Through live, audience-engaging performances, Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee and Muddy Waters' Grammy-winning songwriter Terry Abrahamson joins iconic Chicago Bluesicians "Downtown" Charlie Brown and Ivy Ford to empower kids and families with the whimsy, swagger and imagination of Chicago's hallowed hometown music, enabling any child of any age to "Lift Your Voice with the Tools of the Blues."

Drawing on the Blues' historic relevance as America's first voice of protest, kids learn you can use the name you're born with or you can use the name you're born to have! Each kid gets a custom Blues name. They learn to twist the language like Elmore James describing rain as "The Sky is Crying" or Willie Dixon romanticizing a party as a "Wang Dang Doodle." And they learn the power of the Blues to build community, dancing and shouting through the call-and-response of "Got My Mojo Working" and joining the Bluesicians in writing a Blues song together. Plus, each child in attendance goes home with their own personally autographed copy of Terry Abrahamson's illustrated history of the Blues for kids, The Blues Parade.

For ages 6 and up.

How to Attend
Register by 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 23. Chicago Public Library cannot collect personal information online from kids 0 to 13. A parent or guardian’s email address must be used to register. As a reminder, school email addresses may block external emails such as those from CPL.

Due to space limitations, please include only the total number of children as attendees when you register.

Accessibility
Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.

Photo source: Terry Abrahamson