Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Dr. Dog, Emmitt-Nershi Band (Saturday, 12/12/09)
“The Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival will prove to be the next great landmark in Chicago music culture” - Herschel Concepcion, Jambase.com
The all-ages one-day event, held on Saturday, December 12th,2009 from 11am to midnight, featured 3 stages and 25 bands, including six-time Grammy-winner Béla Fleck and the Flecktones on their first Chicago date together since mid-2007. They’ll were joined by Philadelphia’s psych-folk harmonizers, Dr. Dog, and the Emmitt-Nershi Band, who unite Leftover Salmon’s mandolin and vocals (Drew Emmitt) with the songwriting and flatpicking of the String Cheese Incident. And Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, proudly declared “Chicago’s premier blues entertainer” by the Chicago Tribune, will properly represented the scene that put his city on the international music map.
In addition to 13 hours of 3 stages worth of nonstop music, the day’s activities includeda pickin’ circle, a live-art exhibition and indoor gallery, charitable raffles, film screenings, and impromptu marching band performances from one of Burning Man’s very own house bands, Environmental Encroachment
Last Banjo Standing Contest:
We will once again held the “LAST BANJO STANDING,” an online contest that scours Chicagoland to find the top bluegrass or blues inspired artist. The winner, as voted on by fans, family, friends and music lovers around the city will join the headliners on the main stage roster. The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival’s “Last Banjo Standing” tallied over 20,000 votes from Midwest music fans in the last month, yet a mere handful of votes separated 1st and 2nd place when voting ended at midnight on 11/16. Two bands earned it, so, two winners were crowned: Sexfist and Great Divide
About the Charities:
And while the festival will serve to break a band or two, festival-goers helped save children. A portion of ticket proceeds were donated to two non-profit organizations, the Saving tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org), and Prevent Child Abuse America (www.preventchildabuse.org)
Lineup:
The complete artist roster included….
Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
Dr. Dog
Emmitt-Nershi Band
Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
Van Ghost
The Giving Tree Band
Josh Phillips Folk Festival
Majors Junction
Chicago Farmer
Jaik Willis
Mike Mangione & The Band
Holy Ghost Tent Revival
Tangleweed
Environmental Encroachment
Squeeze-bot
Sexfist
Great Divide
Alex Wilson Band
GreenSugar
How Far to Austin
Liberty Bluegrass Band
The Right Now
Cobalt & the Hired Guns
The Shams Band
Goodbyehome
The Junior League Band
Congress Theater 2135 Milwaukee Ave Chicago IL 60647 - All Ages - Children 12&Under Free
Windy City Dawg: David Grisman & Friends @ the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Fest - TRAILER from Kingtello Presents on Vimeo