Sonia Astacio is a regular on the Chicago Blues scene playing at long established-world renowned clubs such as Buddy Guy’s Legends, Blue Chicago, Kingston Mines, Rosa’s Lounge, and Harlem Avenue Lounge. She has also played Muddy Waters MOJO Museum, Granville Blues Fest, Red White & Blues Fest and various years at The Chicago Blues Festival. She combines powerful vocals and a hard driving Chicago Electric Blues style with a burlesque delivery.
Sonia Astacio Downs was born in Chicago and is the 7th child of a Dominican American family. Her parents moved to the United States in 1955. As a child, she found her love for music singing with her siblings in church. Initially, her first love was Jazz from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, but after she heard Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones’ “Baby Please Don’t Go” (Live at the Checkerboard Recording), the Blues captivated her heart and soul, and she never looked back.
Sonia joined the Nu Blu Band in 2005 and is now an honorary member of the group. Sonia infuses her Afro-Latina ancestry when she performs blues standards in Spanish. She leads The Sonia Astacio Downs band and is working on an album based on her experiences growing up in Chicago as a black Latina. Her boisterous voice, entertaining persona, and effortless talent have captivated audiences far and wide. After 35 years in the corporate world, she says her retirement plan is “to sing the Blues to whoever will listen.” She truly is a messenger of the Chicago Electric Blues.