Blues phenom Corky Siegel returns to Carbondale

Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 Varsity Bar and Doors: 6 p.m. Showtime: 7 p.m. Tickets: $40 / $10 students with ID at bit.ly/4mf6WXv

CARBONDALE – Corky Siegel is known internationally as one of the world’s great blues harmonica players as well as a blues pianist, singer-songwriter and the sole pioneer and composer of award-winning revolutionary works that weave blues and classical forms together.

Throughout the years, Siegel has played venues in Carbondale and Southern Illinois, but this will be his first time at the downtown venue. He will perform a solo show in the Varsity Balcony performance space on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Siegel has enjoyed a 60-year musical journey, from his early days playing with blues legends in Chicago to pioneering symphonic blues collaborations with the Chicago Symphony. His latest work, “Symphonic Blues No. 6.” His music continues to evolve while staying true to his blues roots.

Siegel co-founded the Siegel-Schwall Band, a group that was a major component of the young generation of white blues artists, including Paul Butterfield, Charlie Musselwhite, Harvey Mandel, Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenites and Michael Bloomfield, who learned the historic Chicago blues style at the feet and hands of such towering figures as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy and Sam Lay.

Siegel is a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and has a catalog of recordings on RCA, Vanguard, Alligator, and million-selling blues/classical recordings on the iconic classical label Deutsche Grammophon.

Catch Corky on Saturday, Aug. 30. The Varsity Bar and doors open at 6 p.m. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are available at Eventbrite (at bit.ly/4mf6WXv). Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the show when doors open. Student tickets are $10. The Varsity is downtown Carbondale at 418 S. Illinois Ave. Go to www.thevarsitycenter.org to keep up with venue events.