(Photo By Flickr User Katherine Johnson)
The Chicago Blues Festival will be moving from Grant Park to Millennium Park in June 2017, joining city events such as the Jazz and Gospel fests at the Michigan Avenue venue.
In a statement, Mark Kelly, head of the Department of Cultural Affairs, said:
“We are excited to move the Chicago Blues Festival to Millennium Park where fans will be able to enjoy the finest blues performances in a setting that will only heighten the event’s reputation as the world’s preeminent free blues festival.”
A few performers for the event held June 9th-11th this year; they include Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues, Chicago native, Che “Rhymefest” Smith and what looks to be a packed day on Sunday, when Rhiannon Giddens, Gary Clark, Jr. and Ronnie Baker Brooks perform.
According to Associated Press and chicagotribune.com, the Blues Fest has been at its Grant Park location, based at Petrillo Music Shell, since 1984. At its peak, the event drew hundreds of thousands of fans. The new venue, Millennium Park, has a capacity of 11,000 (seats and lawn combined).
