Shemekia Copeland, a 45th anniversary celebration of Chicago-based Alligator Records and a tribute to Otis Rush will be featured at the 33rd annual Chicago Blues Festival, running June 10-12 in Grant Park.
The festival will kick off with the Alligator Records homage, featuring Tommy Castro & the Painkillers at 6 p.m.; Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials at 7 p.m.; and Copeland, with guest Curtis Salgado, at 8:15 p.m. June 10.
A Soul/R&B Night will spotlight Irma Thomas at 6:30 p.m.; Fred Wesley & The New J.B.’s at 8:05 p.m. June 11.
And a Tribute to Otis Rush will present Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters at 5 p.m.; Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater at 6:30 p.m.; and Jimmy Johnson, Carl Weathersby, Bob Stroger, Lurrie Bell, Eddie Shaw and others at 8 p.m. June 12.
These headliners, and others, will appear at the Petrillo Music Shell. Additional artists, including those who will perform on the daytime stages, will be announced in the spring.
All the events are free. For more information, visit www.chicagobluesfestival.us.
Howard Reich is a Tribune critic.
hreich@tribpub.com
Twitter @howardreich
