Chicago Blues Festival Preview Concert on Daley Plaza

Coco Taylor, Chicago Blues Festival

Join the City of Chicago as we celebrate the upcoming Chicago Blues Festival with a musical press preview event at noon on Monday, June 6 on Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington Street). Performing live is the incomparable Erwin Helfer Blues Trio featuring Katherine Davis.

What: Chicago Blues Festival Press Preview Event
Where: Daley Plaza
When: Monday, June 6, 2011
Time: Noon
Note: This event is free and open to the public

Erwin Helfer is a Chicago boogie woogie innovator and master who has performed for more than 40 years. Helfer was mentored and influenced by Cripple Clarence Lofton, Speckled Red, and Sunnyland Slim. During the 60s and 70s, he released two piano duet albums with his performing and recording partner of ten years, Jimmy Walker. His music is graceful, spirited, and at times beautifully dissonant. Erwin's classical music training allows him to hear and interpret the simple, percussive blues and boogie piano style like no one else.

Katherine Davis is a singer, songwriter, actress, and teacher. Whether she is portraying Bessie Smith or Ma Rainey on stage, appearing with piano accompaniment at a nightclub, fronting a large band, or singing in the church, Davis steers her own course. Her command of various musical styles is saturated in blues. As a little girl, she loved to sing, and wanted to be a professional vocalist. Music is in her genetics for her Grandfather performed with Louis Armstrong and Count Basie.

The press preview event is part of the 28th Annual Chicago Blues Festival which kicks off with a tribute to the 100th Birthday of Robert Johnson on Friday, June 10 in Grant Park. Renowned performers expected to pay tribute include David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Rick Sherry, Rocky Lawrence, Hubert Sumlin and the Duwayne Burnside Band. Also expected to pay homage at the Crossroads Stage is Guy King.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) present large scale and small high-quality FREE festivals, exhibitions, performances, parades, sport events, farmers markets and holiday celebrations in venues throughout the city each year, and assists film projects through the Chicago Film Office. DCASE is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the arts in Chicago as well as supporting the people who create and sustain them.

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