Chicago blues legends come together to celebrate the power of music

Chicago blues guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks, left, and Chicago blues harmonica player Billy Branch, right, perform together Aug. 1 as part of the Chicago Plays the Stones show at McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

It's rare to have so many Chicago blues legends performing together on the same stage. But that indeed happened when John Primer, Jimmy Burns, Billy Branch, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Omar Coleman came together on Aug. 1 at McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion in Glen Ellyn as part of Chicago Plays the Stones. The show put the force of these musicians on display along with the power of the blues.

Chicago blues musician John Primer performs The Rolling Stones' song "Let It Bleed" on Aug. 1, 2019, at the McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Joining him are Chicago blues harmonica player Billy Branch and Chicago blues guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks.

 Chicago blues musician Jimmy Burns performs The Rolling Stones' song "Dead Flowers" on Aug. 1, 2019, at the McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Chicago harmonica player Billy Branch performs The Rolling Stones' song "Out of Control" on Aug. 1, 2019, at the McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. 

Chicago blues guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks performs The Rolling Stones song "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" on Aug. 1, 2019, at the McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Joining him is Chicago blues harmonica player Billy Branch.

Chicago blues harmonica player Omar Coleman performs The Rolling Stones' song "I Go Wild" on Aug. 1, 2019, at the McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Joining him are Chicago blues harmonica player Billy Branch and Chicago blues guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks.

Chicago blues musician Jimmy Burns performs with fellow musicians John Primer, Billy Branch and Ronnie Baker Brooks as part of the Chicago Plays the Stones show on Aug. 1, 2019, at the McAninch Arts Center's Lakeside Pavilion at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.