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 (www.congresschicago.com) and the newly-minted KingTello 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, 18 bands, for only $31. 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 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. Until now, fans have had to travel far outside city limits and setup camp to witness a legend like David Grisman share a stage with the scene’s newest genre-defying sensations, The Avett Brothers, and a host of rising talents from the roots, blues, bluegrass, and jamband scenes. This fall, the Saving Tiny Hearts Society will bring them all indoors and within city limits to a historical Chicago landmark and one of the city’s largest and most unique live music venues.

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 michael.raspatello@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 (www.savingtinyhearts.org) 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.

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

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

Max Wagner: Sponsorship Inquiries
max@congresschicago.com

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

The Congress Theater (www.congresschicago.com) 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 is a recently formed alliance of independent Chicago producers and promoters aimed at revitalizing the city’s long-standing tradition of independent event production. Working in collaboration with the Congress Theater, KingTello Presents will fight on behalf of independent promoters large and small as long as corporate conglomerates threaten to monopolize a live music landscape rich in tradition and variety. KingTello Presents will represent the voice of choice.