CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL SUNDAY JUNE 08 AT THE MAXWELL STREET MARKET

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

2:00-3:00pm - Harmonica Hinds Duo

Born in Trinidad, Mervyn Hinds moved to Chicago in 1977 and soon established himself as a regular at Theresa’s Lounge. Since then, he’s appeared on recordings by the likes of Muddy Waters and Koko Taylor, among others, and his own albums have also been praised by critics and fans. Hinds appears regularly at clubs such as Buddy Guy’s Legends, solidifying his reputation as one of Chicago’s most esteemed blues traditionalists. (DW) 

1:30-2:00pm - DJ James Porter

12:30pm-1:30pm - Omar Coleman Westside Soul

One of the standout blues performers from Chicago’s West Side, Omar Coleman started jamming on the local circuit in the 1990s and formed his own band in the early 2000s. In 2015, he released his debut album on Delmark, “Born & Raised,” and has continued to record and tour as he brings in choice bits of funk and R&B into his own particular style, including on his 2024 album, “Strange Times.” (AC)

12pm-12:30pm - DJ James Porter

11am-12pm - Marty “Big Dog” Mercer Duo

Standing at almost seven feet tall, singer/guitarist Marty “Big Dog” Mercer is a large presence on the Chicago blues scene for more reasons than just his physical size. A tireless performer, the singer/guitarist has been a mainstay in this region’s clubs for more than 25 years with his own blend of traditional blues and driving rock leads. Recently he released his fifth album, “Live At The Roxy.” (AC)

10-11am - DJ James Porter

DJ and journalist James Porter is one of Chicago’s top authorities on blues and classic R&B with his articles appearing regularly in such publications as the Chicago Reader. He also hosts the monthly “Hoodoo Party” radio show on Loyola University’s WLUW (88.7 FM) and sings in the blues-inspired garage rock band The James Dean Joint. (AC)