Hey Nonny Targets Mid-winter Blues Week
For Hey Nonny, there's only one way to beat the winter blues - more blues! As winter hits the hardest Hey Nonny will swing back with a week of scorching shows during Blues Week 2023.
Reviving a concept the Arlington Heights bistro and music venue debuted in 2019, Blues Week 2023 will run January 31 through February 5 with shows each night and ticket options that include a festival pass for the entire run.
"COVID knocked us back a bit, costing us a few years of Blues Week, but we are coming back even stronger with a line-up of blues stars that will attract newbies and the most devoted blues fans," Hey Nonny co-owner Chip Brooks said. "We're going to have some great performers working their magic every night including a Blues Supersession on the third and the Delmark Records All-Stars Sunday afternoon, February the 5th."
The festival kicks off with a bang as Hey Nonny (and global) favorite Toronzo Cannon hits the stage for a 7:30 show on January 31. Born and bred in Chicago, Cannon has been captivating audiences since his debut release in 2016.
The first night of February brings the 4-man Chicago entry The Steepwater Band to the festival.
"This will not be a night for the faint of heart," said Brooks. "The Steepwater Band will have the walls shaking with their blues-infused rock style."
In baseball parlance February 2 brings a double-header as Altered Five Blues Band and Joanna Carter provide a great 2-for-1 show starting at 7:30. Led by Jeff Taylor on vocals, Altered States will travel down I-94 from Milwaukee to treat Hey Nonny fans to what American Blues Scene called "a thunderstorm of original blues music." Starting her music career at 17, Connor went on to play with legendary names like Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Magic Slim, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Koko Taylor and others before forming her own band in 1988. She is still going strong wearing the crown of Chicago's Queen of the Blues.
All that serves as a warm-up to a torrid weekend that begins on Friday, February 3 with a Chicago Blues Supersession. The Chicago Blues Supersession features a solid rhythm section that performs with a variety of complimentary artists and vocalists making each show unique.
Among those scheduled to appear are Bob Stroger, Billy Flynn, Dave Katzman, Kenny Smith, Brother John Kattke, Amy Lowe, Melvin Smith, Omar Coleman, and Kate Moss.
"This is an all-star Chicago blues line-up," said Brooks. "Always great. Always fun."
Saturday February 4 is another double-billed show with Studebaker John kicking things off before Mud Morganfield performs. Morganfield won a Blues Music Award in the Traditional Blues Album category for his album, "For Pops: A Tribute To Muddy Waters." Yes, Morganfield's growling voice is in his DNA as a son of the legendary bluesman.
The festival will come to a resounding close on Sunday February 5 with a Delmark Records All-Star show. Performers from the legendary Chicago blues label will come together for an unforgettable afternoon of blues.
"It's going to be exhilarating for us - so many high-powered performances all jammed together," Brooks said. "We are so excited to bring the festival back. Tickets are going to go fast, though, so blues fans need to pick the shows they want to see right away, or just go all-in on the festival pass."
As an extra attraction, Brooks has called on key Hey Nonny contributor photographer Jim Summaria to display some of his greatest shots of blues performers in the Hey Nonny Bistro, starting January 9.
For a schedule of performances and to get tickets, visit www.heynonny.com. Tickets may be purchased for individual ticketed shows, or discounted festival passes are also available.