Jun 9

Jun 9 Chicago Blues Festival

I sucked today, but everybody has a bad day. I just couldn't maintain focus. I hadn't been using my Sony for sometime, which can be a problem given the complexity of the menu settings. Nevertheless, I did manage to capture a few decent shots from the first day of the 2017 Blues Festival.

Many people expressed a lot of concern when the City decided to move the 2017 Chicago Bluesfest to Millennium Park rather than continuing to use the longstanding location at Petrillo Music Shell and the side stages in Grant Park. People did not want to substitute concrete for grass. Overall, I think the City did a great job in prepping Millennium Park for the onslaught of blues enthusiasts and casual passersby who heard the music wafting from the four stages as they enjoyed the Bean and the Crown Fountain. The Budweiser Crossroads Stage was one of the highlights because it was not in a tent, maintaining the Grant Park feel.

I certainly had a good time, as I went from stage to stage. Among the many performers were the legendary Bob Stroger, Jimmy Burns, Mary Lane and he No Static Blues Band, Rip Lee Pryor, Bob Corritore, Billy Flynn, Nick Moss, and Jarekus Singleton. It doesn't matter if those names are unfamiliar. It's blues music. The spirit and a hot summer day are the only requirements, plus lots of beer.

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