Previous events

Unwind after a weekend of energizing performances with this special show featuring the Blues Rising collective, including Knott Us Band, Meaza Joy and A Patch of Blues! Doors are at 8pm; make sure to RSVP today and arrive before 9pm on Sunday night for the best seats. This is a free event presented through a collaboration with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Chicago Independent Venue League and Rosa’s Lounge in conjunction with Blues Fest.

What better way to celebrate Billy Branch's 75th year on this planet and the 50th anniversary of Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues than a free, prime-time Blues Fest show? Join us on Saturday, June 6 in downtown Chicago’s Millennium Park to see Billy and his band rock out with special guests Kenny Neal and Ronnie Baker Brooks.

And as usual, Rosa’s Lounge is proud to sponsor Blues Fest! All weekend long, you can catch more than a dozen free shows at our stage (on the north promenade) and stop by our booth to chat or pick up some records and merch (such as the exclusive new t-shirt featuring artwork by Eric Waugh, available only at the festival). See the full line-up here.

Join 3-time Grammy nominee and winner of am Emmy Award and multiple Blues Music and Living Blues Critics' Awards, Billy Branch, as he shares his most personal and significant work to date: the release of his newest album The Blues is My Biography, Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues

Join 3 Time Grammy Nominee and winner of an Emmy Award and multiple Blues Music and Living Blues Critics Awards, Billy Branch as he shares his most personal and significant work to date: the release of his newest album. Special guests including The Chicago Fire Horns and Howard Sandifer’s Chicago West Community Music Youth Choir

“Begging For Change” is a milestone for Billy Branch—not only as a three-time Grammy-nominated artist and harmonica virtuoso, but also as the leader of The Sons of Blues, the very first band to take the stage at Rosa’s Lounge in 1984. This new single marks the first official release under the Rosa’s Lounge-Records label, making it a significant event for both Branch and the legendary venue, which stands as a cornerstone of Chicago’s blues heritage.

For Branch, whose career is defined by innovation and influence, this release represents a fresh chapter and a powerful partnership with Rosa’s Lounge. The title “Begging For Change” carries layered meaning, evoking both the literal and the metaphorical, and reflecting the blues’ enduring ability to capture themes of transformation, resilience, and social realities. This debut single is both a celebration of Branch’s artistry and a meaningful moment for the blues community at large.

“Begging For Change” is a milestone for Billy Branch—not only as a three-time Grammy-nominated artist and harmonica virtuoso, but also as the leader of The Sons of Blues, the very first band to take the stage at Rosa’s Lounge in 1984. This new single marks the first official release under the Rosa’s Lounge-Records label, making it a significant event for both Branch and the legendary venue, which stands as a cornerstone of Chicago’s blues heritage.

For Branch, whose career is defined by innovation and influence, this release represents a fresh chapter and a powerful partnership with Rosa’s Lounge. The title “Begging For Change” carries layered meaning, evoking both the literal and the metaphorical, and reflecting the blues’ enduring ability to capture themes of transformation, resilience, and social realities. This debut single is both a celebration of Branch’s artistry and a meaningful moment for the blues community at large.