CHICAGO (CBS) — Friday night was the first night of the 2024 Chicago Blues Festival in Millennium Park.
Blues musicians Corey Harris and “The Mississippi Blues Child” Mr. Sipp each took the stage in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, along with a host of musicians honoring the 100th birthday of Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player Jimmy. Rogers. On Sunday night, Buddy Guy will headline what will be one of his final performances.
The Blues Festival is just one of the big events happening in the city this weekend that amounts to an unofficial kickoff to summer in Chicago. Midsommarfest in Andersonville is another – with live bands and their famous flower crowns.
“Midsommar is the Swedish celebration of summer. It’s the beginning of summer,” said Charlie Wein of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. “So we’ve been doing this — we’ve been doing this for 58 years.”
Midsommarfest is underway through Sunday on Clark Street, from Foster Avenue north to Gregory Street. About four and a half miles south, the Old Town Art Fair is also back for its 74th year in the historic Old Town Triangle District.
“It started many years ago when some neighbors encouraged artists to hang some of their artwork on a fence to sell it and help them out,” says Phillip Graff of the Old Town Art Fair, “and it became a thing .”
More than 200 artists from all over the world will present their work at the Old Town Art Fair. The art fair – which also features a garden walk, live music, food court and children’s corner – is open in the area of Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Park West and Wisconsin Street through Sunday at 6 p.m.
Humboldt Park, in the neighborhood of the same name, will host the Puerto Rican Festival, or Fiestas Patronales Puertorriqueñas, this weekend through Sunday with vendors, a parade and carnival rides.
The festivities also spread to the suburbs. Along a country road – well, more of a picturesque suburb, really – James Taylor & His All-Star Band will take the main stage at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park both Saturday and Sunday evenings.
The mating sounds of the 17-year-old cicada are expected to add their sound to this year’s music performances at Ravinia — even though the cicadas are relatively scarce in much of the city of Chicago.
And back in Millennium Park, the Blues Festival continues a tradition that has lasted for all but two of the past 40 years.
The first-ever blues festival in Grant Park was held in 1969, featuring Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley. The Blues Festival in its current form has been held annually in early June since 1984, and John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry alone and with Keith Richards, and BB King were among the many superstars to take the stage at the Petrillo Band Shell over the years.
The Blues Festival moved from Grant Park to Millennium Park in 2017. It took a two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since been back in full swing.
And Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, BB King? They all died. But Buddy Guy is still going at age 87, and large numbers of people are happy for the chance to see him.
“I think if you look out for anyone, you know, it’s the legend man right there!” Dennis Jackson said.
In total, more than 200 musicians will play on the stages of the Blues Festival this year.
“It’s really exciting,” said Maria Trakas. “People are all together – music brings people together. I don’t know, I like it. I come every year.”
The city advises people to expect street closures, crowds and poor traffic throughout the weekend, and to monitor the weather before heading out.
Naturally, safety is also paramountThat’s why the city is asking people to report suspicious activity.
