Mark your calendars now to see Shemekia Copeland, Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Eric Gales, headliners for this year’s FREE 2022 Chicago Blues Festival planned the weekend of June 9-12 in the city’s Millennium Park. Experience Chicago’s rich blues music legacy for FREE at the 39th Annual Chicago Blues Festival happening Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 12 in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.). The Chicago Blues Festival will celebrate the genre’s music legacy in Chicago with live performances on six stages by the local and national blues artists in the city’s premier outdoor music venue.
Admission to the Chicago Blues Festival is free. For complete details, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us.
As the birthplace of house, gospel music, urban blues and other beloved genres, Chicago invites music lovers from around the world to celebrate its music legacy at the Chicago Blues Festival (June 9-12) – on stage in Millennium Park, at the Chicago Cultural Center as well as in music venues and clubs throughout the city. The festival’s diverse lineup has included everyone from B.B. King and Buddy Guy to Etta James and Koko Taylor and beyond. Performances showcase the genre’s contributions to soul, R&B, gospel, rock, hip-hop, and more.
“With a diverse lineup celebrating the blues’ past, present and future, the Chicago Blues Festival features live music performances on multiple stages in Millennium Park,” said Mark Kelly, Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. “Each year national and local artists celebrate the city’s rich Blues tradition while shining a spotlight on the genre’s contributions to soul, R&B, gospel, rock hip-hop and more.”
Headliners on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage will perform from 5 to 9pm each evening. Music and entertainment throughout the park will begin at 11am each day.
Millennium Park lineup
Thursday, June 9
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Tribute to Erwin Helfer and his Boogie Woogie Ensemble (with Skinny Williams, Davide Illardi, Katherine Davis, John Brumbach and Lou Marini)
- Emerging Artist – Jamiah Rogers
- Joanna Connor
- Toronzo Cannon
- Shemekia Copeland
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage
- Linsey Alexander
- Robert Kimbrough, Sr.
- The Keeshea Pratt Band
- Eddie Cotton
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade stage)
Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa’s Lounge home over the last 38 years, hosted by Tony Mangiullo.
Friday, June 10
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Tribute to Bob Stroger & Friends with special guest, Sam Burckhardt (with Billy Flynn, Kenny Smith, Rockin Eddie, Sam B and One Take Willie)
- Emerging Artist – Joey J. Saye
- Thornetta Davis
- The Mike Wheeler Band
- Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage
- Nora Jean Wallace
- Lucious Spiller
- Grady Champion
- Ms. Jody
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade stage)
Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa’s Lounge home over the last 38 years, hosted by Tony Mangiullo.
Saturday, June 11
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Chicago Soul Tribute to Gene Barge, Cicero Blake & Willie Henderson featuring Willie Henderson’s Big Bad Blues Band with special guests Ruby Andrews, Samota Acklin, Theresa Davis, Joe Barr and Willie White
- Emerging Artist – Nick Alexander
- Melody Angel
- Rico McFarland
- Ronnie Baker Brooks
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage
- JW Williams
- Dexter Allen
- Keith Johnson & The Big Muddy Band
- Cedric Burnside
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade stage)
Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa’s Lounge home over the last 38 years, hosted by Tony Mangiullo.
Sunday, June 12
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Women in Blues with a special tribute to Mary Lane featuring special guests, Peaches Staten, Shirley Johnson, Sheryl Youngblood, Demetria Taylor, Nora Jean Wallace, Laretha Weathersby, Sharon Lewis, Anne Harris and Donna Herula. Hosted by Lynne Jordan.
- Emerging Artist – Ivy Ford
- Annika Chambers
- The Kinsey Report
- Eric Gales
Visit Mississippi Juke Joint Stage
- Lurrie Bell
- Johnny Rawls
- Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band
- Mr. Sipp
Rosa’s Lounge (South Promenade stage)
Daily showcase of Chicago Blues legends and emerging artists that have called Rosa’s Lounge home over the last 38 years, hosted by Tony Mangiullo.
Millennium Park
201 E. Randolph St.
Michigan Ave. & Columbus Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601
The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago’s Music Festivals. During three days on four stages, blues fans enjoy free live music in the “Blues Capital of the World.” Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, the late Ray Charles, the late B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, the late Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark Jr, Rhiannon Giddens, Lil Ed and the Imperials and Bobby Rush.
Visiting the Park
Millennium Park and these Park spaces are Open Daily, 6am to 11pm:
- Boeing Galleries and exhibitions
- BP Bridge between Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park (except during events)
- Chase Promenades – including Cloud Gate (also known as “The Bean”) on Chase Promenade Central
- Crown Fountain (opening June 10th – water feature hours 8am-10pm)
- Lurie Garden
- HUB312 at the McDonald’s Cycle Center – open 9am-7pm
- Nichols Bridgeway between Millennium Park and Art Institute of Chicago (Art Institute of Chicago hours – closed during events)
- Welcome Center (201 E. Randolph St.) – open 9am-7pm (open until the end of the performance on event nights)
- Wrigley Square
- The Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Great Lawn are open for events only.
Millennium Park vehicle drop off point for visiting the Park is 201 E. Randolph St. (see below: Attending an Event).
Open Park Entrances:
- Michigan at Madison
- Michigan at Washington
- Monroe Ramp across from the Art Institute of Chicago
- Monroe at Columbus
- Randolph West Walkway (east of 201 E. Randolph St.)
- Wrigley Square (south of the corner of Michigan at Randolph)
All currently open entrance/exits have stairs and ramps. Some entrances may be closed as needed.
If capacity is reached within the Park, entrances will temporarily close. Guests will be asked to wait in lines for entry into the Park.
Park Safety and Security:
Millennium Park is a safe and welcoming space for everyone.
Effective immediately, guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult (21 years and older) after 6pm, Thursday through Sunday — and may be asked to present a valid ID. The adult must be present for the duration of the visit and may escort up to four young people. To review our youth escort policy, visit Millennium Park Rules.
As in previous years, outside alcohol is not allowed for the following events: Chicago Gospel Music Festival (June 4, 2022), Chicago Blues Festival (June 9–12, 2022), Grant Park Music Festival Independence Day Salute (July 2, 2022) and Chicago Jazz Festival (September 1–4, 2022). For these events, alcohol at various price points may be purchased inside the venue. Before visiting, please be advised of these other Prohibited Items.
For more details, see Attending an Event.
Restrooms & Water Fountains:
The arcade restrooms on the east and west sides (lower level) of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion are open during Park hours and have multiple wheelchair accessible and ambulatory stalls.
A single stall restroom is in the north end of the lower-level arcade hallway on the east side of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Accessible restrooms are also located in the McCormick Tribune Plaza adjacent to the Millennium Hall on Michigan Ave.
Water fountains are available in the hallways leading to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion restrooms and around the perimeter of the Great Lawn.
Food & Beverage:
Subject to bag search at the security perimeter, guests will be allowed to bring their own food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages to all events at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion EXCEPT Chicago Gospel Music Festival (June 4, 2022), Chicago Blues Festival (June 9–12, 2022), Grant Park Music Festival Independence Day Salute (July 2, 2022) and Chicago Jazz Festival (September 1–4, 2022). For these events, alcohol at various price points may be purchased inside the venue. Before visiting, please be advised of these other Prohibited Items.
Concessions will be available on the McCormick Tribune Plaza (along Michigan Ave.) is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11am-8pm & Friday and Saturday 11am-9pm. Concessions will also be available on the West Pad during events
Lost & Found – Questions about lost and found items should be directed to the Welcome Center (open 9am-5pm & later during events). 312.742.1168
Tours and Information:
DCASE offers an outdoor walking tour featuring some of the fantastic public art in and around Millennium Park. Tours are led by knowledgeable DCASE Volunteers and take place on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month. Sign up to join us.
For other tours of Millennium Park, check out chicagogreeter.com.
Art in the Park:
The Crown Fountain is a “live” piece of art, and in its establishment has an agreement with the City, park founders and artist Jaume Plensa that it not display any images beyond the faces that were curated by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The image of Cloud Gate is copyrighted and trademarked to artist Anish Kapoor. Any commercial use of these images is strictly prohibited unless approved by the artist. Projections of images on Cloud Gate are also precluded by this copyright. For more information, email DCASE@cityofchicago.org.
