Get ready to shake, shimmy, and bean part of the most fun weekend of the year at Blues at the Bean! We’re bringing the blues to life in the best way possible—by dancing the night away! Join us at Forteza Fitness on Friday and Saturday from 9pm-4am for our epic dance parties (we’re talking all-night boogie vibes here!). Then, Sunday afternoon, we’ll switch gears at Le Loft for the soul-satisfying Blues Brunch—think: a tasty catered brunch, live music, and some smooth vibes. Whether you’re ready to groove until the sun comes up or sip coffee with a side of blues, Blues at the Bean is the weekend you won’t want to miss!
The Venues
Forteza Fitness 
Location: 4437 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Forteza Fitness is our go-to spot for high-energy dance parties all weekend long! You’ll find us here on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm–4am for non-stop blues, great music, and amazing vibes. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just starting out, this venue has everything you need to keep your feet moving all night.
Directions:
From downtown Chicago, take Lake Shore Drive north and exit at Irving Park Rd heading west. Turn right on Ravenswood Ave, and Forteza will be on the east side of the street just north of Montrose Ave. The venue is conveniently located near the Montrose Brown Line stop and the Ravenswood Metra station. There is street parking nearby and limited free parking in the lot adjacent to the building.
Le Loft Location: 2418 W North Ave,
Wind down the weekend in style at Le Loft, a chic industrial space in Wicker Park where our Sunday Blues Brunch (1 pm – 4 pm) serves up smooth tunes, laid‑back vibes, and plenty of room to mingle. Think exposed brick, lofty ceilings, and sunlight pouring through warehouse windows—the perfect backdrop for the last slow blues of the weekend.
Directions:
From downtown, hop on I‑90/94 W (Kennedy Expy), exit at North Ave, and head west about 1.5 miles. Le Loft sits on the south side of North Ave just past Campbell Ave. It’s CTA‑friendly: ride the Blue Line to Damen or Western, then take the #72 North Ave bus to Campbell. Metered street parking is available on North Ave, with free spots on nearby residential streets.
Since 1967
Chicago Blues Festival
The Chicago Blues Festival is a free event hosted by Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). This event features live music all across Chicago, including 3 stages at Millenium Park. To see this year’s lineup and get more information about the festival click ‘Learn More’ below.
The DJs
Charlley Ward
Charlley Ward loves and has played the Blues for over half a century making the semi- finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis twice, and he brings that wealth of experience to his DJ sets. He has taught Blues dance or DJ’d across the country for the last decade, at events like Mile High Blues in Denver, Brickyard Blues in Atlanta, Blues and Bagels in Montreal, Steel City Blues in Pittsburg, Take My Hand in DC, Big City Blues in Ghent Belgium and Blues Muse in Philadelphia. Last year his band (The Carter Minor Band) also performed live at Muse. In 2022 he won the solo Blues Dance Competition at the Riverfront Blues Festival in Portland (Oregon.) He has also performed as a DJ in Portland. His DJ style leans heavily on modern as well as classic Blues and a tiny bit of Blues adjacent music. He is currently a DJ coordinator for his Home Scene, RDU Blues Dance in the Raleigh- Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle in North Carolina, and lives in an allegedly haunted house outside Raleigh with his two cats and Sophie the Ghost.
Kyle Patterson
The Man.
The Myth.
The Mustache.
After nearly a decade in the #MidwestIsBest brigade, he now finds himself in Oakland, CA where he can be found enjoying long walks on the beach, getting a little sunburnt, and cheering #WestCoastBestCoast at every opportunity. Come join in as he does his best to get an “okay, maybe I’ll stay for just ONE more song” throughout the night and, dare I say, into the morning…?
Kyle Patterson
The Man.
The Myth.
The Mustache.
After nearly a decade in the #MidwestIsBest brigade, he now finds himself in Oakland, CA where he can be found enjoying long walks on the beach, getting a little sunburnt, and cheering #WestCoastBestCoast at every opportunity. Come join in as he does his best to get an “okay, maybe I’ll stay for just ONE more song” throughout the night and, dare I say, into the morning…?
Ross Blythe
Ross Blythe (Santa Fe) thinks music is great, and that you should dance to it. Often, he’ll be dancing in his seat while selecting the next song. Slide some bourbon over and chat with him about what’s playing! Sure to bring the party, Ross has DJ’ed for Sweet Molasses Blues, Steel City Blues, Toronto Blues Battle, Backwater Blues, and other regional and national events. He was a staple at Chicago’s monthly event Bluetopia, as well as weekly and monthly swing and balboa dances in the city. He currently DJs around Santa Fe, NM.
Susan Olson
Susan loves many different kinds of blues music, but there are special places in her heart for ballroom blues, badass female singers, and funky rhythms. She has been the head DJ at the Blues Experiment and has also deejayed at North Star Blues, Lindy Focus, bluesSHOUT!, Blues Muse, BluesGeek and numerous other events in addition to frequent local dances in her home scene of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Susan enjoys nothing more than keeping people up past their bedtimes dancing to amazing music and can’t wait to be back home behind the DJ table.
Susan Olson
Susan loves many different kinds of blues music, but there are special places in her heart for ballroom blues, badass female singers, and funky rhythms. She has been the head DJ at the Blues Experiment and has also deejayed at North Star Blues, Lindy Focus, bluesSHOUT!, Blues Muse, BluesGeek and numerous other events in addition to frequent local dances in her home scene of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Susan enjoys nothing more than keeping people up past their bedtimes dancing to amazing music and can’t wait to be back home behind the DJ table.
Schedule
Food & Drink
A variety of snacks and water will be provided at our evening dances and a catered brunch with coffee, juice, and water will be available at our Sunday Brunch. Our venues are BYOB. If you have special dietary restrictions or allergies, please note that in your registration or email us at [email protected].
Swag
- Hand Fans
- Sweat Towels
- T-Shirt
Classes
Friday, 8pm @ Forteza – Beginner Friendly Lesson
