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Almost Time for a Blues Fest,,Chicago Style

Posted on 6/11/2009 by Monica Yasher

This town will “Let the good times roll" once again. The Chicago Blues Fest starts Friday June 12. A good time will be had by all. It is estimated that over 600,000 will visit the fest over the three day period that it runs. Each day 200,000 will attend. There are five stages so each stage should accommodate 40,000. That is a lot of hot dogs folks.


You would think with all the people in attendance there would be some major problems. Not the Case. The City Of Chicago knows how to handle large crowds. Soldiers Field the home of the Chicago Bears has around 65,000 on each and every game day. The bears are my favorite, Go Bears. Hey bears go win something for crying out loud!!


After those Bears games Lake Shore Drive can be a bit crowded, but we deal with it. We have nothing here like the traffic in New York City. I drove to New York to pick up a 1959 Fender Bassman amp (the holy grail of amps for blues guitarists) and made the mistake of driving into the Lincoln tunnel. My daughter and I spent 2 hours trying to cross into Manhattan. Not a lot of fun. How New Yorkers do it day after day is beyond me? My younger brother lives there and we met him for dinner. We had the same problem walking to Carmines, too many people walking and standing and yikes smoking. I’ll live on my little 2.5 acre spot in rural Illinois. Thank you very much.


Here are my Chicago Blues Fest attending Tips; Take public transportation, parking can be costly and time consuming. Wear a smile. Remember folks most of the people in Chicago are very friendly. I’d say 99.99%. There is always that one drunk idiot that screams "Free Bird" That guy is so drunk he thinks he's at a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. Get a life you "Freeeeee Biiiiiiiiiird' screaming, drunk as a skunk dude.


Bring a hat, although it may blow off, you are in the windy city. Weathermen are predicting sunny 72-76 for the three days. *Bring an overcoat. You might as well bring an umbrella. Most of the weather guys in this town get it wrong most of the time. Chicago is Chicago and I have seen the temperature drop 60 degrees in one afternoon. I can almost guarantee it will not snow, but don’t hold me to it. Oh, one last thing, bring your galoshes. If you know what those are then you know what I’ve been talking about.

Most of all have FUN!!!!!!!

*Note this has been the 14th coldest June on record since the powers that be started taking notes. I finished this post to the sound of a major thunderstorm and hail on the roof.

Terrance "Gator man" Lape






American Blues News Staff

What makes American Blues News unique is our coverage across America. Here is our lineup:

Mon: Memphis Correspondent - Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms
Nighthawk is our resident globetrotter and man behind the scenes, as he tours with the Reba Russell Band.

Tues: New York Correspondent - J. Blake
Blake is the American Blues News review and interview guru. You may catch him out and about in NY playing the blues.

Wed: National Correspondent - Monica Yasher
Monica is our executive director and artist interview specialist. You can catch Monica singing the blues around Pittsburgh or working on some country music songs in Nashville.

Thurs: Washington, DC Correspondent - Virginiabluesman
Geraldo offers inteviews and reviews. You may have seen him at an Ana Popovic concert or conversed with him on her websites, as he offers administrative support with her music.

Fri: Northeast Photographer - Nelson Onofre
Nelson offers a Friday column of blues photography and pictorial support for the interviews covered by the team.

Jim Stick in Colorado
Jim will be focusing on the Blues Festivals in the beautiful state of Colorado, and the artists that live and visit there.

Maureen Elizabeth, our resident art correspondent, will be focusing on blues art as she explores the creation of CD covers, or speaking with artists who also have a love of creating pictorial art in addition to their music! She may also feature some of her good friends in the Pittsburgh area. In her love of art, you may find Maureen's photography accompanying writer's articles on our pages. Maureen is also our marketing director.

Pittsburgh correspondent and photographer, CR Bennett, will share the Pittsburgh scene with all of you. You may also see CR's pictures accompanying other writer's articles.

We head to the big state of Texas! Abby Owen, our Texas correspondent.

Another big area to cover, the West Coast with Casey Reagan, Casey will feature many artists and events on this ocean's shores.

Lastly, we have our roving blues entertainment writer,
Chef Jimi.

And of course, we will surprise you sometimes!

 
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