CHICAGO, IL. (Top40 Charts/ Blues University Official Website) - Blues University, Blues Festival Guide, Jazz Record Mart, and the City of
Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events invite music fans to celebrate the 'Blues Season' and the vitality of the blues, from
Chicago and beyond, on Saturday, May 22nd. Join the
Chicago Blues Tour, a 'pub crawl' event, connecting 10
Chicago venues featuring live blues as it departs from the 'hub' of the tour,
Lizzie McNeill's, at 400 N. McClurg Ct.
Tickets ($45) include all transportation and admission charges for a nightlong blues adventure, with 11 live blues bands performing all night long. Buses depart from Lizzie's every ten to twenty minutes from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and then begin shuttling between clubs until 2:00 a.m. Tickets are available through the Chicago Blues Tour website, www.chicagobluestour.com, or by phone via Ticketweb at 866.468.3401. A limited supply of tickets may be available at the door, but advance tickets are strongly recommended, as the tour often sells out. For further information, visit the website or call the toll-free BluesLine at 866-LIVEBLUES (866-548-3258). Maps, schedules, and an FAQ are also updated frequently at the website.
The BluesTour continues its tradition of featuring emerging blues artists and the dynamic evolution and revitalization of blues, with 'young gun' guitarist Chris Canas, and the re-emergence of veteran Michael Coleman, while also celebrating the 'Southern Soul' tradition with singers JoJo Murray and Sherman 'Moody' Thomas, and rising guitar stars like Canas and 'Chicago Blues Challenge' finalist Chainsaw Dupont, as well as axe vets like Vance Kelly and Linsey Alexander.
The tour also features favorites of Chicago's soul-blues underground, Super Percy and Fantastic L-Roy, who infuse their blues with inventive hybrids of jazz, rock, soul, funk, and even hip-hop elements. The Tour emphasizes off-the-beaten-path, classic lounges on Chicago's south and west side blues circuits, with audiences drawn from the neighborhood, who favor entertaining variety over purity of tradition.
The Chicago BluesTour, now entering its 20th anniversary year, is part of a slate of 'Chicago Blues Weekend' events that celebrates the vitality of the Chicago blues club scene (www.chicagobluesweekend.com) and which also includes Chainsaw Dupont's CD release party on Friday, and a Maxwell Street Blues Jam Shuttle and walking tour on Sunday.
Blues University sponsors classes and events that expand the understanding and audience for blues music. The Chicago Blues Tour, which showcases the wide variety of modern blues talent on display in Chicago, began in 1990 as the West Side Blues Tour and has expanded in scope to include live blues venues throughout Chicago, and has helped promote blues with assistance from the Mayor's Office of Special Events since 1998. Blues U. maintains an online archive of blues information and also launched a blues news service, BluesWire, in 2008.
PARTICIPATING CLUBS AND PERFORMERS:
LIZZIE MC NEILL'S, 400 N. McCLURG, 312- 467-1992
Acoustic Advance Party (Early departure ticketholders only)
- DONNA HERULA 5:40 to 7:40 p.m.
Electric, 3 sets
- CHRIS CANAS BLUES REVOLUTION (from Ann Arbor) 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
SPECTRUM BAR & GRILL, 233 S. HALSTED, 312-714-0770
(9:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.)
- LINSEY ALEXANDER BLUES BAND
TASTE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER 6331 S. LOWE, 773-873-6700
(8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
- SUPER PERCY & HIS SOUL CLIQUE
CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE 5201 S. HARPER, 773-684-1472
(9:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.)
- VANCE KELLY & THE BACKSTREET BLUES BAND
LEE'S UNLEADED BLUES 7401 S. SOUTH CHICAGO, 773-493-3477
(8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
- SHERMAN 'MOODY' THOMAS
LINDA'S PLACE 1044 W. 51ST ST., 773-373-2351
(8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
- FANTASTIC L-ROY & THE BULLETPROOF BAND
THE WATER HOLE, 1400 S. WESTERN AVE., 312-243-7988
(7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
- CHAINSAW DUPONT AND THE BLUES WARRIORS
FOR THE GOOD TIMES LOUNGE, 5545 S. DAMEN AVE., 773-310-0398
(8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
- JOJO MURRAY & THE TOP FLIGHT BAND
ROSA'S LOUNGE, 3420 ARMITAGE AVE., 773-342-0452
(continuous music from 8 p.m.)
- MICHAEL COLEMAN & THE BACKBREAKERS
- ROB BLAINE BAND
ROOSTER'S PALACE, 4501 W. MADISON, 773-690-6934
(7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
- PEACHES STATEN & THE GROOVESHAKERS
CHICAGO BLUES WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
(full details: www.chicagobluesweekend.com)
Friday, May 21
- Chicago Blues Express Friday Blues Shuttle (3 bands, 2 drinks, 1 CD):
Lizzie McNeill's, 400 N. McClurg Court
Advance Tickets required: www.chicagobluesweekend.com, $75
888-342-4650
departs 8:00, 9:00 PM (returns to Lizzie McNeill's after 5 hours)
5-hour Blues Shuttle includes:
-3 clubs admission & transport
- Lee's Unleaded Blues, Chainsaw Dupont CD Release Party
- For the Good Times Lounge, JoJo Murray Soul Revue (showcase)
- Taste Zodiac Lounge, Super Percy & His Soul Clique
-2 drink coupons
-1 CD download
Saturday, May 22
Chicago Blues Tour: 10 CLUBS, 11 BANDS pub crawl 8PM
Advance Tickets recommended: www.chicagobluestour.com, $45
866-LIVEBLUES (866-548-3258)
Lizzie McNeill's, 400 N. McClurg Ct.
Sunday, May 23
- Gospel Brunch 10 AM, 12:30 PM
House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn St.
Advance Tickets required: (312) 923-2000, $37.50
- Maxwell Blues Shuttle: www.maxwellbluesjam.com $10
888-342-4650
Shuttle departs from Chicago loop
- 9:30 AM
- 10:15 AM
- 11:00AM
Boarding locations:
- Lizzie McNeill's, 400 N. McClurg Court
- Jazz Record Mart, 25 E. Illinois
Shuttle Departs To Maxwell Street Foundation walking tours of the Maxwell Market District & Live Blues Jam
Passengers return downtown approximately 2 � to 2 � hours after departure
- Chicago Blues Express Sunday Blues Shuttle (3 bands, 2 drinks, 1 CD):
Lizzie McNeill's, 400 N. McClurg Court
Advance Tickets required: www.chicagobluesweekend.com, $75
888-342-4650
departs 7:30, 8:30 PM (returns to Lizzie McNeill's after 5 hours)
5-hour Blues Shuttle includes:
-3 clubs admission & transport
- Rooster's Lounge, Peaches Staten & the Grooveshakers
- For the Good Times Lounge, Killer Ray Allison
- Lee's Unleaded Blues, Super Percy & His Soul Clique
-2 drink coupons
-1 CD download
