The blues will be celebrated in a big way this summer if the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival lineup announced Wednesday morning by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is any indication.
The largest free blues festival in the world, which runs June 5-8, features three days of performances across four stages in Millennium Park, a Maxwell Street Blues Series, and a full day of programming at the Ramova Theatre.
Headlining the 41st annual festival at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park are Grammy Award winner and Chicago gospel/R&B icon Mavis Staples on June 8, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on June 7, and a B.B. King Centennial tribute on June 6 featuring Kingfish, D.K. Harrell, and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band.
Opening day kicks off at the Ramova, located at 3520 S. Halsted Street, hosted by WVON-1690, featuring “The Blues Sessions” panel moderated by blues scholar and music producer Dick Shurman.
The panel will include a conversation with bluesman Bobby Rush, followed by performances by Rush and Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues.
Fans must RSVP online (first-come, first-served) for this free event starting at 10 a.m. on May 6 at ramovachicago.com.
For more information on the entire festival, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us.
The schedule for the Blues Festival is as follows:
**June 5 – Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St., Bridgeport**
Doors open at 3:30 p.m.; programming runs from 4–11 p.m.
The event is for those aged 18 and older, although minors accompanied by their guardians will be admitted.
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 will be provided 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 in collaboration with the Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter.
7:30–8:30 p.m. – Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues perform, followed by Bobby Rush from 9 to 10:15 p.m.
**June 6 – Millennium Park**
In the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the programming kicks off with an emcee intro, the national anthem, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at 3:45–4 p.m.
4–5 p.m. – D.K. Harrell takes the stage.
5:15–6:15 p.m. – Dawn Tyler Watson performs.
6:30–7:15 p.m. – John Primer performs with Steve Bell.
7:30–9 p.m. – B.B. King Centennial tribute, featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, D.K. Harrell, and Jonathan Ellison, in a co-presentation 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 perform.
1:30–2:45 p.m. – Vick Allen featuring the Velvet Soul Band takes the stage.
3–4:15 p.m. – Johnny Rawls Soul Review follows.
4:30–5:45 p.m. – Eddie Cotton round out the day.
**Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)**
12:30–1:45 p.m. – Ivan Singh performs.
2–3:15 p.m. – Jamiah “Dirty Deacon” Rogers and the Dirty Church Band take the stage.
3:30–4:45 p.m. – Rico McFarland performs.
5–6:15 p.m. – Sheryl Youngblood follows.
6:30–7:45 p.m. – The Mike Wheeler Band wraps up the evening programming.
**June 7 – Millennium Park**
In the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, programming continues with an intro, the national anthem, and
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