Chicago Blues Festival 2025 lineup and schedule announced

Get ready to feel the rhythm, Chicago, the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival is back and bigger than ever. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has announced the full lineup for the world’s largest free blues festival, returning from June 5 till June 8 across Millennium Park and other venues citywide.

The free festivities kick off Thursday, June 5, at the newly restored Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. Co-hosted by WVON 1690, the opening night includes The Blues Sessions with a Living Blues Panel moderated by Dick Shurman, a conversation with blues legend Bobby Rush, and a double-bill concert featuring Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues and Bobby Rush. Free RSVPs open May 6 at ramovachicago.com.

From Friday through Sunday, the action moves to Millennium Park, with headline performances at Jay Pritzker Pavilion featuring:

• Mavis Staples, June 8, the iconic GRAMMY-winning singer and civil rights activist.
  

• Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, June , a guitar virtuoso and rising star of the blues world.
  

• B.B. King Centennial Tribute, 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.
  

Additional festival highlights include a Women in Blues Tribute honoring Denise LaSalle, starring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, and more; a special 75th anniversary tribute to Chess Records by Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation; and electrifying performances from Lurrie Bell, Latimore, C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, D.K. Harrell, and others.

Stages throughout the park include the Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage, the Rosa’s Lounge Stage, and the brand-new Next Generation of Blues Stage on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace, supported by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation.

Sunday’s Maxwell Street Blues Series brings the sound back to the South Side, featuring Omar Coleman Westside Soul, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer, Harmonica Hinds, and more.

This year, DCASE is also backing free blues shows across the city in the week leading up to the festival through its new Citywide Blues Community Funding program.

Food lovers can look forward to Wally’s BBQ Pit serving up smoky favorites inside the park. Remember: no outside alcohol allowed, but drinks and food will be available for purchase on site.

The Blues Festival schedule:

Thursday, June 5, opening night at Ramova Theatre 

• 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 

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 

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 

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