Mavis Staples, John Primer Deliver Soulful Sets At Chicago Blues Fest

“My name is Ivan Singh – this is a dream come true,” said the Argentinian guitarist, kicking off Blues Fest last month in Chicago.

Singh now calls Chicago home and stands as a perfect example of the way the world’s largest free blues festival continues to embrace local talent, drawing a massive early crowd at just after noon on a hot summer Friday along the lakefront in the Windy City’s Millennium Park ahead of a run of European dates.

Singh, 26, was backed on the Rosa’s Lounge stage by a five piece group including a horn section that cooked, attacking his cigar box with a slide as he took on Muddy Waters’ “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” at the top of his set.

Chicago Blues Fest began way back in 1984, just about one year after Waters’ death, taking place annually since.

This year’s festival included an in depth look at the career of bluesman Bobby Rush, 91, a women in blues tribute to Denise LaSalle and a 75th anniversary celebration of Chess Records featuring Charles Berry Jr. and Charles Berry III, the son and grandson of the legendary rock and roller.

Red-hot guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, 26, who was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the birthplace of the blues, performed two sets, taking part in a centennial tribute to legendary guitarist B.B. King ahead of a festival closing performance by Chicago native, soul singer and Civil Rights activist Mavis Staples.

“I’ve learned from Dr. King to just hold on and keep pushing – don’t give up. If you fall down, pick yourself up, brush off and keep going. That’s what we would do when we were marching,” said Staples, 86, looking back upon her time alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the 60s during a conversation in 2020. “Everything he did was for us. And I do mine for the people,” she said. “When people come to my concerts, I want them to leave there feeling better than they did when they arrived. So, I’m following in his footsteps.”

Despite rain earlier in the day, Staples’ offered up a full set nevertheless, closing out Blues Fest following the unique pairing of incendiary jazz saxophonist Frank Catalano and blues guitarist Lurrie Bell, with the duo nodding in the direction of B.B. King, who brought those worlds together magically on the 1983 album Blues ‘N’ Jazz.

Saturday, Mississippi-born bluesman Jesse Robinson offered up a scorching set on the Visit Mississippi Crossroads stage, working up his take, appropriately enough, on “Sweet Home Chicago,” early in his 75 minute performance.

Louisiana born singer Vickie Baker is now a Mississippi-based teacher and followed Robinson with over an hour of her own, taking a sultry approach to her set as she picked up harmonica for her latest single “Cheatin’ Tonight.”

But Saturday belonged to John Primer, 80, who, over more than six decades, has collaborated with artists like Willie Dixon and Junior Wells while working as guitarist and band leader for Waters.

Following a Friday duo set alongside harmonica player Steve Bell, who recently portrayed Sonny Terry in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, Primer delivered a rollicking 75 minutes alongside his Real Deal Blues Band.

“We’re workin’ up the king, y’all: B.B. King!” announced Primer proudly, introducing the six piece group’s take on “Baby, Look at You.” “Tom Holland on the guitar. Johnny Iguana on the keyboards y’all!” he continued, shouting out longtime cohort Holland and guest keyboard player Iguana, who, alongside Jeffrey “JQ” Qaiyum, scores the Chicago-centered FX on Hulu restaurant drama The Bear. “You’re probably too young to know this song,” joked Primer of the 1961 cut.

Iguana sparkled on “Hard Working Woman,” a song Primer sent out to his mother, before offering up an unexpected cover on stage at Chicago Blues Fest.

“I was born and raised on country and western in Mississippi back in the day,” said the singer with a smile, wrapping a fun take on Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy.”

As the smell of barbecue wafted across Millennium Park, the all-star ensemble offered up 2019’s “Rainy Night in Georgia,” with Primer on a ripping slide guitar during “I Can’t Be Satisfied” moments later.

But just a year removed from a similar celebration of Chicago blues icon Buddy Guy, Blues Fest 2025 belonged to south side Chicago native Mavis Staples.

“I know people feel down and mishearted but you have to continue to hold onto your faith. Hold onto hope. If we don’t, what do we got?” asked Staples during our 2020 chat, comments regarding COVID which nevertheless remain eerily prescient five years later. “When I get ready to close the show, I let the people know that when you come out in the morning, if you’re going to work or school or wherever, if you walk into someone, put a smile on your face. Just be kind! You’ll feel so much better about yourself when you see that person smile back at you,” she said.

“The world just may as well get ready to be bothered with me,” said Mavis Staples. “Because I’m gonna be right here in their faces.”