Headliners for 2020 include: Shemekia Copeland, Candi Staton, Eric Gales, Jimmy Johnson with Billy Branch, John Primer, Lurrie Bell and Catherine Russell

The 37^th Annual Chicago Blues Festival comes to Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.)Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7, AND at Maxwell Street Market (800 S. Desplaines St.) Sunday, June 7. 

The Blues will also be celebrated in various locations around town including Rosa’s Lounge, Chess Records  and much more.

This year’s event is part of Chicago In Tune, the NEW 18-day celebration of music at venues and organizations across the city in conjunction with the 2020 Year of Chicago Music. 

Kick off event celebrates the 70^th Anniversary of Chess Records

On Thursday, June 4, the Chicago Blues Festival will host a special kickoff event at Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation at the Historic Chess Records (2120 S. Michigan Ave.) to celebrate their 70^th anniversary and pay homage to artists who electrified the blues and put Chicago on the map.

The special collaboration with the Blues Heaven Foundation and Chicago Blues Revival will include a Record Row walking tour, musical performances and more from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

This year’s fest features a diverse lineup celebrating the blues’ past, present, and future on six stages, the Chicago Blues Festival shares the great Chicago-born music tradition while shining a spotlight on the genre’s contributions to soul, R&B, gospel, rock, hip hop and more.

The Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, at Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue, will be the main stage, with an array of Chicago and visiting headliners.

Among the Pritzker Pavilion highlights:

June 5: Nick Moss Band, 5:45 p.m.; Jimmy Johnson and Billy Branch, 7 p.m.; Shemekia Copeland, 7:50 p.m.

June 6: John Primer and Steve Bell, 7 p.m.; Candi Staton, 7:50 p.m.

June 7: Catherine Russell, 4:30 p.m.; Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, 5:45 p.m.; Erwin Helfer and Katherine Davis, 7 p.m.; Eric Gales, 7:50 p.m.

All performances are free, and the park will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, with attractions on several side stages. For complete schedule, visit www.chicagobluesfestival.us

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