More stuff to do in Chicago this weekend - Blues Fest

It certainly doesn't feel like it with a cold front swirling over the great lakes and temps are hovering in the 50's, but Summer is officially now in full swing.  Chicago's 25th Annual Blues Festival is this weekend where you can hear live legends like B.B. King, Buckwheat Zydeco and Chicago favorite Lonnie Brooks all in Grant Park and all for free.

25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, Thursday, June 5 through Sunday June 8, 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. each day, Free admission, Grant Park

Thursday, June 5
11:00 a.m. - Blues in the Schools w/ Katherine Davis, Erwin Helfer, Eric Noden and the Stone Academy Blues All Stars, U.S. Cellular Front Porch Stage
12:45 p.m. - Professor Fernando Jones Columbia College Blues Ensemble, U.S. Cellular Front Porch Stage
2:30 p.m. - David "Honey Boy" Edwards and Friends (Billy Branch, Louisiana Red, Paul Kaye, Aron Burton, and Johnny Yard Dog Jones), U.S. Cellular Front Porch Stage. Edwards is one of the last original delta blues guitarists still currently performing, so be sure to catch him while you can.
2:30 p.m. - Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, Louisiana Bayou Station and Social Club Stage (Also playing the U.S. Cellular Front Porch Stage, Friday, June 6, at 11:00 a.m. and the Gibson Guitar's Crossroads Stage, Saturday, June 7 at 12:00 p.m.)
4:00 p.m. - Diamond Jim Greene, Maxwell Street Corner Stage
8:30 p.m. - Johnny Winter with James Cotton, Petrillo Music Shell. "Bring your sunglasses to keep the glare of his albino skin from blinding you." - Chuck.

Friday, June 6
2:30 p.m. - Louis Jordan: Hitmaker of Blues, Jazz and R&B, a discussion with Howard Mandel, Bill Milkowski, Lonnie Brooks, Bob Porter, and Ernest Dawkins, The Zone Perfect All-Natural Nutrition Bars Route 66 Roadhouse. July 8th would be Jordan's 100th birthday, so it's a good time to catch this discussion on the man often called "the father of rhythm and blues."
2:30 p.m. - Omar Shariff, Louisiana Bayou Station and Social Club Stage (Also playing the same stage on Saturday, June 7 at 4:00 p.m.; not to be confused with actor Omar Sharif)
4:30 p.m. - Jim O’Neal moderates “'Sweet Home Chicago': Anthem or Cliché?" featuring Billy Branch, Bill Gilmore and Bill Dahl, The Zone Perfect All-Natural Nutrition Bars Route 66 Roadhouse. Another great discussion, this time on the legendary blues song.
7:25 p.m. - Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater’s West Side Strut with special guests Lonnie Brooks, Jimmy Johnson, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Otis Clay and Billy Branch, Petrillo Music Shell

Saturday, June 7
2:30 p.m. - Juke Joint Duo: Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm, Mississippi Juke Joint Stage (Also play the same stage on Sunday, June 8 at 1:30 p.m.)
8:35 p.m. - Buckwheat Zydeco, Petrillo Music Shell

Sunday, June 8
12:00 p.m. - Rodney Brown’s salute to Louis Jordan, Gibson Guitar's Crossroads Stage
2:30 p.m. - Tony Joe White, U.S. Cellular Front Porch Stage
8:15 p.m. - B.B. King, Petrillo Music Shell.