From Louisiana Zydeco and “Cotton Patch Soul Blues” by way of the Mississippi Hill Country to Delta grooves, jump blues and so much more, the Chicago suburb of Lyons, Illinois will serve as the proverbial “Ground Zero” for a melting pot of great American music when the best and brightest blues artists from every corner of the country come to Veteran’s Park for the free and first-ever “America’s Blues Birthday Party.”
Scheduled for September 19th and 20th, this banner celebration of music of all stripes is being hosted by the Windy City Blues Society and its intrepid leader, David “Mad Dog” Madiner, who worked diligently to submit a grant application to secure $10,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Madiner said that “it took a bunch of research to answer some of the questions. It was almost like planning the festival and putting it all in writing.”
Madiner added that this festival has been in the works since late 2024. After reviewing the fine print on the grant application, Madiner saw that there was a section to celebrate America’s semi quincentennial. He said, “the idea for America’s Blues Birthday Party popped into my head right then.”
After this revelation, Madiner set to work on booking the artists with the following guidelines in mind:
- A son or daughter of “blues royalty” demonstrating the passing of tradition between generations
- Artists should represent a certain region of the United States, which carries a unique blues style.
- Their style of blues needs to reflect a very distinct period in American history.
Madiner also relied on input from influential people in the blues community including Tomiko Dixon, Bob Corritore, Michael Frank and Ricky “Quicksand” Martin. The Vice President of the Windy City Blues Society, Kurt Swanson, also weighed in on artist selections. The result is a lineup that rivals any major festival—and it’s all happening right in little old Lyons, Illinois!
While there is plenty to be excited about up and down the lineup, Madiner singled out a few “can’t miss” acts that will be performing on either of the two stages at “America’s Blues Birthday Party.”
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers: “They were the first major act we secured, and their music is just so exciting. I want to dance just thinking of these guys!”
Spit Cup and the Jukes: “This is a big experience for them, their sound is unique, and I want to see how the audience reacts. It’s a big stage and a big chance for them in a centerpiece type festival performance, I want to give them some good exposure.”
Bob Corritore and his Chicago Blues Revue: “Bob has put together, what might be, the best showcase of the entire festival. This performance will be top notch, awesome, excellent and all-around mind blowing. This performance is the centerpiece of the festival.” Madiner added that the 4pm showtime on Sunday allows for the “biggest crowd, best weather, best temperature and best angle of the sun. All of this was considered for this set,” which runs until 5:50 pm.
Mud Morganfield: “I always love seeing Mud perform, especially with guitarist, Rick Kreher. Mud is today’s foundation of Chicago blues and is the direct link to what got the blues party started.”
Demetria Taylor: “Talk about foundation! Demetria has the same built-in soul and core that comes from her father, Eddie Taylor, who helped shape and mold the Chicago sound. And when you had in her “Bad Boys,” that is one funky band.” Madiner also said that he was looking forward to seeing Carlos Showers on guitar because “no one plays guitar like Carlos anymore!”
The Stephen Hull Experience with Sean “Mack” McDonald and Johnny Iguana: “I have seen Stephen play and I have even seen him play with Sean McDonald, but to see it all together will be the experience. Johnny Iguana brings things to a completely different level and is an award winner of his own.” Madiner was also encouraged by Hull and McDonald’s young ages when he said they are “both well under 30 years and are going to carry the blues for a long time. I am looking forward to being in the audience and experiencing the energy!”
Rusty Ends and the Hillbilly Hoodoo: “These guys are out of Louisville, Kentucky and came highly recommended by Michael Frank. My curiosity has gotten the best of me, and I must hear what they sound like.”
The Special 20s and the Hungry Williams: “I just love their presentation and style of the time period blues they play.”
The complete lineup and more details on the festival can be found here.
Madiner added that they will also have “Illinois Humanities, “Voices 250,” recording blues musician’s opinions of the country, where it is headed, where is has been and what role the blues have played in our history. These recordings will be archived in the Library of Congress. It is an honor to do this for these musicians and to help give the Blues this special place in history when celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.”
Of course, putting on an event of this magnitude was not without its share of challenges. Madiner revealed that all his hair fell out following a stressful summer. But he said, “we just kept moving forward because the blues taught me to overcome adversity.” Now with just days to go, Madiner is “remarkably calm and cautiously optimistic.” He feels that having an “experienced crew in place gives me 110% confidence in our ability.” Madiner added that “we will feel proud and a little sad at the end of the festival because we will have gone through this together but know that the festival season is almost over.”
With over forty fantastic musical acts, a slew of blues-loving friends and even a fireworks show on Sunday, this is a wonderful way to send off the 2026 festival season on a high note. Come on out to Lyons, Illinois and celebrate the red, white and blues in all its star-studded glory with an incredible lineup of artists from far-flung places.
