Downtown Aurora’s 25th Annual Blues on the Fox Festival is back this summer with a killer line-up playing live blues on the banks of the Fox River, Friday and Saturday, June 16-17, at Thomas J. Weisner RiverEdge Park.
Friday night kicks things off with the powerful voice of Ruthie Foster and her band, followed by the legendary Jimmie Vaughan. Saturday keeps rolling with four concerts, culminating with the “Kingfish,” Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.
For ticket and other information, visit here.
About The Performers
Friday, June 16
RUTHIE FOSTER BAND: 7 PM
With a naturally expressive voice that has drawn comparisons to greats like Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald, Texas-based singer and songwriter Ruthie Foster has a wide palette of American song forms — gospel and blues to jazz, folk, and soul — and her live performances are powerfully transfiguring. By the age of 14 she was a soloist in a local choir and was certain that her future would revolve around music. When she moved to Waco to attend community college, her studies were concentrated around music and audio engineering. She also began fronting a blues band, learning how to command a stage and her voice in the rough bars of Texas. Decades later Ruthie is going stronger than ever and as Rolling Stone magazine said: “she’s pure magic to watch and hear.”
JIMMIE VAUGHAN: 9 PM
When it comes to the blues today, there are a handful of guiding lights to make sure the music stays true to its powerful source. The sound of pleasure and pain that first sparked musicians to create such a sound is a force that can never be underestimated. The mojo has to be there. For Jimmie Vaughan, he’s dedicated his life to making sure the blues not only stays alive, but remains full of life and an inspiration to all who listen. It’s a spirit he holds close to him, and for over 50 years of holding the blues close inside him, Vaughan isn’t about to stop now.
Saturday, June 17
JOEY J. SAYE: 3 PM
Joey J. Saye, you see a promising, young musician with his entire life ahead of him. When you hear him, his sound and his musicianship far surpass his age. The way he attacks the strings with finesse embodies the roots of Blues as if he was around when the Blues were born. Joey grew up right here in Aurora and music has been a part of his DNA since he was child; living in a household that provided him with a multitude of music genres and styles. Hearing his grandmother break out in song at any given moment helped him to appreciate music and its art of bringing people together & soothing the soul. Joey is making a name for himself not only in Chicagoland, but all over the US abroad, becoming an international Blues artist with audiences embracing him with open arms.
MUD MORGANFIELD: 5 PM
Yes, he is the eldest son of the legendary Muddy Waters, but the multi-award-winning artist has established an illustrious Blues’ career of his own. He’s not just an amazing musician, Mud’s taken his decades of life experiences and put them into unforgettable songs like Blues in My Shoes and Praise Him — earning kudos from legends like Buddy Guy and Jools Holland. Backed by some of the best musicians playing today, it just takes hearing one song and you’ll understand why Mud Morganfield is in a league of his own.
KENNY NEAL: 7 PM
If you want to experience the “Real Deal,” take time out to find Kenny Neal. He’s the artist everyone was talking about after his performance at the 2022 Blues Music Awards show. One of the strongest modern proponents of Baton Rouge swamp Blues, Kenny is a second-generation southern Louisiana bluesman who is cognizant of the region’s venerable Blues’ tradition and yet imaginative enough to steer in fresh directions. Yes, he’s got multi-Grammy noms. Yes, he’s got Blues Music Award wins. Yes, once you experience Kenny and his Big 7 Piece Band, you’re musical taste buds will thank yo.
CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM: 9 PM
Since the release of Kingfish, his Grammy-nominated 2019 Alligator Records debut, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has quickly become the defining blues voice of his generation. From his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi to stages around the world, the now 22-year-old has already headlined two national tours and performed with friends including Vampire Weekend, Jason Isbell and Buddy Guy — with whom he appeared on Austin City Limits. He was interviewed by Sir Elton John on his Apple Music podcast, Rocket Hour, and recently released a duet with Bootsy Collins. In January 2021, Ingram was simultaneously on the covers of both Guitar World and DownBeat magazines, and graced the cover of Living Blues in late 2020. Rolling Stone declared, “Kingfish is one of the most exciting young guitarists in years, with a sound that encompasses B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Prince.”
RiverEdge Park is located at 360 N. Broadway in downtown Aurora, across the street from Metra’s Aurora Transportation Center. Tickets for Friday, June 17 are $25. Tickets for Saturday, June 18 are $35. All tickets are general admission. Fees not included. For tickets and information, visit riveredgeaurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, stop by RiverEdge’s satellite box office, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday–Saturday, or purchase day-of at RiverEdge Park.
