Just like ordering a dipped Vienna Italian beef sandwich with sport peppers, a thin crust tavern style pizza, a hot dog “dragged thru the garden” or a shot of Malort, Chicago is best known as a Blues Mecca. The unique, electrified sound of Chicago Blues began it’s rise in the late 1950’s and inspired future musicians well into the 1970’s. That’s what the Chi Town Collective is all about…bringing a purely Chicago vibe with old school grit. Chicago styled Blues, authentic, true to the form, a purely American genre.

FRONTED BY HARPIST HARRY GARNER, DRUMMER MARK FORNEK, BASSIST JAMES DIGIROLAMO AND GUITARIST DAVE DOWNER, each with 40 plus years experience as pro players. each passionately delivering soulful renditions of those classic Blues tunes. We are Stewards to the genre, but not slaves to it. 

The Chi Town Collective delivers a catalogue of music from uptempo numbers that jump, to the laid back swing vibe that shuffles and the heartfelt torch numbers that touch the Soul. There is something for everyone, the casual listener will recognize those popular tunes played on the radio. Whereas, those that are deep aficionados of Rhythm & Blues will delight in the obscure numbers the band performs. added Bonus, there are original numbers, penned by members of the band, that pay homage to the classic vibe.

We are ready to hit your stage, you can practically hear the growl of a Telecaster and the wail of a distorted harmonica already! If we’re bringing that authentic Chicago Blues vibe, we aren't just playing notes—we’re telling the story of the Great Migration, electrified and amplified.

We are ready To get the "masses" educated and the venue feeling like a South Side club in 1955.