Chicago Kinfolk: The Microsite

The Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues microsite is more than a digital extension—it is an immersive, multimedia archive that invites visitors to step into the soul of a 1970s Chicago juke joint. Designed to function as both cultural preservation and artistic experience, the site is crafted with minimalist elegance, guiding users through a carefully curated soundscape woven with original compositions and rare 1977 interview recordings from figures like Theresa Needham, Muddy Waters Jr., Jimmy Walker, Lefty Dizz, and Willie Monroe. These archival voices, sourced and curated from the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project Collection at the Library of Congress, are brought to life alongside Terry Blade’s haunting performances, creating a virtual time capsule that breathes, pulses, and teaches.

Critics and users alike have lauded the microsite for its immersive atmosphere and seamless fusion of past and present. Michael Filip Reed described the album as “a study, a document, an artistic statement, an archival deep dive, and even—a dialogue,” noting how Blade bridges traditions by literally weaving historical voices into new songs. Dave Franklin called the project “more of an ethnographic record, a historical archive of early blues than just another album,” capturing the intentional archival framing that elevates this experience beyond music alone.

In recognition of its creative and experiential excellence, the microsite received Special Kudos from the 2025 CSS Design Awards. This accolade confirms the site not only complements the album but elevates itself as a masterful piece of interactive storytelling and digital curation.

As the platform for Terry Blade’s deeply felt homage to Chicago’s blues heritage, the microsite positions itself not just as a supplement to the music, but as an essential portal to memory, emotion, and sonic anthropology—where users don’t simply listen, they feel, remember, learn, and connect.