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Booze Blues: You Can BYOB To 'Snow White' But Not Blues Fest

By David Matthews | June 8, 2017 5:27am | Updated on June 9, 2017 8:42am
 You can't bring your own booze to the Chicago Blues Festival, which is opening Friday in its new home at Millennium Park.
You can't bring your own booze to the Chicago Blues Festival, which is opening Friday in its new home at Millennium Park.
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DOWNTOWN — The Chicago Blues Festival may have a new home in Millennium Park this year, but it's bringing an old rule with it: No BYOB. 

Unlike the park's other popular draws such as free summer movies or concerts, the blues festival opening Friday won't let guests bring their own alcoholic beverages to the lawn at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St. 

The rule is a holdover from the festival's days at Grant Park's nearby Petrillo Music Shell, which hosted the city's free blues festival for more than 30 years. Beer and wine will be available for purchase in Millennium Park instead, with sales ending a half-hour before the end of each festival day.

RELATED: Full Chicago Blues Fest Lineup Includes Rhymefest, Billy Branch


A map outlining Chicago Blues Festival activities. [City of Chicago]

The 34th annual Chicago Blues Festival will explore the influence of urban blues on subsequent genres such as hip hop and R&B, with headliners including rapper Rhymefest. 

The three-day festival will spread across four stages Friday through Sunday in Millennium Park.

The festival annually attracts more than 500,000 people. Here's what to know if you go:

(Aside from alcohol) What can't I bring?

• Barbecue grills

• Fireworks or explosives

• Illegal substances and weapons

• Pop-up tents or canopies

• Beach/picnic umbrellas

• Flag poles

• Pets except for service animals

• Open-flame candles

• Helium balloons

• Signs/banners

• Oversized blankets or plastic tarps

Where is there food? 

There is a concession stand just east of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. There will also be concession carts on Michigan Avenue's Chase Promenade as well as the Park Grill and Café. 

Can I bring a folding chair or blanket?

Yes, but folding chairs are not allowed in the seating area of the Pritzker Pavilion.

Is there WiFi in Millennium Park?

Yes, and it is free.

Is smoking allowed?

Not in Jay Pritzker Pavilion or its Great Lawn, the Lurie Garden or the east and west arcades by the restrooms or the east and west Exelon Buildings along Randolph Street.

Can I save seats?

You can save one seat in the Pritzker Pavilion seating bowl, but must relinquish it if it remains empty once the show starts. Seats are first-come, first-served.

What if it rains?

The show will go on rain or shine unless more severe weather is in the forecast.

What's the lineup?

Here's the full lineup:

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St.:

• John Primer and the Real Deal: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Rhymefest: 6:20 p.m. to 7:05 p.m.

• Billy Branch & The Son of Blues with special guests Lurrie Bell, Freddie Dixon, J.W.S. Williams, Carlos Johnson, Carl Weathersby, Bill McFarland and Chicago Fire Horns, and Mae Koen & The Lights: 7:20 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Bud Light Crossroads Stage (South Promenade):

• Demetria Taylor: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• Mary Lane and the No Static Blues Band: 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

• Nick Moss Band: 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

• The Mike Wheeler Band: 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.

• Guy King: 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Mississippi Juke Joint (North Promenade):

• Blues in the Schools with Katherine Davis and Stone Academy: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Eden Brent: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

• Cedric Burnside Project: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Jarekus Singleton: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

•J am Session with Cedric Burnside: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Front Porch Stage (Harris Theater Rooftop):

•Rip Lee Pryor: noon to 1 p.m.

•The Jimmy Burns Band: 1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.

•Henry Gray & Bob Corritore: 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

•Tribute to Barrelhouse Chuck featuring Billy Flynn, Johnny Iguana Roosevelt Purifoy and Piano Willie OShawny: 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Soul/R&B Night):

• Nellie Tiger Travis: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Theo Huff and the New Agenda Band: 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

• William Bell: 8:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Budweiser Crossroads Stage:

• Chicago Wind with Matthew Skoller & Deitra Farr: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• Lynne Jordan & The Shivers: 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

• Big Bill Morganfield: 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

• Coco Montoya: 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

• Southside Tribute to Killer Ray Allison with Joe Pratt & The Source One Band and JoJo Murray: 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Mississippi Juke Joint:

• Panel Discussion on Mississippi Blues Trail 10th Anniversary with Jim O’Neal, Dr. Edgar Smith, Scott Barretta and Alex Thomas: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

•Christone "Kingfish" Ingram: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

• Bridges to the Blues by Donda’s House: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Vick Allen: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Jam Session with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Front Porch:

• Khalif Wailin’ Walter: noon to 1 p.m.

• Eddie Taylor, Jr.’s tribute to Eddie Taylor, Sr.: 1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.

• Jimmy Johnson Band: 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

• Harmonica Hinds Quartet: 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

Jay Pritzker Pavilion:

• Ronnie Baker Brooks: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Rhiannon Giddens: 6:20 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.

• Gary Clark Jr.: 7:40 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Budweiser Crossroads Stage:

• Tail Dragger and the Allstars: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• The Blues Disciples with special guest Ms. Erica Johnson & Milwaukee Slim: 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

• Vance Kelly and the Backstreet Blues Band: 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

• Rick Estrin & The Nightcats: 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

• Melvia “Chick” Rodgers: 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Front Porch Stage:

• The Como Mamas: noon to 1 p.m.

• Mud Morganfield Band: 1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.

• Chi-Town Harp Showcase featuring Omar Coleman, Russ Green and Lamont Harris: 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

• Wallace Coleman: 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Mississippi Juke Joint:

• Panel Discussion on Tribute to Amy Van Singel with Dick Shurman, Jim O’Neal and Rebecca Sive: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• JJ Thames: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

• Zakiya Hooker: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Denise LaSalle: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Jam Session with Eddie Taylor, Jr.: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.