Logan Center Bluesfest Line-Up Announced!

2018 has been an amazing year for me. As well as having one of the busiest gig schedule s in recent memory I have been hired as the Program Director for The Logan Center Bluesfest. And I am happy to announce the line-up has been released! Please go to the Logan Bluesfest website for details: Logan Center Bluesfest
RUTHIE FOSTER! CHARLIE MUSSLEWHITE! DEITRA FARR! CHRIS THOMAS KING! BILLY BRANCH! RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON! BILL SIMS! JERRON ‘BLIND BOY’ PAXTON! LEANN FAINE! THE CLAUDETTES! And so much more…

Here are some of my thoughts and descriptions of the festival and the direction I am trying to take it in:
In the last 100+ years The Blues has swept through the world and has changed the way musicians from every corner of the earth play and think about music.

It should never be overlooked that it is the aural rendering of African American history and culture and as such is a profound vehicle through which we can come to understand the history of America as well as the content and spirit of many important forms of African American art. At the Logan Center Bluesfest we intend to give such an important and monumental art form the space, shrift and consideration it deserves.

We will investigate the intersections where Blues meets other art forms and disciplines. We will examine its effects on and relationships with other musical genres. As well as explore definitions of what Blues really is and where it came from with an emphasis on the voices of the people whose ancestors brought us this music.

We will above all provide a space where Blues can continue to evolve and be the relevant and timeless form of self-expression that has inspired millions of people world wide.

The Blues as a genre is not a synonym for depression nor is it just house rockin’ music to promote the sale of BBQ and beer. They do go really well together but here at the Logan Center Bluesfest we will honor the depth of the impact Blues has had on the world by providing different spaces for exploration and discussion. At the same time the house will rock, bellies will rub, shimmies will shake and food will be shared! Because above all the Blues is a balm and a celebration of all emotions…a celebration of life!

What better place than on the south side of Chicago where electrified, urban Blues evolved into an art form that gave birth to Rock and Roll, Rock, funk, R&B and Soul music among many other genres of modern music) to have a festival that elevates the performance and discourse of Blues Music?
Please do all you can to help us spread the word about a Bluesfest that will quickly become one the most important annual Blues events in the world.