Music notes: Hear blues master Montoya at Montrose Room

Blues master

Coco Montoya brings his virtuoso blues-guitar playing to the suburbs this weekend. A former member of the John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers band, Montoya is now seven albums deep into a solo career. He's a protégé of legendary bluesman Albert Collins, and his work has earned raves from fans and fellow blues artists across the country.

9 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $10. Go to montroseroom.com.

Time to swing

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the popular jazz and swing revivalist band, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, an event that will include a performance at North Central College this weekend. The nine-piece band is well-known for its inventive and energetic live performances.

8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. Tickets start at $35. Go to finearts.northcentralcollege.edu.

Festival reminder

Unbelievable as it may seem, the Pitchfork Music Festival is a little more than two months away! This year's event takes place July 19-21 at Chicago's Union Park, and the lineup is typically eclectic, with an emphasis on up-and-coming indie bands. The headliners are Bjork, who's playing Friday, Belle & Sebastian, playing Saturday, and R. Kelly, playing Sunday. Other standout acts on the bill include the Breeders, who are currently on tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their classic record “Last Splash,” which they'll play in its entirety; veteran indie stalwarts Yo La Tengo; and acclaimed newcomers like Savages, Chairlift, Foxygen and Metz. The fest typically draws 50,000 people from all over the country, so it would wise to get tickets as soon as possible.

July 19-21 at Union Park in Chicago. Three-day passes cost $120, and single-day tickets cost $50. For a full lineup, schedule and ticket information, go to pitchforkmusicfestival.com.