CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL MAXWELL STREET MARKET SUNDAY JUNE 07 2026

Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.

The original Maxwell Street Market, centered around 13^th and Halsted on Chicago’s Near West Side, was a bustling open-air bazaar where goods of every description were bought and sold, and where music filled the air. Some of Chicago’s most legendary blues artists got their start there; through the years, generations of music lovers also made a weekly pilgrimage to the Market to celebrate the living history it represented.  For aficionados of the Chicago tradition, this set will truly “bring the blues back home.”  [DW]

2-3 p.m. Harmonica Hinds Duo Mervyn “Harmonica” Hinds is one of Chicago’s most honored blues traditionalists, proficient in banjo and guitar as well as his namesake instrument.  After moving here from his native Trinidad in 1977, he quickly established himself on the South Side circuit; his regular appearances at Theresa’s Lounge, among other venues, kicked off a musical career that he has sustained to this day.  He’s now a mainstay at Buddy Guy’s legends and other popular clubs, and his discography includes multiple releases under his own name as well as guest slots on recordings by such immortals as Koko Taylor and Muddy Waters himself. Playing outdoors on the Maxwell Street Stage will be something of a return to roots for this veteran Chicagoan, whose career dates back to the latter-era glory days of the original market. [DW]

1:30-2 p.m.DJ James Porter DJ and journalist James Porter is a premier authority on blues and classic R&B with his articles appearing regularly in such publications as the Chicago Reader. He hosts the monthly “Hoodoo Party” radio show on Loyola University’s WLUW and sings and plays harmonica in the blues-inspired garage rock band The James Dean Joint. [AC]

12:30-1:30 p.m. John Primer/Steve Bell See the listings for the Ramova Theatre on Thursday, June 4, for more on John Primer.  Harmonica ace Steve Bell has incorporated the signature moves of his father, the late Chicago harp master Carey Bell, into a distinctive,  personalized style. He and Primer blend together with an almost telepathic immediacy. [DW]

Noon-12:30 p.m.DJ James Porter

11:00 a.m.-Noon Studebaker John’s Maxwell Street Kings For guitarist Studebaker John (a.k.a. John Grimaldi), his set at Maxwell Street should feel like a homecoming. While growing up, he was a regular visitor to this blues incubator where he’d regularly watch such heroes as Hound Dog Taylor. He plugged in his own guitar in the 1970s and has never stopped. His band captures the spirit of the street through his original compositions on such lively albums as KingsvilleJukin’ and TheWayYouDo (both on Delmark). [AC]

10-11a.m. DJ James Porter