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2011 Festivals
Previous: Ribfest Chicago 2011 | Photo gallery
Next: Chicago Blues Festival 2011, Friday | Photo gallery

Blues Fest 2011, Saturday and Sunday | Photo gallery

Keenan Boyd
Blues Fest 2011, Saturday and Sunday | Photo gallery
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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues fest 2011 in Grant Park

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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    Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

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Chicago Blues Fest 2011, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

Photo: Nicholas Foli

The 2011 Chicago Blues Festival, presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events began as a tribute to the passing of McKinley Morganfield, or Muddy Waters, who was considered the father of Chicago Blues, and every year hence, the organizers have usually chosen a theme, usually to honor the passing of other great blues musicians.

Despite an overcast weekend, it was nice and cool out—a bit of a break from the sweltering summer heat we had felt at last week’s festivals. Walking into the festival entrance Saturday, I noticed all types of people, young and old, couples and families with young children were lounging about under the trees of park, eating treats from local food vendors found along the main walkways. At first, my friends and I were a little disappointed with the sound quality of the second stages, so we meandered over to what seemed like the loudest stage, the Crossroads stage, where George Stancell and his band lead by Willie Buck were just warming up. 

Known for his humorous onstage antics, and such hits as “Mississippi Woman,” and “Hoochie Mama,” he went right into a rendition of “I Wanna,” which got the crowd up on their feet, and dancing in no time. After catching his set, we walked around a little bit, picked up a few Stella Artois from the beer tents, and walked over the Petrillo Music Shell to watch Dave Specter and Jimmy Johnson try to show each other up. 

At around nine o’clock already tired from walking around most of the day with a mob of Chicago blues lovers, I was ready to call it quits; but my aches and pains were well worth it. Blues Fest is a testament to one of our most unique Chicago-bred cultures. If there is one thing we know how to do in Chicago, its put on an awesome blues show. 

June 16, 2011
2011 Festivals
Previous: Ribfest Chicago 2011 | Photo gallery
Next: Chicago Blues Festival 2011, Friday | Photo gallery
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