BluesStream: A Chicago/Kalamazoo Blues Party, a new six-hour celebration of Blues music, culture, and history, will combine performances by top Midwest and Chicago Blues talent along with sharing great stories of Blues history, streaming live Sunday, August 30, from 2-8pm Chicago Blues Time (Central). Proudly presented by the new Chicago Blues Network in conjunction with the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association, the BluesStream festival is pay-what-you-can, with a virtual tip jar inviting donations to benefit the musicians and related local and national non-profit organizations.
Tune in at any time throughout the BluesStream broadcast August 30 via the channel of your choice:
Facebook Live: https://bit.ly/FBtrading4s; YouTube Live: https://bit.ly/seeChicagoBlues; or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalamazooBluesFestival/
Representing Chicago in concert and conversation will be Blues Masters such as Billy Branch, Johnny Burgin, Joanna Connor, Katherine Davis, Billy Flynn, Fruteland Jackson, John Kattke, Dave Specter, and Harlan Terson, while Kalamazoo-based headliners include Larry McCray, AMays and Blue, and Out of Favor Boys Trio. Chicago Blues Network Music Director Dave Specter and Chicago Blues Network Senior Faculty member Billy Branch, along with singer/storyteller Fruteland Jackson, will take viewers through a history of American Blues, from cotton fields and work farms to Chicago and now the world. Pastor Phil Jackson, executive director and founder of the Firehouse Community Arts Center in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, will focus attention on the entire Chicago Blues community, where so many musicians play and live.
“The BluesStream virtual festival allows Chicago Blues lovers all over the world to experience the unique joy of Chicago Blues we have all been so short on because of the pandemic. We are thrilled to be connecting Chicago Blues fans from Japan, Australia. Norway, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, all of Michigan and the rest of the U.S. with our Chicago Blues Masters and are so thankful to the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association for working together with us,” said Scott Weil, owner, Chicago Blues Network.
“The Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association is proud to carry on its mission of ‘keeping the blues alive’ through this new BluesStream music festival, the greatest virtual blues party of the season. We will bring these two communities together that are both rich in Blues music heritage and history. We welcome the opportunity to expose new audiences to our talent and also the important work of the Black Arts and Cultural Center of Kalamazoo,” added Mike Depoian, President, Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association.
The Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association (KVBA) was formed in 1995 to educate, promote and preserve the rich history of this African American art form. A 100% volunteer based non-profit organization, the KVBA also provides educational programs such as Blues in School and through generous donors an annual scholarship program.
Pay-what-you-can model benefits charities local and national
The BluesStream: A Chicago/Kalamazoo Blues Party is intentionally ‘pay-what-you-can’ so as to not limit access to anyone seeking a live concert experience during this tenuous time. For those viewers who are able to contribute even $1.00 via a virtual tip jar at https://athomechicagoblues.com/support-the-artists provides compensation for the performers in addition to supporting non-profit partner organizations, including the Firehouse Community Art Center in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. Under the direction of Pastor Phil Jackson, its mission is to interrupt the cycle of violence among youth and young adults in North Lawndale through the power of the arts. Nationally, monies also benefit The Blues Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for Performing Blues Artists. Tips generated by the BluesStream concert will also benefit the Black Arts and Cultural Center of Kalamazoo, which develops potential and creativity in Blacks in the Kalamazoo area, advances the awareness of Black artistic ability, helps to preserve Black cultural heritage and enhance interactions among diverse groups.