First-Ever ‘Blues Week’ in Aurora Leads Up to Blues on the Fox Festival
Aurora will celebrate its musical heritage in a big way beginning June 19 with the first-ever Blues Week in Aurora, leading up to the annual Blues on the Fox festival June 27 and 28.
The week will commemorate Aurora’s historic Bluebird recording sessions with a mayoral proclamation, a blues-themed movie, a symposium on the history of the blues in Aurora, and free performances and activities for both adults and children.
Throughout the week, Aurora will paint the town blue with window displays from locally owned businesses, and vintage programming on ACTV highlighting Aurora’s blues history featuring past big-name performers including Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
The week will culminate with the 18th Annual Blues on the Fox Festival, one of the most heralded blues festivals in the Midwest, staged at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway.
On Friday, June 27, Joe Louis Walker opens the festivities, followed by Grammy Award winning headliner Jimmie Vaughan. Gates open at 6 p.m. On Saturday, June 28, gates open at 2 p.m. for a full day of live blues featuring Samantha Fish, Tab Benoit, Taj Mahal, and headliner Los Lonely Boys.
All tickets are general admission and are $20 each day, with free entry for children ages 12 and under with an adult. For the full line-up and to purchase tickets, visit www.riveredgeaurora.com.
Blues Week in Aurora is sponsored by the Fox Valley Music Foundation, Culture Stock Bookstore, Aurora Cultural Creatives, the Copley Theatre, and Two Brothers Brewing Company.
More information is available on the City’s website at www.aurora-il.org or by calling the Customer Service Division at (630) 256-INFO (4636).
SOURCE: city of Aurora
Schedule of Events
Thursday, June 19
6:30 p.m.
Lit by the Bridge
Blues-themed writing and open mic
Culture Stock Bookstore
43 E. Galena Blvd.
Monday, June 23
6 p.m.
Music Monday: Blues Preservation Band
Culture Stock Bookstore
43 E. Galena Blvd.
Tuesday, June 24
10:30 a.m.
Story Time: Rockin’ the Blues
Instrument petting zoo, shoebox guitars
Culture Stock Bookstore
43 E. Galena Blvd.
6 p.m.
Mayoral Proclamation
City Council Chambers
44 E. Downer Place
Wednesday, June 25
7 p.m.
Blues Symposium
Leland recordings, book signing, and Blues art
Copley Theatre
8 E. Galena Blvd.
Thursday, June 26
10:30 a.m.
Story Time: Rockin’ the Blues
Craft, story, and harmonica lessons
Culture Stock Bookstore
43 E. Galena Blvd.
8:30 p.m.
Brew & View: The Blues Brothers
Jake, Elwood and the Blues Mobile
Two Brothers Roundhouse
205 N. Broadway
BLUES FEST
One of the most heralded Blues Festivals in the Midwest takes the stage to celebrate its 18th Season, and man, it’s going to be phenomenal. Friday, June 27 through Saturday the 28th, it’s smoking music, cold beers and beautiful scenery right on the Fox River. If you’ve never been to Blues on the Fox, then you need to experience it for yourself. If you have, then you know why you need to be there again.
Check this out:
Friday, June 27
Gates Open: 6 p.m.
JOE LOUIS WALKER: 7-8:30 P.M.
Joe Louis Walker picked up a guitar at 8-years-old and his life has never been the same. He’s shared the stage with the Who’s Who in the industry including John Lee Hooker, JJ Malone, Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Muddy, BB, Bonnie, Hendrix and more. He’s toured the world entertaining millions with his fiery, melodic and unpredictable guitar attack; he’s recorded 23 albums and this Blues Hall of Famer is opening the festivities at the 2014 Blues on the Fox Festival.
JIMMIE VAUGHAN: 9-10:30 P.M.
It’s simple, Jimmie Vaughan is one of the greatest guitarists of our time – and legends like Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton are the ones that have said so. He’s a Grammy Award winner who has created his own Texas infused blues, rock and soul sound that is unmistakable. From his days as the founder of The Fabulous Thunder Birds to his solo career, Vaughan has introduced millions to the blues. But it’s his lyrical guitar work filled with raw emotion and simple elegance that penetrates your very being. Experience the blues’ modern day troubadour up-close and personal.
SOURCE: http://riveredgeaurora.com/
