"If you don't dig the blues you must have a hole in your soul." - Jimmy Rogers
Don't have a hole in your soul! Come and experience the blues, Chicago style, in Fort Wayne!
Imagine that it's 1958 and you are going deep into the south side of Chicago to hear the architects of post-war Chicago blues electrify the crowd at some smokey blues joint. The air is filled with the sounds of wailing electric guitars, amplified harmonicas, drums and the voices of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers - The voices that made the Chicago blues famous - The same artists that incubated modern Rock 'n Roll — (Check out the Muddy Waters song "The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock And Roll" for more about the blues and rock relationship.)
The air is also filled with the irresistible aroma of soul food, prepared by one of the epicurial masters from the South, now residing in Chicago. The fact is that Chicago blues musicians and patrons enjoy the food served in these joints almost as much as the music. This entire experience is being faithfully recreated at the Fort Wayne Blues and Soul Food Bash. All proceeds benefit the League for the Blind and Disabled so come and get the real Chicago Blues Experience, while supporting a great cause, at the Blues and Soul Food Bash Fort Wayne. Tickets are only $10 each and include live blues by Chicago's blues harp master and Blue Bella Records recording artist Bill Lupkin and all the soul food that you can eat.
The Music
Bill Lupkin & The Chicago Connection
For most musicians it would be enough to say you worked, toured and recorded with Jimmy Rogers & Freddie King, served residencies at Pepper’s and Ma Bea's on Chicago’s south and west sides and that Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf sat in on your gigs — but Blue Bella Records recording artist Bill Lupkin doesn’t let that alone define him. He’s a well-seasoned singer, songwriter and master harpist and as fine and physical a player as you can find today. Lupkin lays it all down every outing with bedrock old-school blues and freshly-penned numbers that showcase chops, swing, muscle and a deft loving touch for the blues.
The Food
Chicago-style Soul Food
Soul food is abundant on the south and west sides of Chicago and most of the south and west side blues clubs have a resident soul food chef to prepare fantastic, generational family recipes. If the club did not have a kitchen, soul food was brought in from a near by soul food restaurant. A typical Chicago-style soul food menu will include peach cobbler, collard greens, rib tips, potato salad, red beans, cole slaw, sweet potato pie, fried catfish, meatloaf, fried chicken, greens, macaroni & cheese, biscuits, hush puppies, pound cake and more.
Soul Food at the Blues and Soul Food Bash Fort Wayne
After an exhaustive search for the right epicurial soul food gurus, we are extremely excited to announce that we've found them! The soul food at the Fort Wayne Blues and Soul Food Bash will be prepared by C & R Soul Food, from Indianapolis. C & R is totally old school, using guarded family recipes and cooking everything from scratch, with the love and nuance that great soul food requires and deserves. If that wasn't good enough, C & R has prepared a special "Chicago Soul" menu just for our Blues Bash! This special menu was created after lengthy discussions with several veteran Chicago blues musicians who have played and eaten at these great Chicago blues spotsC & R Soul Food will be cooking some of the best soul food that you'll ever taste in your life! Wanna get your mouth watering in double time? Have a look at the Blues and Soul Food Bash Fort Wayne soul food menu below.
- Turkey Creole
- Lemon Lime Chicken
- Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey
- Yams
- Purlo Rice
- John Garlic Rice
- Pound Cake
- Peach Cobbler
- Cornbread
The Soul Food & Blues Musician Connection
Chicago blues guitarist, Tom Castonzo, recalls: "When I was learning how to play the blues, I would go down to the old Checkerboard Lounge, on the south side (423 E. 43rd St), and play with Buddy Scott's band. I remember the sounds and aromas of the Checkerboard; the music was real deep and struck me in a very significant way but what left an almost equally strong impression on me was the food! The food was Chicago-style soul food and the band would eat at every set break. All of the vocal mics at the Checkerboard had hot sauce and bar-b-que sauce embedded in the mesh covers. - I loved it.
There was fried catfish, rib tips, biscuits, fried chicken, hush puppies, etc. Savory & hearty food to help get you through the long sets at the Checkerboard, especially during those long, brutal Chicago winters."
The Venue
Arts United Center - Fort Wayne
The Arts United Center was built in 1973 by the famous architect Louis Kahn. The theatre was built at a cost of $4.1 million and serves as the main performance stage for the Civic Theatre, the Youtheatre, Fort Wayne Ballet, Fort Wayne Dance Collective and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. The theatre also serves as a community resource. On Saturday, Feb 20th, The Arts United Center will be transformed into a Chicago south side blues club featuring the hottest Chicago blues served up by Blue Bella Records recording artist Bill Lupkin & The Chicago Connection along with the finest Chicago Soul Food found anywhere.
The Cause
the League for the Blind and Disabled - Fort Wayne
The League's vision is full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life. The League's mission is to provide and promote opportunities that empower people with disabilities to achieve their potential. All proceeds from the ticket sales of this event will go directly to The League, to help advance their vision and mission.