Chicago Blues Tour Spring 2009 - May 16th, 7 Clubs, 8 Bands

April 8, 2009 - PRLog -- Blues University® and the City of Chicago invite music fans to preview the Chicago Blues Fest with a busload of blues on Saturday, May 16th when the Chicago Blues Tour™ departs from the “hub” of the tour, Wabash Tap at 1233 S. Wabash St.  The Chicago Blues Tour™ is a “pub crawl” event connecting 7 blues lounges hosting 8 live blues bands and many special musical guests performing all night long.  The tour runs buses on one-hour shuttle routes connecting the participating venues, including classic, historic lounges like Checkerboard Lounge, Rosa’s Lounge, and Lee’s Unleaded Blues, as well as newer blues havens like Rooster’s Palace, Catcher’s Inn and Linda’s Place.    Buses shuttle between clubs from 8:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m.  Several performers on the tour are also featured on the Chicago Blues Fest in June, including Li’l Ed & the Blues Imperials, Johnny Drummer & the Starliters, Mz. Peachez, and Killer Ray Allison.

ADVANCE RESERVED discount tickets are available for $30 until April 25th, $40 thereafter.  Tickets are available through the Chicago Blues Tour website. Advance tickets are strongly recommended.  The website also includes details on participating clubs and performers.

http://www.chicagobluestour.com/bluestour

The tour emphasizes off-the-beaten-path, classic lounges, that highlight the wide variety of modern blues talent, from world-renowned veterans like Johnny Drummer, Li’l Ed, and Vance Kelly, to Chicago soul-blues stars like Fantastic L-Roy.  There’s also a "Southside Showcase" jam session at Catcher’s Lounge featuring a dozen of Chicago’s south side stars, and a “Harmonica Showdown” at Wabash Tap, where Deak Harp will take on all challengers including two special guests, and a Guitar Duel at Rosa’s Lounge between Li'l Ed and Pete Galanis, the guitarist from Howard & the White Boys.  

Blues University® sponsors classes and events that expand the understanding and audience for blues music. The Chicago Blues Tour began in 1990 as the West Side Blues Tour and has expanded in scope to include live blues venues throughout Chicago, and has helped promote blues with assistance from the Mayor's Office of Special Events since 1998.  Blues U.® maintains an online archive of blues information and also launched a blues news service, BluesWire, in 2008.

Spring 2009 Chicago Blues Tour
PARTICIPATING CLUBS AND PERFORMERS:

WABASH TAP 1233 S. WABASH, 312-360-9488
(8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
 DEAK HARP BAND with special harmonica guests
 in a
 “HARMONICA SHOWDOWN”
 Including:
 HARPMONSTER,
 OMAR COLEMAN,
 3rd harmonica player TBA

CATCHER’S INN 901 W. 35TH, 773-869-9411
(8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
 ROBERT PASENKO & THE 35TH STREET BLUES BAND
 "SOUTH SIDE SHOWCASE / BLUES FEST PREVIEW":
  special guests including:  
  Tre', Lady Kat, Floyd Wilson, Reggie Tutt, Mz Peaches,
  Smilin’ Bobby, Killer Ray Allison, Chuck Crane, Linsey Alexander,
  Chicago Babe, Ramblin' Rose, Li’l Daddy

ROSA’S LOUNGE 3420 ARMITAGE AVE., 773-342-0452
(continuous music from 8 p.m.)
 "GUITAR DUEL" featuring:
  Li’L ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS
  PETE GALANIS

CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE 5201 S. HARPER, 773-684-1472
(9:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.)
  VANCE KELLY & THE BACKSTREET BLUES BAND

LEE’S UNLEADED BLUES 7401 S. SOUTH CHICAGO, 773-493-3477
(7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
  JOHNNY DRUMMER & THE STARLITERS with special guests

LINDA’S PLACE 1044 W. 51ST ST., 773-373-2351
(7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
  FANTASTIC L-ROY & THE BULLETPROOF BAND

ROOSTER’S PALACE 4501 W. MADISON, 773-678-0739
(8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.)
  TAILDRAGGER & HIS ALL-STAR CHICAGO BLUES BAND

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About BiG Productions: runs the Chicago Blues Tour and also does promotion for several blues music clients, as well as internet promotional consulting and SEO marketing.