night

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,

Recently retired radio host Tom Marker recalls highlights from his 50 year career that include close encounters with Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy and Keith Richards, to name a few. By Robin Zimmerman Mavis Staples & Tom Marker/Photo: Debbie Moore Tom Marker Interview By Robin Zimmerman Tom Marker proved to be the perfect person to have the proverbial cup of coffee with. Recently retired after an illustrious radio career spanning 50 years, he came ready to spill

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

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

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

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

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

“I had to have some blues of my own to sing about….you don’t just get up and go outside and say, ‘Look at me, I’m a bluesman!’ You’ve got...