For the first time, the music festival will not return to Grant Park
But it won’t be much farther away. The 34th Annual Chicago Blues Festival is set to take place at Millennium Park this year, from June 9 – 11.
Recognized as the city’s premier outdoor venue, Millennium Park is a scenic setting for one of the most celebrated events in Chicago. Fans will gather at the world’s largest free blues festival to enjoy local, national, and international artists inspired by the legendary art form.
This year’s edition takes a unique focus on the far-reaching influences of blues music on the sounds of today’s rap, hip-hop, R&B, rock, and pop artists. Chicago’s connection to blues is deep-rooted and its impact can be seen across genres.
B. B King
A photo posted by Ko Ko (@angelstar8888) on Jun 16, 2016 at 9:57am PDT
Headliners at the Chicago Blues Festival 2017 will perform at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion each night from 5pm – 9:30pm. The festival opens on Friday, June 9 with a 40th anniversary celebration of Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues, followed by a blues tribute with a rap and hip-hop perspective by Rhymefest. Saturday, June 10 will showcase William Bell, and inductee of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Sunday, June 11 will end the festival with Grammy Award-winning Gary Clark Jr., Rhiannon Giddens, and Ronnie Baker Brooks, who has worked with the likes of Keith Richards, Stevie Wonder, and Eric Clapton.
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Other stages at the venue that will feature live music are the Budweiser Crossroads Stage, the Rhythm and Blues Stage, and the Front Porch. The complete lineup and schedule will be released later this spring. The official festival preview will take place at noon on Monday, June 5 at Daley Plaza, while additional previews and film screenings will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Chicago Blues Festival is free to the public and open from 11am – 9:30pm daily. To learn more, visit the official website.
Featured Image Credit: Chicago Blues Experience
