Since the release of Kingfish, his Grammy-nominated 2019 Alligator Records debut, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has quickly become the defining blues voice of his generation. From his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi born to a musical family, he fell in love with music as a small child, initially playing drums and then bass. At a young age, he got his first guitar and quickly soaked up music from Robert Johnson to Lightnin’ Hopkins, from B.B. King to Muddy Waters, from Jimi Hendrix to Prince, but all the while developing his own sound and style. With his eye-popping guitar playing and his reach-out-and-grab-you-by-the-collar vocals, Ingram performs every song with unmatched passion and precision.
In 2020 Kingfish was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album at the Grammy Awards. In 2022 he was nominated for, and won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Recording for his album 662. Also in 2022 Australian fans got to witness Christone in concert when he played Bluesfest and blew the crowds away with his firebrand guitar licks and virtuosity. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram returns to Australia in 2023 for Bluesfest Byron Bay, Bluesfest Melbourne, Bluesfest Perth and dates supporting Buddy Guy’s ‘Damn Right Farewell World Tour in Melbourne and Sydney. He also headlines his own gig at The Gov Adelaide on April 3.
Ahead of his Australian tour, Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips caught up with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram to chat about his Bluesfest 2022 experience, his career, gear, guitar playing and the upcoming tour… and can someone please organise for Kingfish to see some kangaroos this time!
Bluesfest Byron Bay April 6-10, 2023
https://www.bluesfest.com.au/
Bluesfest Melbourne April 8-9, 2023
https://bluesfestmelbourne.com.au/
Bluesfest Perth April 1, 2023
https://www.mellenevents.com.au/current-tours/bluesfest-perth
Buddy Guy dates supported by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
https://www.bluesfesttouring.com.au/artist/buddy-guy-damn-right-farewell