If you caught the show at Chicago Blues Festival’s Mississippi Juke Joint on Sunday, June 14 then you saw the sea of people stretching from the stage to Jackson Drive chanting “HONEYBOY”. David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Born in 1915, is one of the last of the original Mississippi Delta Bluesman and he rocked the crowd. 

He also rocked the crowd on the North Shore as one of the headliners at the 2^nd Annual Blues on the North Shore, which raised funds and awareness for A Safe Haven and took place in Evanston. Edwards celebrated his 94^th birthday, and local music label, Earwig Music’s 30^th anniversary on Friday, June 12 at Evanston ’s SPACE.  Earwig chief, Michael Frank and Honeyboy Edwards have been Blues traveling companions for 37 years. From Chicago to the Mississippi Delta, to Paris and to the Netherlands these two Blues historians and recording artists have blazed the Blues trail, but coming home to perform is always the most rewarding. 

Some of the most influential Mississippi Bluesman of our time jammed the night away during this North Shore celebration; including John Primer and Big Jack Johnson & the Oilers. Evanstonian Lois Roewade said, “I was completely taken with Big Jack Johnson and John Primer. The performance gave me a wonderful sense of the Mississippi Delta Blues and it was a marvelous way to end the evening.”

The atmosphere was filled with electricity from songs such as, Too Much Information and Somebody Please Give Me a Job as Johnny Drummer,  Aron Burton and Rob Stone showcased their Chicago-style soulful urban Blues.  And club owner Dave Specter sat in with the legends on a few numbers.

“Tonight was a great celebration of Mississippi Delta and authentic Chicago Electric Blues. This year Blues on the North Shore is also a family reunion for Earwig Music. Having the event in Evanston and on the North Shore continues this community's tradition in supporting music,” said co-producer Denise Ardizzone. “The Blues is just like BBQ,” said Honeyboy Edwards, you have to let it cook real slow and let it simmer.”  These words were the inspiration for the first “King of the BBQ for Blues on the North Shore ” award given to Hecky Powell of Hecky’s Famous BBQ in Evanston. “This means so much to me since I’m from the Delta Coast ,” said a surprised and humble, Hecky Powell.

Blues on the North Shore conjured sweet memories of Chicago’s Late Koko Taylor Saturday night at Bills Blues Bar. As tribute to her mentor Paige Fernandez, who plays a pink bass, of the band Love Jones played memorable Blues tracks. In speaking of Koko Taylor Fenandez recalled, “She made me proud to be a girl Blues musician.” Fernandez recently played her guitar for Koko Taylor in her home in Chicago. 

Highlighting the night at Bill’s Blues Bar was Jeff Dale & the South Woodlawners. Dale, a Chicago native, has worked with luminaries like Etta James, Pee Wee Crayton & Clifton Chenier. Dale was brought in by Executive Producer, Lynn Orman Weiss who grew up with Dale on the South Side of Chicago, to celebrate his CD release, Blues From The South Side Of My Soul.  “You know they say the Blues came up from the Deep South, but in this case they came up from the deep South Side of Jeffrey Manor in Chicago,” joked Orman Weiss to her grammar school classmates who came in from all over the country to Bill’s Blues to hear Jeff Dale.

In the tradition of bringing Blues to the North Shore, Fat Tone Guitars of Northbrook held a master class, called Blues Trio—How to Put Together a Blues Trio on June 11. Earwig music recording artists and former Wilmette resident Bob Corritore taught a host of North Shore residents the basics to making a blues trio band and the basics of this quintessential American art form—the Blues.

“Blues on the North Shore provides intimate [ North Shore ] venues, and brings classic artists to our community to perform while we learn about and celebrate an art form so interwoven into the fabric of Chicago . People from around the world… France , Poland , Germany came here to Evanston , to the North Shore to hear the Blues,” said Lynn Orman Weiss, founder and  Executive Producer of the event.

Blues Lovers can relive the concert on BB King's Bluesville on XM Sirius Radio with Bill Wax and MHz Networks Worldview, WYCC in Chicago, as well as www.frontrowmusic.tv. For broadcast dates and times visit, www.bluesonthennorthshore.org.