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The world's biggest free blues festival is back in Chicago this weekend

Chicago has the blues—the good kind!

Wendy Altschuler
Written by
Wendy Altschuler
Chicago Blues Festival
Photograph: Walter S. Mitchell III/City of Chicago | Chicago Blues Festival
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One of the biggest (literally!) names of summer festival season in Chicago is back again: The Chicago Blues Festival 2025, the largest free blues music festival in the world, is horn-blowing its way into the Windy City for its 40th installment (the only year it skipped was 2020, naturally), taking over Ramova Theatre, Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Millennium Park from tonight, June 5 through Sunday, June 8.

RECOMMENDED: Millennium Park's free summer lineup includes outdoor concerts, movies and workout classes

This outdoor festival is a great way to enjoy the city and Chicago’s culture and history, closely tied to its music scene. You’re sure to hear some quintessential Chicago blues, a specific electric genre that dates back to the 1940s when Mississippi blues artists made their way to the Illinois city, forever influencing its music and culture.

The live music event regularly attracts more than 500,000 listeners to Millennium Park and fellow venues across its festival dates. In addition to celebrated professional artists, including real-deal icons like Mavis Staples and Bobby Rush, you can also listen to new and upcoming musicians as they take the stage—some for the first time. This year's lineup includes a B.B. King Centennial Tribute featuring Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, D.K. Harrell, and Jonathan Ellison as well as a Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle featuring Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, and Mzz Reese with Jonathan Ellison.

Good to know: While the event is indeed free of charge, admission is first-come, first-served so arrive early to secure your spot.

Check out the full lineup of Chicago Blues Festival performances below: 

Thursday, June 5

Ramova Theatre
7:30-8:30 p.m. - Billy Branch and The Sons of Blues
9-10:15 p.m. - Bobby Rush

Friday, June 6

Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45-4 p.m. - Emcee Intro Remarks + National Anthem + Lift Every Voice
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
7:30-9:00 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 and 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 (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

Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45-4 p.m. - Emcee Intro Remarks, National Anthem, 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. - Jesse 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 (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 Metro High School
2-2:45 p.m. - Bandwith
3-4 p.m. - VanderCook College of Music

Sunday, June 8

Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:30-3:45 p.m. - Emcee Intro Remarks + National Anthem + Lift Every Voice and Sing
3:45-5 p.m. - Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Chess Records with special guest artists, Mud Morganfield, Mitty Collier, Charles Berry, Jr., Charles Berry III, Melvin Taylor, Louisiana Al, Joe Barr, Steve Bell, Rodrigo Mantovani, Dudley Owens, Rick Hall, Simbryt Dortch, Lady Patice, Mae Koen, Sam Chess, and Joe Pratt
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
7:30-7:45 p.m. - Avery R. Young, Chicago Poet Laureate
7:45-9 p.m. - Mavis Staples

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
4:30-5:45 p.m. - Ms. Jody
3-4:15 p.m. - Jonathan Ellison
1:30-2:45 p.m. - Nellie “Tiger” Travis
Noon-1:15 p.m. - Stevie J and The Blues Eruption

Rosa’s Lounge (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

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