A Few Sound Reasons to Get Revved-Up for the First-Ever “America’s Blues Birthday Party.”
This free event is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th at Veteran’s Park in Lyons, Illinois. Sponsored by the Windy City Blues Society with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the “America’s Blues Birthday Party” will feature over 40 acts representing a cross-section of the country’s best and brightest blues artists
This is Not Your Status Quo Blues Show
Windy City Blues Society President and Event Organizer, Dave “Mad Dog” Madlener cast a wide net when it came to booking blues acts. While there is a nice overview of local artists, he also looked for musical representation from “a certain region of America, which carries a unique blues style.” The result is a melting pot of great American music including Zydeco from the Louisiana bayou, “Cotton Patch Blues” by way of the Mississippi Hill Country, “Hillbilly Hoodoo” out of Louisville, Kentucky and many other blues offshoots that Chicagoans usually don’t get to experience at local festivals.
All Stages of Blues History on Two Stages
Besides seeking representation from various regions of the country, Madlener sought out artists that focus on distinctive time periods in blues and American history. Whether it’s old-school acoustic from the Mississippi Delta, post-war jump and swing, traditional Chicago blues by way of Bob Corritore’s All-Star Blues Revue or a glimpse into the genre’s future with young guns Stephen Hull and Sean “Mack” McDonald, the America’s Blues Birthday Party is a coming out celebration that focuses on the genre’s colorful history.
Delve into the Delmark Catalog with Dynamic Artists on the BilL
Delmark Records has been dishing out a steady stream of jazz and blues since 1953, and it shows no signs of slowing down. While the “America’s Blues Birthday Party” has booked blues talent from all over, there is also a heavy presence from this iconic Chicago-based label. The list of stellar artists starts with Shirley Johnson & the Delmark All-Stars (Dave Specter, Melvin Smith, Roosevelt Purifoy and Joel Baer) who will play the “Mad Dog” Main Stage on Saturday beginning at 2:50 pm. Delmark’s Johnny Iguana will also be on the Main Stage as he showcases his keyboard artistry with Stephen Hull and Sean “Mack” McDonald at 9pm on Saturday. Delmark’s Sunday lineup includes Demetria Taylor and her Bad Boys featuring guitar great Carlos Showers on the Main Stage starting at 6:10. They will be following several Delmark artists who are taking part in the Bob Corritore Chicago Blues Revue. Billy Flynn, Bob Stroger, Willie Buck and the newly signed Oscar Wilson are all key members of Corritore’s contingent of traditional Chicago blues artists.
The “Sons and Daughters” of the Blues Will Be Showcasing their Blues DNA on Both Days
Missed seeing Muddy Waters in his prime? Well, his eldest son, Mud looks and sounds exactly like his famous father. He started following in his father’s footsteps shortly after Waters’ passing and says, “What Else Was the Son of a Legend to Do?” Demetria Taylor is another featured artist with a riveting family backstory. As the daughter of legendary musician, Eddie Taylor, she is “doing what she is supposed to do” as she keeps her dad’s West Side blues tradition alive.
Ditto for Jimi “Primetime” Smith who is the son of legendary blues drummer and prolific song writer, Johnnie Mae Dunson. Smith’s deep-rooted blues guitar is the result of tutelage from Jimmy Reed, Eddie Taylor and others. Another second-generation sensation is Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith. He’s the scion of Muddy Waters’ drummer, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and grew up surrounded by his dad’s famous bandmates. But the younger Smith can also tap into his own credentials, winning a Grammy in 2011 for his drumming expertise on Joined at the Hip with his dad and Pinetop Perkins. Dwayne Dopsie, is another Grammy recipient who learned many tricks of the zydeco trade from his dad, Rockin’ Dopsie.
There are More than a Few Dynamic Duos
Whether it’s Donna Herula and “Downtown” Charlie Brown with their onstage banter, historical storytelling and “Beauty and the Beast” vocal contrasts, Deak Harp and Ricky “Quicksand” Martin belting out their own brand of Delta blues or Bob Corritore and Jimi “Primetime” Smith playing a stripped down set of traditional Chicago fare, there are plenty of twosomes who will be making beautiful blues together. Another highly anticipated pairing is with Stephen Hull and Sean “Mack” McDonald who will close out the Saturday night festivities. Madlener noted that “both are under 30 years old and are going to carry the blues for a long time.” He added that, “I want to be in the audience to experience the energy.”
It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Summer Festival Season
While this might be a foreign concept to the Arizona, Louisiana and Texas contingent, we’re nearing the end of the 2026 outdoor music season in Chicagoland. Pretty soon, it’s back to being sequestered indoors to dodge the mighty “Hawk.” So, time to take a final break for the blues in a beautiful outdoor setting. Besides the music and camaraderie, please do your part to support the artists who made the trek to Lyons and check out their merchandise. Besides pitching in to help the musicians, pony up what you can to help the Windy City Blues Society to ensure the continued success of festivals of this magnitude. So, pack up those ponchos, your portable chairs and gear up for a great festival. Here are the complete details: https://windycityblues.org/americas-blues-birthday?srsltid=AU7gw4VNQ6CVMk83TE8RQg0JvJ8TedO3OqEe
Great article from my favorite Blues writer!