New talent is absolutely vital for keeping a genre alive, so therefore the arrival of Christone “Kingfish” Ingram was more than welcome for the latest generation of blues fans. Ingram was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the birthplace of the blues. As a teenager he was already flooring audiences with his astounding guitar playing, which has elements of classic heroes such as Buddy Guy, but also the dexterity of Jimi Hendrix and the innovation of later virtuosos such as Prince. Rolling Stone magazine called Kingfish “one of the most exciting young guitarists in years” and his second album 662 (2021) picked up a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. These are just a few of the compliments bestowed upon this modest young man at a mere 25 years of age. On his latest album, the blistering Live In London (2023), you can hear Kingfish in his element, where he absolutely rules, which is on the stage.
