THE MUSIC RAMBLER

Chicago Blues Festival This Weekend June 5 - 8, 2008

The free Chicago Blues Festival takes place over four days this weekend in Grant Park. Highlights include the following performers:

Thursday, June 5:  Johnny Winter will make his first appearance at the Chicago Blues Festival since the inaugural event in 1984.  He'll be part of the opening night celebration of Muddy Waters on Thursday, June 5th, sharing the spotlight with "Superharp" James Cotton and others.

Friday, June 6: The Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine headlines on Friday night, along with a set by Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater. There will also be a tribute to the past with a set featuring Ruby Andrews, Cicero Blake and Jackie Ross.

Saturday, June 7: Buckwheat Zydeco will headline on Saturday. The 60-year-old accordionist will bring one of the classic sounds of New Orleans to the stage. Also appearing that night will be Chicago favorite Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials.

Sunday, June 8: The legendary B.B. King makes his first appearance at the festival in over 20 years. Other headliners on the final night include keyboardist Little Willie Littlefield, guitarist Bobby Parker and vocalist Karen Carroll, who performs with Charlie Love and Lurrie Bell.

Full schedule below

Also see: Chicago Blues Guide

Bob Dylan To Play Brooklyn

After returning from a tour of Eastern and Central Europe, Bob Dylan will continue his Never Ending Tour with a number of open air dates in the U.S., including a stop at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York on August 12, 2008. Other dates include:

August  9 Pittsburgh at The New American Music Union Festival
          10 Baltimore at The Virgin Moblie Festival
          30 Aspen at Jazz Aspen Snowmass

Tom Waits' Interview With Himself

Tom Waits  interviews himself on the Anti music label blog and (presumingly) finds himself most interesting. There's a good chance you will also. Read all about:

his gambling debts, his animal magnetism, coupled with his disregard for the feelings of others… His elaborate gun collection, his mad shopping sprees, the face lifts, the ski trips, the drug busts and the hundreds of rooms in his home. The tax shelters, the public urination...

Actually, there isn't any of that, but you will find some interesting insight into Tom's influences and favorite music, among other Waitian minutiae.

Tom Waits' True Confessions  (Anti Blog)