Record Row Blues Concert @Chess Records featuring 75th Anniversary Review

Let's go BACK for the FREE Thursday night Blues Concerts in The Willie Dixon Blues Garden next to old Chess Records Studio. These free mini blues concerts are a great way to see some old school blues bands & tons of fun! We do these all the time, and they are a blast!

Tentative Itinerary:
5:50- 6 pm - meet & greet in garden - grab seats
6 - 7:30 pm - Blues Concert in the Garden featuring various bands celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Chess Records & Opening Night
7:30-7:40 pm - walk over to Fatpour, Williams Pizza, Pizanos, or another nearby spot
7:40 - 9:15 pm - grab a bite + some cocktails

The garden will have chairs set up for the show, but it is first-come first first-served. You can bring your lawn chairs, too.

Performer on 6/5/25-Opening Night & 75th Anniversary of Chess Records Review (various blues bands) - this is also in conjunction with the Chicago Blues Festival taking place that weekend!

Willie Dixon created his BLUES HEAVEN FOUNDATION with the mission to Promote, Preserve, and Protect Blues and to help artists and musicians obtain what is rightfully theirs, to educate both adults and children on the history of Blues and the business of music.

To achieve this mission, we have successfully executed several programs, including the Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon Scholarships,
Music Mentors Program, Record Row Concert Series, Emergency Artist Assistance, and more programs to begin soon! This foundation is located inside the landmarked & historic Chess Records Building.

Chess Records, formed and run by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, was a company that produced and released many important singles and albums, which are now regarded as central to the blues and rock music genre. At one time, Chess Records was considered "America's greatest blues label" with notable acts including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Etta James, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Willie Dixon was one of the main producers, songwriters and arrangers of the signature "Chess Records Sound".

Chess Records was based at several different locations on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. The most famous location was 2120 S. Michigan Avenue from around 1956 to 1965. During those years, acts such as Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Sonny Boy Williamson II recorded at the legendary studio. It was later immortalized by British rock group The Rolling Stones in "2120 South Michigan Avenue", an instrumental recorded there during the group's first U.S. tour in 1964. The Stones recorded at Chess Studios on two more occasions. In 1993, Willie Dixon's widow, Marie, purchased the building which was then renovated and re-opened in September 1997 with a dedication ceremony. It is now home to Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation.

http://www.bluesheaven.com
http://www.bluesheaven.com/record-row-concert-series.html
https://www.facebook.com/bluesheavenfoundation

Unfortunately, the museum will be closed during the concert but you can come earlier to check it out. The last tour is at 3 pm each day.

After the concert we will walk over to one of several nearby spots to grab a bite & drink:
Jerk Villa Bar & Grill 2216 S Michigan Ave,
Fatpour Tap Works - McCormick 2206 S Indiana Ave,
Steve's Bites 80 E Cermak Rd,
Il Culacino 2134 S Indiana Ave,
Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar 2210 S. Michigan
Pizano's Pizza & Pasta 2106 S. Michigan

If you are taking public transportation, please check Google Maps or use CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
Accessible by the Red line and Green line “L” stops. Also near the #1 Bronzeville/ #3 King Drive / #4 Cottage Grove/#29 State Street bus stops.

If driving, there is usually metered spots on South Michigan and nearby streets plus several parking garages

PLEASE NOTE OUR CURRENT NO SHOW POLICY:

1. 3 no-shows without updating your rsvp, and you will not be able to sign up for future events for 3 months
2. cut-off time to update your rsvp is the start time of the event. If you miss the start time, then message the event host directly
3. not checking in with the event host to notify them you have arrived (for walks, tours or festivals type of events)
4. Continual no-shows will result in removal from the group!