The Venue, the 200-currently-empty-seat music performance space in Aurora, will deliver the Blues on the Fox livestream Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 20 at 8 p.m.. A special documentary of the Story of the Blues on the Fox will be presented. All events will be livestreamed from the Venue’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheVenueAurora. Ticket purchase and donations for the event can be made at themusicvenue.org. Proceeds from the shows directly benefit the performing artists and The Fox Valley Music Foundation. The Blues on the Fox performances and film are brought to you by the Fox Valley Music Foundation and The Paramount Arts Centre/RiverEdge Park.
Friday night, June 19, will feature Alligator Recording artist and Chicago bluesman and past Blues on the Fox performer, Toronzo Cannon, livestreamed from The Venue. The blistering guitarist, soulful vocalist, singular songwriter and city bus driver fuses his muscular, rock-inspired blues guitar playing with his original, keenly detailed slice-of-life songs, blazing his own blues trail.
Prior to Toronzo’s performance, at 7 p.m., part one of the film, The Story of the Blues on the Fox, will be shown. The film covers the rich history of the RCA Bluebird recordings at the Leland Tower, the development of the festival and it’s growth and change throughout the years.
Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues, a three-time Blues on the Fox artist, will be livestreaming on Saturday, June 20 at 8 p.m.. Blues giant Billy Branch is among today’s greatest harmonica players. With his inventive, deeply rooted playing and gritty, soulful vocals, Branch carries on the Chicago blues tradition that he learned first-hand from icons including Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Willie Dixon and many others. His famous teachers made it clear to anyone who would listen that Branch was the heir apparent to the Chicago blues harmonica throne. With his instantly recognizable sound and his band, The Sons Of Blues, Branch has traveled the world, creating living, breathing and evolving Chicago blues for over four decades. In addition, he’s dedicated years of work to the Blues In The Schools program, helping children, the next generation of blues artists and fans, develop a love for and understanding of the genre. Branch is a three-time Grammy nominee, Emmy Award winner, and Blues Music Award winner. In addition, he is a 2020 Blues Foundation Hall of Fame Inductee. Billy is featured prominently in the Blues on the Fox film.
Part two of The Story of the Blues on the Fox film will be shown immediately prior to Billy’s performance at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20.
“We are pleased to offer a virtual experience of Blues on the Fox, live from The Venue in light of this year’s inability to provide the festival at RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora,” beams Fox Valley Music President Dave Glynn. “With the encouragement of the Paramount Theatre/RiverEdge Park leadership, we were able to secure live performances by two of our top notch Blues performing artists from previous Blues on the Fox festivals. The film will be an added treat for all of our Blues on the Fox fans.”
—Fox Valley Music Foundation