Blues University and the City of Chicago invite music fans to warm up with a busload of blues on Saturday, January 17th when the Chicago Blues Tour departs from the “hub” of the tour, Alcock’s Inn, at 411 S. Wells St. The Chicago Blues Tour is a “pub crawl” event connecting 9 of Chicago’s famous south-side and wes-side lounges featuring live blues, with 12 live blues bands performing all night long. Tickets ($40) include all transportation and admission charges for a nightlong blues safari. Buses depart from Alcock’s every ten minutes from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., and then begin shuttling between clubs from 8:30 p.m to 2:00 a.m. Tickets are available through the Chicago Blues Tour website, http://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 Chicago Blues Tour showcases the wide variety of modern blues talent on display in Chicago, from the young guitar slingers , Nathan Graham, and Trey Banks; to world-renowned veterans like Johnny Drummer and Vance Kelly; to rising blues divas like Sharon Lewis and Mz. Peachez; to soul-blues stars of the Chicago underground like Super Percy and Fantastic L-Roy. The tour emphasizes off-the-beaten-path, classic lounges, on Chicago’s south and west side blues circuits.
Blues University sponsors classes and events that expand the understanding and audience for blues music. The Chicago Blues Tour 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.
Winter 2009 Chicago Blues Tour
PARTICIPATING CLUBS AND PERFORMERS:
ALCOCK’S INN, 411 S. WELLS, 312-922-1778
(continuous music from 8:30 p.m.)
SUPER PERCY & HIS SOUL CLIQUE
NATHAN GRAHAM BLUES TRIO
–
TASTE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER 6331 S. LOWE, 773-873-6700
(continuous music from 8 p.m.)
TAILDRAGGER & HIS CHICAGO BLUES BAND
LARRY TAYLOR BLUES & SOUL BAND featuring Vernon Harrington
–
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
(7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
JOHNNY DRUMMER & THE STARLITERS with special guests
–
LINDA’S PLACE 1044 W. 51ST ST., 773-373-2351
(7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
FANTASTIC L-ROY & THE BULLETPROOF BAND
–
R00T INN, 230 W. ROOT ST., 773-268-1525
(8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
TREY AND THE BLUE KNIGHTS with Lady Kat
–
FOR THE GOOD TIMES LOUNGE, 5545 S. DAMEN AVE., 312-259-0204
(7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
“KILLER” RAY ALLISON & THE KILLER BAND
–
ROSA’S LOUNGE, 3420 ARMITAGE AVE., 773-342-0452
(continuous music from 8 p.m.)
GUY KING
SHARON LEWIS TEXAS FIRE
–
WALLACE’S CATFISH CORNER, 2800 W. MADISON ST., 773-638-3474
(8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
CYRUS HAYES & LADY LEE
