The Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park June 12-14

“And This is Free” Cindy Gatziolis & Veronica Resa known as a rambling man. At the age of 15, he hit the The Chicago Blues Festival kicks off June 12 through road playing his harmonica. His life would forever be June 14 in Grant Park. This free and critically acclaimed altered when his cousin, Houston Stackhouse, taught event showcases the talents of Blues musicians known him slide guitar. Arriving in Chicago in the 1930s, he throughout the world. Always rooted in the struggle, became a fixture on Chicago’s historic Maxwell Street the music often is as uplifting as it is entertaining. but always considered the Mississippi Delta his home. Each day of the fest tells a different story about life,

loss, independence and freedom and this year we will On Friday June 12th, there will be a special 70th celebrate the life and work of Robert Nighthawk on the Birthday Party for Eddie C. Campbell! He is considered centennial of his birth. In tribute to Nighthawk, you can one of the most distinctive, original bluesman ever and is be apart of “Art of Slide Guitar” session featuring Jeremy one of the last of the originators of the West Side sound Spencer, Lil Ed, John Primer & Elmore James Jr. Daily of Chicago blues still performing. Eddie C. is a master Festival hours are from 11 AM to 9:30 PM. Nighthawk, at deep funk blues grooves, mesmerizing audiences with born Robert Lee McCollum, in Helena Arkansas was his devastatingly wild, vibrato guitar and powerful, resonating vocals, along with a unique, personal songwriting style. The celebration begins at 8:20 PM, Friday on the Petrillo stage in Grant Park. Saturday and Sunday belong to the women of blues! Bettye LaVette performs at 8:20 PM, Saturday at the Petrillo stage. LaVette is one of the greatest soul singers in American music history and possesses an incredibly expressive voice that exudes a formidable level of strength and intensity as well as vulnerability.

Closing out Sunday night, 8:20 PM on Petrillo, is Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. Jones, once disregarded by shallow record producers in the 1970s, is now considered a legend for making new music sound “old school.” A Georgia native, Jones has the moves, the roots and the soul. And The Dap Kings, sometimes a back-up band to Amy Winehouse, have been sampled by everyone from Kanye West to Jurassic 5, together Sharon and The Dap Kings promise to funkify the Blues Festival. For many artists, playing the Chicago Blues Festival is considered a right of passage and this year the Blues Fest welcomes two dozen new performers to Sharon Jones the event. To date, blues is considered one of the most

46 Equinox July 2009 “Popular music like country, jazz, rock and roll, R&B and hip-hop are rooted in the blues.”

Willie Smith popular kinds of music and it has influenced many famous musicians. Popular music like country, jazz, rock & roll, R&B and hip-hop are rooted in the Blues. The Old Town School and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events celebrate the 30-year anniversary of one of Chicago’s venerated Blues labels, Earwig Music. Join in the celebration all weekend at the fest and for pre- events held at The Old Town School featuring Johnny Drummer & the Starliters and Liz Mandeville & the Blue Points, visit oldtownschool.org

Gibson Guitar Crossroads stage located on Jackson and Lake Shore Drive in Grant Park will provide music fans with the ultimate guitar experience. A “state-of-the- art” custom trailer will be on-site during the festival. The trailer will have thirteen interactive guitar stations with a combination of Gibson and Epiphone guitars, each providing the guitar lover with their own opportunity to jam. Music fans can also register to win a new Gibson guitar. Younger blues fans will appreciate the Diddly Bow making and story telling sessions as well as the Big Jack Johnson guitar workshop at the Roadhouse and for the up and coming artists and the daily jams at the Mississippi Juke Joint. The Chicago Blues Festival would like to thank the following sponsors: Chicago Jazz Magazine, Chicago Transit Authority, Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division, Rosa’s Lounge, ABSOLUT, Best Buy, Bud Light, Communications Direct, Essex Inn, FlashCash, Gibson Guitar, LaGrou Distribution System, Pepsi-Cola, Hyatt Regency, McCormick Place, Southwest Airlines, WSSD Radio-FM 88.1, Chicago Tribune, Chicagotribune.com/Metromix.com, CLTV- ChicagoLand’s Television, Health Craft Cookware, WGN-Television, ZonePerfect All Natural Nutrition Bars, 93XRT, Blues Heaven Foundation, Chicago Blues Foundation, Chicago Blues Museum Record Row Foundation, Hinckley Springs, Illinois Lottery, Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation, and Maxwell Street Foundation. For more information on the Chicago Blues Festival and the complete schedule, visit chicagobluesfestival.us or call 312.744.3315.

Eden Brent Photo Manipulation, Rachel Gray

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