The calendar may have moved into August, but the memories made in Chicago’s Millennium Park during the 2026 Chicago Blues Festival are still fresh. Since it’s been said that “pictures or it didn’t happen,” here is a photo recap of just some of the weekend happenings from the 42nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival.
Once again, Chicago proved to be the melting pot for blues lovers as the city played host to everyone from up-and-coming artists including the Patch of Blues band and Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport to veteran bluesmen like Billy Branch, the incomparable Taj Mahal and 95-year-old Bob Stroger.
Female blues people also had a prominent place at the table. There was an incredible “Women in Blues Tribute to Mama Yancey and Big Mama Thornton” and a hot set by Canadian blues singer, songwriter, guitar slinger and first-time festival performer, Sue Foley. Another talented Canadian, Shakura S’Aida, said she “waited a quarter century to be on this stage” while the always-entertaining, Grammy-winning Ruthie Foster also expressed her appreciation for appearing on the big stage at the world’s largest free blues festival.
Nick Moss and Dennis Gruenling Bring Classic Blues to the Rosa’s Tent
Moss and Gruenling have been making great music together for many years and this tight unit showcased their penchant for old-school Chicago blues as they played to a packed Rosa’s Tent. After suiting up on the Pritzker stage for the Alligator Records tribute on Friday night, a more casually dressed Moss impressed with his vocal range, guitar prowess and his connection to the Gruenling’s high-energy harp. Moss was also joined by former bandmate Gerry Hundt who came on for a few tunes before his trio’s turn on stage.
Gerry Hundt Trio Put on a First-Rate Set
Fresh off an appearance on WGN television’s Midday News, the Gerry Hundt Trio continued to make waves on the Rosa’s Stage. This trio, led by multi-instrumentalist Hundt, featured a pair of players from across the pond. Drummer Tom Lehnert is from Luxembourg and bass player/vocalist Renaud Lesire hails from Belgium.
During his time on WGN, Hundt said he hooked up with these intrepid artists when he visited his now-wife Lola in her native Belgium and announced his impending trip on Facebook. And, so, an international coalition of musicians was formed. Although two out of three trio members are European, their set demonstrated that blues has no boundaries.
Billed as the Oscar Wilson Band, this group was filled with familiar faces from Wilson’s Cash Box Kings crew, along with a guest appearance by Andre Taylor, who showcased some slick guitar licks that complemented Joe Nosek’s always powerful harp work. Then, it was time for Wilson to take the stage. Resplendent in a red suit, “Mr. 43rd Street” demonstrated the vocal ability that was made for belting out much-loved material like “Oscar’s Motel” and “Down on the South Side.”
Billy Branch Honored for Being Firmly Rooted in Chicago Blues Tradition
Hard to believe, but this high-energy harp master and Blues ambassador will turn 75 in October. During the proclamation from Mayor Brandon Johnson, Branch was lauded for devoting more than five decades performing and presenting the blues. Following this honor, Branch tore up the Pritzker Stage with his “brother by another mother,” Ronnie Baker Brooks and “the son I never had” Kenny Neal. They wrapped up this powerful show by performing Branch’s and Brooks’ anthem, “Playing for Change,” where they brought back S’Aida and Foster, along with the West Chicago Youth Gospel Choir.
Patch of Blues Continues to Find Their Groove
After wowing the crowd at the Big Llou fundraiser at Buddy Guy’s Legends earlier in the week, this soul and blues infused band continued their upward trajectory when they played on Sunday in the Rosa’s Tent. This youthful and talented group is comprised of Fati Jones (vocalist and percussion), Rebecca Egwuenu (lead guitar), Stacy Norris (drums), and Sam Jones (bass). This well-received set was also a testament to the work that the Fernando Jones’ blues camp program has done to help mentor talented musicians like these.
Rick King Rallies for the Royal Hustle
Although you’d never know from the high-energy show that he put on, percussion master Rick King was feeling poorly “with excruciating shoulder pain” before showtime on Sunday. He later shared on Facebook that he took the stage because of his thirty-year history with the Chicago Blues Festival, noting many blues legends often performed despite pain. So, King brought out his 13-piece band, including singer Alicia Ya Yah Townsend, who made a triumphant return after suffering a stroke a year ago. All told, it was an incredible show that was powered by perseverance and plenty of talent.
The Mississippi-Chicago Connection in Full Effect
Much has been made about the “Great Migration” and how it helped spawn electric blues in the Windy City. But Mississippi continues to export its extraordinary mélange of music to the masses, and this was evident through the diverse acts that came to play the Mississippi stage. Whether it was Mzz Reese strutting her stuff to “Car Wash,” Bill Steber and Libby Rae Watson playing their captivating blend of traditional Delta blues or Dexter Allen showcasing his vocal chops and guitar skills, this stage provided a sonic reminder of the strong connection that the state of Mississippi and the city of Chicago continue to share with their unbreakable musical bond.
Women in Blues Tribute Keeps Legends Front and Center
When it comes to honoring blues legends that paved the way for today’s performers, no one does it better than the Chicago Blues Festival. This was certainly the case as the Women of the Blues paid homage to Mama Yancey and Big Mama Thornton. This inspiring tribute was hosted by Lynne Jordan who shared anecdotes and history about these illustrious ladies before turning the stage over to a fantastic cast of featured artists including Nora Jean Wallace, Katherine Davis, Deitra Farr, Melody Angel, Mary Lane with Lee Kanehira on keyboards and Jordan’s band, the Shivers, who did a superb job supporting the Women of the Blues.
This tribute also did a fine job in humanizing the lives of Yancey and Thornton. Deitra Farr knew Mama Yancey personally and told a story about how she bought Yancey a blue dress from Carson, Pirie Scott when Yancey made an appearance at the very first Chicago Blues Festival in 1984. After focusing on Yancey’s life and many accomplishments, the show seamlessly segued into the Big Mama Thornton section of the set with highlights that included 90-year-old Mary Lane doing “Little Red Rooster” to Melody Angel continuing her streak of shining on the Pritzker stage. This was capped off when she led all the ladies in an exhilarating romp singing “Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog.”
Sunday Standouts on Pritzker Stage, Rosa’s Tent and Beyond
While Sundays at the Chicago Blues Festival are always somewhat bittersweet, there were many standout performances to help close out the 2026 edition on a high note. The Rosa’s Tent was packed to the rafters with blues fans who reveled in the assemblage of world-class talent that played there throughout the day.
The Rosa’s Tent was the place to purchase merchandise, learn about various blues initiatives, enjoy a few libations and witness some incredible musical pairings including 95-year-old Bob Stroger with 19-year-old Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport and harp player extraordinaire, Matthew Skoller. Before Stroger and his band came on, we had the Dan Souvigny Band with Carlos Johnson, which also featured a cameo by Souvigny’s former bandleader, Joanna Connor. Although Souvigny is best known as Buddy Guy’s keyboard player, he also showcased his guitar skills by exchanging licks with both Connor and Johnson.
Besides the Women in Blues Tribute, Sunday’s lineup on the Pritzker Stage included a sizzling turn by the self-proclaimed “Ice Queen” Sue Foley followed by a rare Chicago appearance by Chris Cain. While Foley gave a nod to being influenced by Albert Collins, Cain’s interest in the guitar was sparked by another Albert. Albert King is credited with being one of his musical heroes.
Then, it was time for the grand finale and the legendary Taj Mahal with his Phantom Blues Band did not disappoint. As he sauntered out on stage in his colorful garb, the 85-year-old epitomized effortless cool. After this jaunty entrance, he launched into “a blues version of Mambo Number Five” called “7-11,” regaled the crowd with a few stories, dished out some musical history and reminded everyone that “the audience is always part of the performance.” This statement proved to be true—not only for Taj Mahal’s set—but throughout the entire Chicago Blues Festival.
