Opening with two panel discussions featuring family members of blues legends Robert Johnson and Howlin' Wolf, the Mississippi Juke Joint Stage kicked off the 2011 Chicago Blues Festival with a bang. This year's festival, "Sweet Home Chicago: A Centennial Celebration of Robert Johnson," is commemorating the legendary bluesman June 10-12, and Mississippi is here to supply the sweet sounds of authentic Delta Blues and the hospitality of the True South all weekend long.



D'Mar and Gill hit the stage after the panel discussions and rocked an elbow-to-elbow crowd. Despite cloudy skies, spirits were high and the sound of the Mississippi blues were sweet. Nora Jean Bruso and Super Chikan wrapped up the afternoon set before Fernando Jones & My Band closed out the first night at the Mississippi Juke Joint stage.

But the night was far from over... Eddie Cotton jumpstarted a night of Mississippi music on the Petrillo Main Stage. As Eddie and other Mississippi artists warmed up the crowd for the official "Tribute to Robert Johnson" performances, guests enjoyed down-home eats at the Mississippi tent. After all, what's a True South celebration without hearty, homestyle Southern cuisine?!





What a night! Even more great music Saturday and Sunday...