Each year, more than 500,000 blues fans gather in Chicago’s Millennium Park and venues across the city for multiple days of performances — all free and open to the public — featuring some of the genre’s most revered musicians, along with up-and-coming and local talent.
Highlights from this year’s star-studded line-up include Mavis Staples, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, a B.B. King Centennial Tribute, and a Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle.
This beloved annual event is a defining feature of Chicago’s legendary blues scene, which attracts blues fans and top-tier talent all year long.
Chicago Blues Festival 2025 lineup
Chicago Blues Festival, photo by Walter Mitchell III
The Chicago Blues Festival always features a packed schedule of performances with four days of established and emerging talent in downtwon Millennium Park, with dozens of performances and hundreds of artists celebrating the city’s iconic blues legacy.
Thursday, June 5 – Opening Night at Ramova Theatre
Ramova Theatre
Living Blues Panel Discussion: Featuring Jim O’Neal, Scott Barretta, Brett Bonner, Bruce Iglauer and Deitra Farr, Moderated by Dick Shurman, Introductions by Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo
Up Close & Personal with Bobby Rush: Moderated by Julia Miller, President/CEO of Delmark Records, Presented with The Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter
Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues
Bobby Rush
Friday, June 6 – Millennium Park
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
D.K. Harrell
Dawn Tyler Watson
John Primer with Steve Bell
B.B. King Centennial Tribute Featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, D.K. Harrell and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, Co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center
Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
Lady Adrena and LA Band
Vick Allen featuring the Velvet Soul Band
Johnny Rawls Soul Review
Eddie Cotton
Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)
Ivan Singh
Jamiah “Dirty Deacon” Rogers and the Dirty Church Band
Rico McFarland
Sheryl Youngblood
The Mike Wheeler Band
Chicago Blues Festival, photo credit Patrick L. Pyszka
Chicago Blues Festival, photo credit Patrick L. Pyszka
Saturday, June 7 – Millennium Park
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle Featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace and Mzz Reese with Jonathan Ellison
Joey J. Saye, Stephen Hull and Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
Latimore
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
2 Blues for You
Jessie Robinson
Vickie Baker, The V Souls and The Groove Crew
John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)
Stefan Hillesheim Band
Michael Damani
Lynne Jordan and The Shivers
Joe Barr and The Platinum Band
Theo Huff
Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues
Wendy & DB
Chicago Blues Revival
Curie Metropolitan High School
Bandwith
VanderCook College of Music
Sunday, June 8 – Millennium Park & Maxwell Street
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Chess Records
C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band
Lurrie Bell and Frank Catalano
Mavis Staples
Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)
Stevie J and The Blues Eruption
Nellie “Tiger” Travis
Jonathan Ellison
Ms. Jody
Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)
Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport
Jimmy Burns Band
Nick Alexander Blues Band
Sonia Astacio
3 by 3 Crew: Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice Vaughn with Tim Taylor
Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace – Next Generation of Blues
Wiggleworms featuring Amanda Payne & Will Fancher of Old Town School of Folk Music
Noon–12:45 p.m. – Fernando Jones Presents the Knott Us Band
Kenwood Academy High School
Nicholas Senn High School
A Patch of Blues
Maxwell Street Blues Series Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.
DJ James Porter
Marty “Big Dog” Mercer Duo
DJ James Porter
Omar Coleman Westside Soul
DJ James Porter
Harmonica Hinds Duo
About the Chicago Blues Festival
Blues Festival
The Chicago Blues Festival, the largest free blues festival in the world, is an annual event hosted by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The festival is typically held in lakefront Millennium Park in early June.
The lineup includes a diverse mix of local and national acts, with notable past performances from Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, the Staples Singers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Dixon, and more.
Chicago Blues Fest history The city’s first Chicago Blues Festival was held in 1984, a year after the death of blues icon Muddy Waters, known as the father of modern Chicago blues. Since then, the event has been dedicated to celebrating blues as a living tradition, honoring Chicago’s rich blues legacy, and paying homage to the genre’s past, present, and future.
The blues found its way to Chicago as African Americans left the South for the industrialized north during the Great Migration. Chicago-style blues was born when amplification was added to traditional Delta blues in order to compete with the volume of the city’s bustling streets. Today, acclaimed as a global blues capital, the city is synonymous with its signature only-in-Chicago sound.
Since its founding, the fest has become a staple in Chicago’s free summer music festival lineup for four decades, the festival’s diverse lineup has included everyone from B.B. King and Buddy Guy to Etta James and Koko Taylor and beyond.
Chicago Blues Festival, photo credit Patrick L. Pyszka
Where is the Chicago Blues Festival? The Chicago Blues Festival is held at Millennium Park in the city’s downtown. There will also be citywide celebrations that take place throughout Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.
Is Chicago Blues Festival free? The Chicago Blues Festival is free and open to the public. The annual summer event is known as the largest free blues festival in the world and draws thousands of fans to Chicago’s lakefront Millennium Park.
How do I get to Chicago Blues Festival? Public transportation is one of the easiest ways to get to Chicago Blues Festival. The city’s public transit system connects visitors to Millennium Park by bus and train. Millennium Park is also directly accessible via Metra.
Nearby parking garages are located at Grant Park North Garage (25 N. Michigan Ave.), Grant Park South Garage (325 S. Michigan Ave.) and Millennium Park Garage & Millennium Lakeside Garage (5 S. Columbus Dr.).
Can I bring a folding chair and blanket to the Chicago Blues Festival? Yes, but folding chairs are only allowed on the Great Lawn and are not allowed in the seating area of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Can I bring food and drinks to Chicago Blues Fest? Yes! All guests will be allowed to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages to free events at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
Will food and drinks be available to purchase? Food will be available for purchase from various concession areas. Alcohol will be available for sale inside the park. Alcohol purchased at the concessions must remain in the concession footprint.
Back by popular demand, the festival elevates its food options with a Blues-inspired smokehouse experience called “Wally’s BBQ Pit” in the North Promenade Tent of the Park with delicious BBQ fare and specialty drinks catered by Eleven North Hospitality. In between Blues sets, guests can stop to enjoy their BBQ, cornbread, and drinks on picnic tables alongside whiskey barrels and smokers.
What is the rain policy? Concerts and performances in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion are held rain or shine, unless there are severe weather warnings and/or the threat of lightning in the area. Please plan ahead for your comfort while enjoying this outdoor venue.
Are recording devices allowed during a concert? Photography, video, or recording devices are prohibited at all concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Can I bring my dog to Chicago Blues Festival? Animals are not permitted in Millennium Park, unless they are service animals.
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