Joliet Blues Festival: All You Need To Know

JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Blues Festival is less than two weeks away. It's presented by Dot Foods and sponsored by the Will-Joliet Bicentennial Park Inc, a non-profit raising funds for Bicentennial Park and its programs since 1976. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming weekend festival filled with food trucks, fun and lots of terrific blues music.

WHEN:

From 4 to 11 p.m.

WHERE:

Joliet's Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, located on the west side of the banks of the Jefferson Street Bridge.

ARTISTS: Five local blues bands

FOOD, DRINKS:

The menu includes pizza, brats, hot dogs and burgers, along with chips and soft drinks. Food trucks will be on hand. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. No outside food or drink will be allowed into the festival.

TICKETS:

$15 at the gate or $10 if you buy them in advance at The Joliet Blues Festival.

JOLIET BLUES FESTIVAL MUSIC LINEUP:

Marty “Big Dog” Mercer Band

4 p.m.

Marty Mercer was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame on October 16th 2016 at Legends in Chicago. "For close to two decades, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer’s heartfelt, southpaw Blues and soulful voice have growled through the Chicagoland music scene. Mercer’s ability to combine emotional lyrics with aggressive guitar playing and/or slide guitar abilities makes him an artist unlike any other. Standing 6-foot-10” Marty owns every stage he walks on and his personality is as large as his stature."

The HepKats

5:30 p.m.

The members of the HepKats – Karl Maurer on guitars and vocals, Mitch Straeffer on bass, and Larry Beers on drums have entertained audiences in Chicago for decades. The HepKats were formed in 2014, and most frequently perform for charities such as Lurie Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Misericordia Home, Holiday Heroes and other non-profits, to lift the spirits of struggling families and children fighting illness.

Mojo Morganfield, 7 p.m.

The youngest son of World Famous Muddy Waters! His band consists of some of Blues top notch players, Rick Kreher on guitar - also played with his father Muddy Waters, Maurice Vaughn on keys - who needs no introduction, Paul Hanover on harp, Mike Flynn on Bass, and Chris Alexander on drums. He is also an Ambassador, Supporter, and Promoter inductee in the Prestigious Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. His Love for the Blues and Keeping his Father's Legacy alive and well, has kept him focused on his own dream as a Blues performer.

The Mike Wheeler Band, 8:30 p.m.

Mike Wheeler has shared the stage with the most elite musicians the world has known, including Willie Kent, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, George Benson, Jimmy Johnson and Shemekia Copeland. Mike was inducted in the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame in 2014. The band includes extraordinary talent – Larry Williams on bass, Cleo Cole on drums and Brian James on keyboards, all veterans of Chicago’s blues scene.

The Jamiah Rogers Band, 10 p.m.

The Jamiah Rogers Band is one of the Midwest’s Hottest Bands and local favorites in the Chicago Area. The band consists of Jamiah Rogers, Lead vocals and guitar, Dionte Skinner, Drums, and Tony Rogers, background vocals and bass guitar. In 2015, the Jamiah Rogers Band recorded their second CD titled, Winners Never Quit, 10 original songs written and produced by Jamiah. In June of 2017 Jamiah released his junior solo CD “Blues Superman.”

For more information please go to www.jolietbluesfestival.com

Images and press release supplied via Joliet Blues Festival