The Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival is a one-day festival celebrating our city’s unprecedented appreciation of roots music and culture. Hosted by the legendary Congress Theatre, Kingtello, React Presents, a bevy of homegrown talent will unite with some of contemporary music’s most accomplished and influential artists for a day of collaboration and cause. 12 hours, 25 bands, for only $35. And all in the name of a just cause and a plethora of musical styles that have evolved from the Bluegrass and Blues traditions that started it all. Aiming to help eradicate childe abuse and congenital heart defects in children, a portion of the event’s proceeds will contribute to the research efforts of the Chicago-based Saving Tiny Hearts Foundation and Prevent Child Abuse in America.

Is the show all ages? Can kids come?
Not only can kids come, but children under 12 will be admitted for FREE! This show is All Ages, runs from 11am-Midnight-ish, features 25 bands and only costs $35.

Can I come and go from the theater as I please?
Why, yes you can come and go freely to and from the theater until 6pm. AFTER 6PM YOU CAN STILL ARRIVE. All this means is that once you’ve left the building after 6pm, you can’t come back in. As in, if you leave at 5:59 you can still get stamped and come back any time throughout the night. However a minute later that would not be an option.

It's a festival for God's sake, where can I smoke?
There'll be a smoking lounge access without leaving the theater. Relax, fiends.

What can I bring, and what can't I bring in to the theater?
There's two things we strongly encourage you two bring: Chairs and Instruments. It's a long day, so bring your camping chairs to pop a squat on when your dogs are barkin', and there'll be an open jam session and picking circle from the second the doors open. Musicians are all invited to bring their instruments and participate. There’ll be an “instrument check” along with the coat check so that you don’t have to lug your noisemaker around with you all day. Bring whatever else in normally allowed at an indoor show, and don't bring things that are clearly illegal or against the rules (food, booze, drugs, guns, stowaways).

What else is there to do other than listen to music?
There'll be over 50 booths of artists, vendors, and charitable causes, marching bands, film screenings, and on-stage improv from assorted Second City Chicago cast members. Artists will be creating their art on-site and selling it while the Saving Tiny Hearts Society and Prevent Child Abuse America will be raffling off swag from the artists.

If you have a question you think should be up here, please e-mail michael.raspatello@gmail.com.

You can also find more Frequently Asked Questions at CongressChicago.com

Let’s be honest, we can’t go at this alone. So we need your help, and you need a ticket. That’s why we’re offering promotional positions to good-hearted festivarians in and around Chicago, and on college campuses across the land. These volunteers will be awarded two free tickets to the festival in return for their efforts in making this show the most talked about live music event since that creepy banjo duel in Deliverance. There’s limited spots for volunteers, so get in touch with shayna.gladstone@gmail.com today.

You can also join our mailing list, to get more information about upcoming events.

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The Saving Tiny Hearts Society raises money for grossly under-funded, crucial, life-saving research of congenital heart defects (CHD), America’s #1 birth defect. Nearly 1 of every 125 babies born in America each year is affected by a Congenital Heart Defect…

The Saving tiny Hearts Society is the only organization in the country that was formed for the sole purpose of raising funds for congenital heart defect research with 100% of general donations going directly to funding this research. There are no paid employees and we are run entirely by dedicated volunteers. Furthermore, the organization’s overhead costs are fully funded by our Board of Directors and directed donations.

The Saving tiny Hearts Society has 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and a contribution to the organization may be deductible as a charitable contribution.

Congenital Heart Defects (The following facts and statistics are care of the American Heart Association):

• Congenital heart defects are America’s #1 birth defect. Nearly one of every 125 babies is born with a CHD (almost 1% of all children born each year!).
• Congenital heart defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths.
• 1 in 3 children who die from a birth defect have a congenital heart defect.
• This year almost 40,000 babies will be born with a congenital heart defect.
• In the U.S. twice as many children die from congenital heart defects each year than from all forms of childhood cancer combined. Yet funding for research of pediatric cancer is 5 times greater.
• From 1993 to 2003 death rates for congenital heart defects have declined by 31% due to advances made through research!
• There is not yet a preventative cure for any type of congenital heart defect.
• Of every dollar the government spends on medical funding only a fraction of a penny is directed toward congenital heart defect research.

Since 1972, Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) has led the way in building awareness, providing education and inspiring hope to everyone involved in the effort to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children. Working with our chapters, we provide leadership to promote and implement prevention efforts at both the national and local levels. With the help of our state chapters and concerned individuals like you we're valuing children, strengthening families and engaging communities nationwide.

Their national campaign and local programs, prevention initiatives and events help spread the word in your community, creating awareness that prevention is possible. They are a family of friends, professionals, volunteers, donors and parents who are preventing child abuse and neglect before it ever starts.

Lucas King: Booking Inquiries; Venue Questions; Ticketing Questions
lucas@congresschicago.com

Michael Raspatello: Press Inquiries; Marketing; Advertising
michael.raspatello@gmail.com

Shayna Gladstone: Volunteering
kingtellostreetteam@gmail.com

Max: Sponsorship & Exhibitor Inquiries
max@congresschicago.com

Mailing Address
Congress Theater
2135 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60647

The Congress Theater is an official Chicago City landmark and one of the largest and most unique entertainment venues in the entire city. Over a quarter-million music fans visit the Congress each year to see bands such as The Shins, Korn, Prince, The Roots, The Killers, Ludacris or Dave Chappelle in one the last of the city’s classic movie ‘palaces.’

Built in 1926 and designed by Friedstein & Co, the 4,000 capacity theatre features a mix of architectural styles, including neo-classical and Italian Baroque, with an elaborate domed auditorium covered with decorations in stone, terra-cotta, and plaster. In addition to the main theater, the venue also features a spacious four-story Entrance Pavilion, Skybox Suites and private meeting rooms and exhibition areas. The theater is located in the burgeoning Logan Square/Bucktown/Wicker Park area, the seat of the artistic and music communities in the Midwest. It sits perfectly situated, in close proximity to the immense variety of ethic and social communities which it serves, just blocks from the 90/94 expressway, Metra and CTA blue line trains.

There are a variety of options available for you to get to the theater, including public transportation and driving. The management of the Congress Theater strongly recommends that you reduce your burden on the environment and the Logan Square community by taking public transportation to and from the venue.

Traveling to the theater is easy via the CTA. The building is within two blocks of the Blue Line train stations at California (& Milwaukee) and Western (& Milwaukee) which operate twenty four hours a day. The theater is also served by the following bus routes: #52 Kedzie/Calfornia, #56 Milwaukee, #73 Armitage, #49 Western

To check on maps, schedules and use the online Trip Planner, visit http://www.transitchicago.com

The theater is also a quick walk or bus ride from the METRA train station at Clybourn & Ashland on the Union Pacific District Northwest line. Exit the station to the south to transfer to the #73 Armitage bus going west on Cortland Ave. to the theater.

To check on maps, schedules and use the online Trip Planner, visit http://www.metrarail.com

The Congress Theater is located at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. (2135W) in Chicago. From the I-90/94 Kennedy Expressway, take Exit 48 at Armitage Ave. (2000N) and proceed west (away from the lake) for 0.90 miles to Milwaukee Ave. and take a right turn on to Milwaukee Ave. Drive 0.20 miles northwest to Milwaukee Ave. and Rockwell St. The theater will be on the right on the east side of the street.

Reserved parking for the theater is available at the Chase School at the corner of Francis Place and Point St. starting one hour prior to the time doors open for each show. (5:30 is the earliest time the lot opens. If you will need to park before that time, you will need to take public transportation or make alternate arrangements for parking. Cars must be removed from the lot one hour after every show.).

As you approach the theater from the south on Milwaukee, take a left (right, if coming from the north) at the Milwaukee/Rockwell/Francis Place intersection and proceed 1.5 blocks south on Francis Place. The entrance to access the lot is through the alley on your left as you come to the school, about a half block before Francis Place reaches a "T". Please seek out our signage and attendants as you arrive. Please be respectful of the school property and their neighbors as you enter and exit the lot. Refrain from making loud noises, littering or trespassing on private property.

You can reserve parking through the “RESERVE PARKING NOW” button on the right side of this page. If the show you are requesting is not listed, our parking is sold out and you will have to find alternate accommodations. Valet parking is not available and the bus lane in front of the theater should be kept clear at all times. Other pay lots not affiliated with the theater are also available in the area, including CVS Pharmacy (2053 N. Milwaukee) and AMC City North 14 (2600 N. Western). Please do not risk getting towed by parking in the alleys near the theater or in the zoned parking in the residential neighborhoods adjacent to the theater.

There are no free parking lots in the immediate vicinity of the theater. Please do not subject your vehicle to towing by parking in the lots of neighboring businesses or in zoned parking areas. Metered (until 6PM) and free parking is available in very limited amounts in the commercial corridors along Milwaukee Ave., Western Ave., California Ave., Fullerton Ave. and Armitage Ave.

Kingtello Presents represents a collaboration between independent Chicago producers Lucas King and Michael Raspatello. They are joined by a host of artists, musicians, filmmakers and entertainment producers aimed at preserving the long-standing tradition of independent event production in Chicago. Kingtello creates live music experiences at breathtaking venues, including the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival at the legendary Congress Theater. Working together, the duo has partnered with Chicago mainstays such as Goose Island Brewery, Old Town School of Folk, The Onion, Redeye, Timeout, Chicago Reader, and C3 Presents on events including internationally-recognized and Grammy Winning acts including The Prodigy, Avett Brothers, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, Chromeo, Justice, RJD2, Disco Biscuits, Late of the Pier, Deadmau5, Crookers, and The Whip. In addition, Kingtello Presents represent bands and produce the occasional live album or concert documentary. Whatever the project, their events serve to benefit one of the countless homegrown charities they believe in. Get in touch, they’d love to work with you.