Bringing a lifetime of blues music to the James Lumber Center stage

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite Published March 02, 2026

No one knows when exactly it happens—but when you learn and play alongside the greats, eventually you become one, too.

Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite are some of the most iconic names in blues music, and if you haven’t heard of them yet, allow this to be your official introduction.

While their separate careers have brought them varied experiences, Bishop and Musselwhite have come together to create a powerhouse musical duo through a shared talent and affinity for blues. Together, this magnetic team will be bringing more than 50 years of blues center stage at the James Lumber Center on March 27 at 7:30 p.m.

There’s no better way to spend a Friday night than experiencing the soul-searing beats of the legends that shaped the scene.

Legendary blues musicians

Rock And Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Elvin Bishop and Grammy-winning harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite are fellow blues travelers and living blues giants. The two history-making musicians— both Blues Hall of Famers— have more than 100 years of professional musicianship between them. They are among the most famous bluesmen in the world!

Charlie Musselwhite started his journey in the early sixties in Chicago, just in time to coincide with the epochal blues revival. He's played alongside names you might recognize: Cyndi Lauper, Eddie Vedder, Cat Stevens, The Blind Boys of Alabama and his personal friend, John Lee Hooker.

Elvin Bishop is a name you might recognize, too. A legendary bluesman, Bishop has won two Blues Music Awards and in the last year alone has had 6.19M listeners on Spotify. Bishop got his start in the sixties, too- with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in Chicago.

These two Windy City transplants were around during the height of the Chicago’s blues music scene, and with it came experiences of playing alongside many of the greats.

Jam sessions with Buddy Guy and Otis Rush were key markers for Bishop's early years, while Musselwhite cut his musical teeth alongside artists like Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and many others from the south side of the city.

Together, the things these bluesmen have seen and the people they've met have only continued to fuel their craft.

Now, Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite are teaming up—creating a legendary duo that'll be bringing the heart of blues music straight to a stage near you.

Don't miss your chance to see this powerhouse team perform their greatest hits, jam-packed with wandering words and swaggering stories from a lifetime of blues music, unfolding right on the James Lumber Center's Mainstage.

Performance information

Friday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m.

James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts
Mainstage Theatre
19351 W. Washington Street
Grayslake 60030

Learn more about the performance

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