• NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from Blues Scene about music & art.

Nathan Graham and Buffalo Nichols: The Rising Stars of Roots and Blues Music

February 7, 2023

Exclusive Premiere: MEM_MODS Create Cinematic Suspense in ‘Midtown Miscommunication’

February 6, 2023

High Moon Records Unveils First-Ever Anthology From Singer-Songwriter Laurie Styvers

February 3, 2023

Exclusive: Sarah Rogo Premieres Video for ‘All of These Things Must Die’ From New Concept Album

February 3, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
  • NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
Home»News»Summer Camp – Chicago Blues Style
News

Summer Camp – Chicago Blues Style

JD NashBy JD NashFebruary 9, 2018Updated:April 9, 2020No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

The Chicago Blues Camp is currently registering campers for its 2018 run. Instead of canoeing, hiking, and arts & crafts, Chicago Blues Campers are immersed in learning and playing guitar, bass, and harmonica, the Chicago way.

Founder, and Camp Director, Brett Champlin, promises there’s nothing else like Chicago Blues Camp anywhere. From June 3rd, through June 8th, campers age 21 and over attend classes in either intermediate or advanced blues guitar, blues bass, or blues harp. Classes are taught by actual working Chicago musicians. These masters of their craft include Billy Flynn, Eddie Taylor Jr., Harlan Terson, Bob Stroger, Jimmy Burns, Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, Martin Lang, and Matthew Skoller. But that’s just the beginning.

The week-long camp includes 32 hours of group instruction, where campers learn classic Chicago blues songs, but there is much more. 12+ hours of jam sessions, presentations on blues history, culture and development, workshops in specific topics, outings to famous Chicago blues clubs, lodging for 5 days and 5 nights, and all meals are included in the price.

RockinJohnnyBurgin
Rockin’ Johnny Burgin – blues guitar instructor at Chicago Blues Camp

For an additional enrollment fee, attendees can stay for the 2018 Chicago Blues Festival. This add-on package includes 3 additional nights lodging, within walking distance of the festival, concierge service, maps, and tips. (Campers attending from outside the continental US have this package added to their experience for free).

Instructors and campers both rave about the experience. Blues guitar instructor, Rockin’ Johnny Burgin told us, “I feel like the combination of classes with experiences listening and sitting in at the blues clubs is a real-deal experience. I wish I had something like this when I was starting out!”

Harlan_Terson
Harlan Terson – blues bass instructor at Chicago Blues Camp

“I teach full time at the Old Town School Of Folk Music, primarily as a bass instructor,” said Harlan Terson. “While it’s a great place to work, the blues camp gives me more of an opportunity to share my specific experience of 40+ years in the Chicago blues community.”

“I was fortunate to come along at a time when the creators of this music were still around,” Terson added. “I was able to see many of them first hand, and even play with some of them. They were welcoming and encouraging, and this is an opportunity to pay that forward. I participated in the camp last year, and was pleased to see how all of the students shared in the experience, and I saw a lot of camaraderie, mutual support, and encouragement. I look forward to participating again this year.”

Mike Enloe, a Chicago Blues Camp attendee from the US Virgin Islands, told us, “First, let me say that I have only good memories of a very good experience. The instructors, clinicians, and speakers were dynamite. I will single out Billy Flynn, our guitar instructor, as he was the keystone to such a great learning experience and fun week.”

“I should mention the immersion aspect of the camp,” he continued. “As a fairly new blues guitar player, I didn’t really appreciate the full depth of the Chicago side of blues. After a week of history lectures, tour of Chess Records, endless stories (‘when I was playing with Muddy….’), and learning from the classic playbook, I felt like I had lived and breathed Chicago blues. I’ll never lose that connection.”

Speaking about his first night at camp, Enloe said, “After arriving early, I called Brett to ask him how I should spend my first night. He directed me to look out the window of the dorm to spot Buddy Guy’s Legends club. 15 minutes later I was having a beer, listening to killer blues, and then watched Buddy make his way to the stage for an unscheduled performance! So, yeah, I’ve got my tickets, and am ready to travel a couple thousand miles for another best week ever!”

Registration for Chicago Blues Camp 2018

*Feature Image: Billy Flynn at Greenbelt Cultural Center, October 2012. Photo: Low-Reen’s Live Blues courtesy of Chicago Blues Camp

Billy Flynn Bob Stroger Chicago Blues Camp Chicago Blues Festival Eddie Taylor Jr Harlan Terson Jimmy Burns Martin Lang Matthew Skoller Rockin' Johnny Burgin
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleValerie June Is Connected
Next Article Longtime Host of King Biscuit Time “Sunshine” Sonny Payne Dead at 92
JD Nash

JD Nash is the former host of Blues Influence on WREN radio and current editor-in-chief of American Blues Scene.

Related Posts

High Moon Records Unveils First-Ever Anthology From Singer-Songwriter Laurie Styvers

February 3, 2023

Full Winners List for 2023 International Folk Music Awards

February 2, 2023

New Orleans Suspects and Sol Roots Perform at The Hamilton Live

February 1, 2023

Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison, Adrian Belew Announce Additional 2023 ‘Remain In Light’ Tour Dates

January 31, 2023

Comments are closed.

Advertisment
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Videos
  • About

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.