Chicago Gospel Music Festival: June 3
Chicago Blues Festival: June 8 – 11
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference: June 23 & 24
The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the lineups and artist highlights for three of Chicago’s most beloved free music festivals taking place at the top of summer:
• Chicago Gospel Music Festival (June 3; Millennium Park) Kicking off the summer season in Millennium Park, this inspirational music festival brings audiences of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate the power of music. 2023 lineup features Choir Nation opening for multiple GRAMMY®Award winners Karen Clark Sheard and Tye Tribbett on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage; MillenniumPark.org, ChicagoGospelMusicFestival.us #ChicagoGospelMusicFestival
• Chicago Blues Festival (June 8 – 11; Millennium Park) The largest, free Blues festival in the world returns with four days of top tier talent performing across three stages in Millennium Park. Headliners include: four-time GRAMMY® winners Los Lobos; one of the most decorated gospel music groups, honored by both the GRAMMYs and The National Endowment for theArts with Lifetime Achievement Awards, Blind Boys of Alabama, will perform with two-time GRAMMY® winner, Bobby Rush; multi award-winning artist and eldest son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield; three ofChicago’s own living Blues legends John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, and the Jimmy Burns Band; B.B. KingEntertainer and Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year winner Sugaray Rayford,and many more. Guests will enjoy a Blues-inspired food and drink pop-up in the Park, titled “Wally’s BBQ Pitt” catered by Eleven North Hospitality, in addition to a large-scale, historic Blues photography installation curated by Praize Productions. MillenniumPark.org, ChicagoBluesFestival.us #ChicagoBluesFestival
• Chicago House Music Festival and Conference (June 23, Chicago CulturalCenter; June 24, Humboldt Park Boathouse): Chicago’s favorite dance party takes over the beautiful Humboldt Park Boathouse lawn, June 24, celebrating the genre born in Chicago that has gone on to revolutionize dance music internationally. DJs include Roy Davis Jr., Psycho-B, NoshaLuv, Emmaculate, DJ V, and more to be announced in the coming weeks. The House conference also returns to the Chicago Cultural Center, June 23, with panel discussions relating to the culture, art, and business of House Music. As part of additional programming citywide throughout the weekend, the festival brings local DJs to spin at the historic Maxwell Street Market, June 25 from 12 – 2pm. ChicagoHouseMusicFestival.us #ChicagoHouseMusicFestival
"Chicago is the birthplace of house music, urban blues, and gospel. It’s an honor to celebrate our city’s musical legacy each summer with free concerts across Chicago,” shared DCASE Commissioner Erin Harkey.
Be Sure to Save the dates for these additional DCASE music festivals; as well as the complete Millennium Park Summer Season, including Summer Workouts, Summer Film Series, and more; lineups to be announced in the coming weeks:
• Millennium Park Summer Music Series (Jay Pritzker Pavilion): select Mondays & Thursdays, June 22 – August 21, MillenniumPark.org
• Chicago Jazz Festival (citywide and in Millennium Park including Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Thursday – Sunday, August 31 – September 3) MillenniumPark.org and ChicagoJazzFestival.us
• World Music Festival Chicago (citywide): Friday, September 22 – Sunday, October 1, WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org
For more information about City-funded “Chicago Presents” community events and other City-permitted neighborhood festivals and special events, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE. For Grant Park Music Festival information, visit GPMF.org.
Schedule highlights for Gospel, Blues and House Music Festivals enclosed with full details and updates available online.
