“…the blues can be really positive and I think anyone and everyone can have a place for the blues. It need not always a woeful, sorrowful thing. It’s more reflective; it reminds you to feel.” – Mick Fleetwood
July 21, 2021 Volume 2, Issue 33
This Week in Chicago Blues: LIVE SHOWS Daily Calendar of LIVE Blues Events in the Chicago Area
Note: Please check with venue and artist websites for more information and to confirm appearances.
Wednesday July 21 Dave Specter w/ Brother John Kattke, 7:30 PM at Austin Community Tavern, 81 E 34th Street, Steger, IL MORE INFO
Thursday July 22
Brother John Kattke in The Blooze Brothers, 7:00 PM, Sinnissippi Park,1401 N 2nd Street Rockford IL MORE INFO
Carlos Johnson & The Serious Blues Band Featuring Bill Dickens, Doors 6:30 PM, Show 7:00 PM at Hey Nonny, 10 South Vail Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL MORE INFO
Lil’ Ed Williams Blues Band 9:00 PM at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Ave. , Chicago, IL, MORE INFO
Linsey Alexander, Vance Kelly, Doors 7:00 PM at Kingston Mines, 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Mike Wheeler Blues Band w/ Laretha Weathersby, Opens 8:00 PM, at Blue Chicago, 536 N Clark St, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Joey Saye & Gerry Hundt at Austin Community Tavern Steger, IL MORE INFO
Thursday July 22 – Special Event Featuring Katherine Davis at 6:00 PM National Public Housing Museum invites you to join us for On the Lawn with Katherine Davis, a concert with esteemed blues and jazz singer Katherine Davis and her band, to open a new exhibit featuring images of two works by Njideka Akunyili Crosby. As part of Toward Common Cause, a multi-site exhibition exploring questions of ownership and rights of access, NPHM opens the exhibit at 6:00-7:00 PM at 1322 W Taylor Street with a celebratory (25 min) set with former Cabrini-Green resident Katherine Davis and her band on the lawn directly east of the building. MORE INFO & REGISTER HERE
Friday July 23 Bear Williams Band, 9:00 PM at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Buffalo Nichols, 8:00 PM at SPACE 1245 Chicago Ave. Evanston IL, ALl ages MORE INFO
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Free show at 9:00 PM, at Hard Rock Casino, Gary, IN MORE INFO
Isley Brothers with Carl Thomas, Kindred the Family Soul, Chantay Savage, Sandy Redd, Nathan Palmer, Uneqka, Outdoor Show at Cross Pointe Park 2801 W. 167th, Hazel Crest MORE INFO
Mike Wheeler Band at Hard Rock Casino, Gary, IN MORE INFO
Nora Jean Bruso Blues Band, Venue opens 8:00 PM, at Blue Chicago, 536 N Clark St, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Omar Coleman, Vance Kelly, Doors 7:00 PM at Kingston Mines, 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Shawn Holt & The Teardrops, Doors 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM Show, The Venue presents Music in Mundy Park Outdoor Concert (Rain or Shine), Mundy Park is at 21-23 South Broadway, Aurora, IL (Bring your own chair or blanket)TICKETS & MORE INFO
“The Blues ain’t pretty but if it’s played right…the feeling is indescribable”
-Shawn Holt
Saturday July 24
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Free shows at 9:00 PM on July 23 and 24th, at Hard Rock Casino in Gary, IN MORE INFO
John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band 9:00 PM @ Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Free Show! Blues Brunch w/ Lil’ Ed Williams, 10:30 AM at Hey Nonny, 10 South Vail Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL MORE INFO
LIVESTREAM Sat. July 24:
Jimmy Burns at 4:00 PM CST Chicago Time, LIVE on Facebook MORE INFO
LIVESTREAM Sat. July 24:
Jimmy Johnson at 2:00 PM CST Chicago Time, LIVE on Facebook MORE INFO
Join Lynne Jordan for an outdoor festival of the summer! Lynne Jordan at Raue Center Arts on the Green Concert Series, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, St.Mary’s Episcopal Church, 210 McHenry Ave, Crystal Lake, IL MORE INFO
Mississippi Heat, 8:00 PM at House of Blues 329 N. Dearborn Chicago, IL 60654 MORE INFO
Nora Jean Bruso Blues Band, Venue opens 8:00 PM, at Blue Chicago, 536 N Clark St, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Omar Coleman, Vance Kelly, Doors 7:00 PM at Kingston Mines, 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Sunday July 25 Luke Pytel Blues Band w/ Shirley Johnson, Venue opens 8:00 PM at Blue Chicago, 536 N Clark St, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Nicknamed the “Sweetheart of the Blues” by the staff at BLUE CHICAGO, Shirley [Johnson] has been gracing the stage here since the 1990s with her spectacular performances.” – BlueChicago.com
Lynne Jordan, 4:00 PM, Front Porch Concert in Ravenswood (Chicago)MORE INFO
Source One Band, 7:00 PM on Sundays, at Odyssey East, 9942 S. Torrence MORE INFO | VENUE
Tuesday July 27 Pete Galanis & Friends Featuring Dave Herrero, 9:00 PM at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Bonus! Friday July 30 Lynne Jordan & The Shivers 8:00 PM at City Winery, 1200 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Chicago Blues Network offers “At Home Chicago Blues” lessons where you learn at home, on your own schedule, with world-class Chicago Blues musicians. Think it might break the bank? Hardly! It is $23.95/month and a portion of proceeds goes to help the Chicago community through The Blues Foundation and The Firehouse Community Arts Center in Lawndale.
How it works: You’ll choose your teacher (faculty includes Johnny Burgin, Joanna Connor, Billy Flynn, Brother John Kattke, Dave Specter and Harlan Terson) then enjoy video lessons and more!
I first met Tony at Rosa’s when covering Lil’ Ed. What a nice guy. He’s championed some of Chicago’s best blues talent through thick and thin. Encouraging, positive, his door at Rosa’s is open to musicians and fans alike. He knows, he’s been there as his brief bio below from Rosa’s website will atttest:
TONY MANGIULLO wasborn in Milano, Italy 1958. Started playing detergent boxes, chairs, pots and pans with spoons at the age of 3-5. Destroyed his first toy drum set on his 5th b-day which was finally replaced with a decent set at the age 14. Got interested in Chicago Blues and contribute to the start of the Mean Mistreaters Blues Band (Giancarlo Crea, Maurizio Simpsi) back in Milano, Italy. Came to Chicago in 1978 after meeting Jr. Wells and Buddy Guy in Milan. Tony found the true spirit of the blues at South side lounges like the legendary Theresa’s Lounge, and begin to play with the likes of John Primer, Sammy Lawhorn, Ernest Johnson and later on with Homesick James, Big Walter Horton and joined the Jimmy Rogers Blues Band with Wild Child Butler, Hip Linkchain, Sumito ‘Ariyo’ Ariyoshi.
He opened Rosa’s Lounge (1984) as a tribute to those cradles of blues tradition, and named it after his mother, Rosa, who had followed him here to help.
Rosa’s family of blues performers ranges the entire spectrum of styles, from traditional legends like David Honeyboy Edwards, Homesick James and Pinetop Perkins to Chicago modernists like Billy Branch, Melvin Taylor and Sugar Blue, and attracts second-generation sons of the blues like Eddie Taylor Jr. and Lurrie Bell.
This is a blues haven that feels like home to both the novice and the seasoned blues fan, “Chicago’s Friendliest Blues Lounge”, and Rosa’s was named “Chicago’s best blues club” by the New York Times and ” …a blues mecca for true believers” by Rolling Stone.
We are presently celebrating our 37th Anniversary, and we invite you to share in the festivities.
Rosa’s Lounge, “Chicago’s Frendliest Blues Lounge,” is located @ 3420 W. Armitage Ave. Chicago, IL 60647, Ph. (773) 342-0452. rosaslounge.com
Mr. Hurley is a contributing photographer and writer for Living Blues Magazine and the staff photographer for Chicago Blues Network. His recent book Blues Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Chicago, in collaboration with Blues historian and author David Whiteis, showcases his work in the field. His passion for blues music began with a 6th grade dance party discovery of Bo Diddley which led to Little Walter, muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and so on. It continues to this day. Visit Peter’s Website here.
The Collection Effect Chicago Blues Music Releases, Featuring Chicago Blues Network Faculty and Trading 4s Concert Performers
In case you missed these, here’s some music to add to your collection!
Johnny Burgin – “Cherry On Top” (feat. Anson Funderburgh) – Digital Single MORE INFO
Joanna Connor – 4801 South Indiana Avenue – Album MORE INFO
These are just a few of the many great Blues music releases. You can also shop Chicago Blues Network for CDs, exclusive photos by Peter M. Hurley and the collectible 2021 Chicago Blues Network calendar.
