Crowds flock in as Chicago Blues Festival makes triumphant return to Millennium Park
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Few things say Chicago the way the sound of the electric blues does – and on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's been three years since crowds have gotten to flock to Millennium Park to hear it.
But in 2022, the Chicago Blues Festival is back – and it left plenty of people smiling. And they're ready to enjoy the entire weekend.
The sounds of blues filled the air as Joanna Connor and Toronzo Cannon each sang and offered up blistering guitar work at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion – and Shamekia Copeland belted it out as the headliner afterward.
Earlier, the crowd enjoyed a tribute to Chicago blues and boogie-woogie piano legend Erwin Helfer, and south suburban native and blues guitarist Jamiah Rogers took the stage as an emerging artist.
Hundreds of people packed Millennium Park for day one of this four-day festival. We spotted plenty of folks dancing to the tunes.
While the festival is about the blues, those out Thursday night told CBS 2's Jermont Terry there's no reason to be down – because one of Chicago's favorite festivals has returned.
"It feels fabulous – and my friend Tina and I have been coming since the very first one, and saw Stevie Ray Vaughn, and it's just marvelous," sand Debra Stillman, "and everybody can come back and enjoy each other again."
"It feels great. It feels great," said Jim Collins. "I don't know how to explain it. I'm just happy to be here."
"I'm from out of town as well, but it's really nice to walk around the city and just take in the culture and music on the surprise," another festivalgoer added. "It's really nice."
In addition to the main festival at Millennium Park, there are also concerts on the Riverwalk and in the city's neighborhoods this year.
Blues on the Riverwalk kicked off Thursday night and will continue Friday. You can visit Soul City Blues in at 5720 W. Chicago Ave. in Austin on Saturday, and Bronzeville Blues in Armstrong Park at 4433 S. St. Lawrence Ave. on Sunday, along with a Women in Blues showcase at Millennium Park on Sunday.
Check out the full Chicago Blues Festival 2022 schedule here.
Check out the lineup for Chicago Blues Festival neighborhood concerts here.
The Chicago Blues Festival in its current incarnation has been held annually at the beginning of June since 1984 – except for the past two years. The festival was held for more than 30 years at the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park before moving to Millennium Park in 2017.
John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, and Keith Richards have been among the many superstars to take the stage for Chicago Blues Festivals past.
