Chicago Blues Festival 2025 announces lineup
- chicagoblueseditor
- Apr 18
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 19
Thursday – Sunday, June 5 – 8
Millennium Park, 4 stages across the Park
Plus: The Ramova Theater at 35th & Halsted
and Maxwell Street
FREE!
Concerts will also be livestreamed at Youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE
City of Chicago Announces 2025 Chicago Blues Festival Lineup
June 5–8
Featuring Mavis Staples, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Bobby Rush and More
CHICAGO—The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the full lineup and programming highlights for the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival, taking place June 5–8 at Millennium Park and other venues citywide.
The largest free blues festival in the world returns for its 41st year with a stellar lineup of local legends, international stars, and rising talent, continuing Chicago’s legacy as the world capital of the blues. This year’s festivities kick off with a special opening night concert and panel discussions at the newly restored Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport, followed by three days of performances across four stages in Millennium Park, plus a Sunday afternoon blues showcase at the historic Maxwell Street.
Opening day festivities, co-hosted by WVON 1690, on Thursday, June 5 at Ramova Theatre (3520 S. Halsted St.) include The Blues Sessions with a Living Blues Panel moderated by Dick Shurman, an “Up Close & Personal” conversation with Bobby Rush presented in partnership with The Recording Academy - Chicago Chapter, and a double-bill concert featuring Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues and headliner Bobby Rush.
RSVPs for June 5th with Bobby Rush and Billy Branch will be available online on May 6 at 10 a.m. at ramovachicago.com. This event is free with online RSVP, and subject to venue capacity. Entry is first come, first served. This is a standing room event with some seating available.
For ADA accommodations, please email box@ramovachicago.com
Headlining this year’s festival at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park are:
· Mavis Staples (Sunday, June 8), the iconic GRAMMY-winning singer and civil rights activist.
· Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (Saturday, June 7), a guitar virtuoso and leading voice of the new generation of blues artists.
· B.B. King Centennial Tribute (Friday, June 6), featuring Kingfish, D.K. Harrell, and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center.
Other festival highlights include:
· A Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle, featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, and more.
· Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th anniversary of Chess Records with a special music tribute.
· Performances by Lurrie Bell, Latimore, C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, D.K. Harrell, and many others.
· The return of the Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage, Rosa’s Lounge Stage, and the newly added Next Generation of Blues stage on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace supported by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation.
The Maxwell Street Blues Series on Sunday, June 8 brings the blues back to its South Side roots with performances by Omar Coleman Westside Soul, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer, Harmonica Hinds, and more.
New this year, DCASE offers support and funding to Blues presenting venues and organizations via the Citywide Blues Community Funding program, which supports free blues performances citywide the week leading up to the Blues Festival. Participating 2025 venues will be shared in the coming weeks.
Back by popular demand, the festival elevates its food options with a Blues-inspired smokehouse experience called “Wally’s BBQ Pit” with delicious BBQ fare and specialty drinks catered by Eleven North Hospitality.
As in previous years, outside alcohol is not allowed for the Chicago Blues Festival, but alcohol may be purchased inside the venue. Before visiting, please be advised of other Prohibited Items at MillenniumPark.org.
For Millennium Park safety and security information, visit the Plan Your Visit page of MillenniumPark.org.
The Chicago Blues Festival is sponsored by partners 90.9fm WDCB, Chicago Jazz Publishing, Chicago Transit Authority, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Millennium Garages, Mississippi Development Authority, Rosa's Lounge and WVON 1690.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information and a full schedule, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us and follow @ChicagoDCASE on social media.
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2025 Chicago Blues Festival Schedule
All performances are free and open to the public. Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, June 5 – Opening Night at Ramova Theatre
Ramova Theatre 3520 S. Halsted St., Bridgeport Doors open at 3:30 p.m. | Programming 4–11 p.m. 18+ (minors accompanied by their guardian will be admitted)
THE BLUES SESSIONS
· 4–5 p.m. – Living Blues Panel Discussion Featuring Jim O’Neal, Scott Barretta, Brett Bonner, Bruce Iglauer and Deitra Farr, Moderated by Dick Shurman, Introductions by Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo
· 5:30–6:30 p.m. – Up Close & Personal with Bobby Rush Moderated by Julia Miller, President/CEO of Delmark Records, Presented with The Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter
DOUBLE-BILL CONCERT PROGRAM
· 7:30–8:30 p.m. – Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues
· 9–10:15 p.m. – Bobby Rush
Friday, June 6 – Millennium Park
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
· 3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
· 4–5 p.m. – D.K. Harrell
· 5:15–6:15 p.m. – Dawn Tyler Watson
· 6:30–7:15 p.m. – John Primer with Steve Bell
· 7:30–9 p.m. – B.B. King Centennial Tribute Featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, D.K. Harrell and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, Co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center
Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
· Noon–1:15 p.m. – Lady Adrena and LA Band
· 1:30–2:45 p.m. – Vick Allen featuring the Velvet Soul Band
· 3–4:15 p.m. – Johnny Rawls Soul Review
· 4:30–5:45 p.m. – Eddie Cotton
Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)
· 12:30–1:45 p.m. – Ivan Singh
· 2–3:15 p.m. – Jamiah "Dirty Deacon" Rogers and the Dirty Church Band
· 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Rico McFarland
· 5–6:15 p.m. – Sheryl Youngblood
· 6:30–7:45 p.m. – The Mike Wheeler Band
Saturday, June 7 – Millennium Park
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
· 3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
· 4–5:15 p.m. – Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle Featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace and Mzz Reese with Jonathan Ellison
· 5:30–6:15 p.m. – Joey J. Saye, Stephen Hull and Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
· 6:30–7:30 p.m. – Latimore
· 7:45–9 p.m. – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
· Noon–1:15 p.m. – 2 Blues for You
· 1:30–2:45 p.m. – Jessie Robinson
· 3–4:15 p.m. – Vickie Baker, The V Souls and The Groove Crew
· 4:30–5:45 p.m. – John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)
· 12:30–1:45 p.m. – Stefan Hillesheim Band
· 2–3:15 p.m. – Michael Damani
· 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Lynne Jordan and The Shivers
· 5–6:15 p.m. – Joe Barr and The Platinum Band
· 6:30–7:45 p.m. – Theo Huff
Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues
· 11–11:45 a.m. – Wendy & DB
· Noon–12:45 p.m. – Chicago Blues Revival
· 1–1:45 p.m. – Curie Metropolitan High School
· 2–2:45 p.m. – Bandwith
· 3–4 p.m. – VanderCook College of Music
Sunday, June 8 – Millennium Park
Mavis Staples/photo: Jennifer Noble
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
· 3:30–3:45 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
· 3:45–5 p.m. – Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Chess Records
· 5:15–6:15 p.m. – C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band
· 6:30–7:30 p.m. – Lurrie Bell and Frank Catalano
· 7:45–9 p.m. – Mavis Staples
Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
· Noon–1:15 p.m. – Stevie J and The Blues Eruption
· 1:30–2:45 p.m. – Nellie “Tiger” Travis
· 3–4:15 p.m. – Jonathan Ellison
· 4:30–5:45 p.m. – Ms. Jody
Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)
· 12:30–1:45 p.m. – Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
· 2–3:15 p.m. – Jimmy Burns Band
· 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Nick Alexander Blues Band
· 5–6:15 p.m. – Sonia Astacio
· 6:30–7:45 p.m. – 3 by 3 Crew: Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice Vaughn with Tim Taylor
Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues
· 11–11:45 a.m. – Wiggleworms featuring Amanda Payne & Will Fancher of Old Town School of Folk Music
· Noon–12:45 p.m. – Fernando Jones Presents the Knott Us Band
· 1–1:45 p.m. – Kenwood Academy High School
· 2–2:45 p.m. – Nicholas Senn High School
· 3–4 p.m. – A Patch of Blues
Sunday, June 8 – Maxwell Street Blues Series
Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.
· 10–11 a.m. – DJ James Porter
· 11 a.m.–noon – Marty “Big Dog” Mercer Duo
· Noon–12:30 p.m. – DJ James Porter
· 12:30–1:30 p.m. – Omar Coleman Westside Soul
· 1:30–2 p.m. – DJ James Porter
· 2–3 p.m. – Harmonica Hinds Duo
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Ramova Theatre
In 1929, Ramova Theatre opened its doors as Bridgeport's premier movie palace. With an iconic sign and Spanish-inspired architecture, it became the jewel of the neighborhood — a place for people to gather and communities to come together. Now, nearly a century later, the space has returned, reimagined as an 1,800+ person live concert hall, craft brewery partnered with Other Half Brewing, beer garden and grill. Meticulously restored to preserve the architectural heart of the building, Ramova once again lights up Halsted and 35th Street and brings the country’s top performing acts to Bridgeport, alongside educational programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives. For more information, visit https://ramovachicago.com/ or follow @ramovachicago on Instagram and Facebook.
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