Arts and blues mix Saturday in Mt. Prospect

Residents, blues fans and art lovers are invited to "get down" and experience some of Chicago's hottest blues and discover the unique works of local artisans at two Mount Prospect summer events: "Blues on the Green" and the Fine Arts Festival, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19 at Emerson Street and Busse Avenue.

Blues on the Green starts at 2 p.m., with 91/2 hours of soulful, lowdown music that distinguishes Chicago as the heart and soul of the blues.

This year's lineup features Grammy-award winning harmonica virtuoso Sugar Blue; the horn-leavened soul group Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings; the 2010 Chicago Blues Celebrities - Linsey Alexander, Joanne Graham, Nellie "Tiger" Travis; Hot Rod, featuring Rodney Brown and the Mike Dangeroux Duo.

Sugar Blue has played with the Rolling Stones, Big Walter Horton, Carey Bell, James Cotton and Junior Wells and spent two years touring with his friend and mentor Willie Dixon. He has appeared in festivals worldwide and shared the stage with Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Lionel Hampton.

Since March of 1993, the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings have blasted out their own soul-steeped brand of R&B and blues. Before 1993, they were the celebrated Mellow Fellows, the big-energy brass outfit that backed Big Twist until his 1990 death.

The price of admission to Blues on the Green is one can or box of nonperishable food for the Mount Prospect Food Pantry. For the past two years, attendees generously filled the pantry.

"Blues on the Green gets bigger every year and continues to exceed our expectations," said Michael Janonis, Mount Prospect village manager. "What makes this event special is twofold: We can fill our food pantry and ... we can listen to some of the top headliners on the blues circuit."

The event sponsor, the Blues Bar, worked with local agents and searched for a diverse group of performers with a loyal Chicago following.

"We couldn't be prouder to sponsor the Blues on the Green again," said owner Errol Oztekin. "To offer such talent as Sugar Blue and the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings demonstrates this event is becoming one of the premier blues events in the Chicago area."

Sharing the day with Blues on the Green is the Mount Prospect Fine Arts Festival. The juried exhibition features the creations of talented artisans who are selling paintings, sculptures, photography, textiles, pottery, glass and jewelry.

Arts and crafts tables are also available for children at the family-friendly event.