Shemekia Copeland to headline Chicago Blues Fest

Shemekia Copeland, Bobby Rush, Irma Thomas and Jimmy Johnson are among the performers to appear at the 30th annual Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park this year.

The lineup for the four-day festival also includes Otis Clay, the Bar-Kays, Eddie Floyd and Sir Mack Rice. The free festival runs from June 6 to 9 on five stages in the park along Lake Michigan. Copeland will headline opening night with young blues guitar star Quinn Sullivan, who often plays with Buddy Guy.

The festival ends with James Cotton, who performed at the first Chicago Blues Festival in 1984. He is scheduled to appear with John Primer, Billy Branch and Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, among others.